NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 13, 2002) – A new series of educational efforts for the safe operation of zero-radius-turning (ZRT) mowing equipment for commercial and landscape maintenance operators was announced today by The Toro Company, which manufactures ZRT’s under the Toro and Exmark brands. The program is labeled "Driving in the Safety Zone." ZRT mowers are maneuvered with control levers similar to skid loaders rather than steering wheels, allowing quick turns and time-efficient mowing.

Because of their long-term focus on safety, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) are both supporting the effort. "The OPEI and its members are fully committed both to safe products and safety education. We wholeheartedly support Toro’s initiative," said Bill Harley, President and CEO of OPEI. Debra Holder, Executive Vice President of ALCA, added, "We commend Toro and Exmark for their promotion of safety to the landscape industry."

Initial plans include:

• Providing complimentary safety videos to attendees at the Green Industry Exposition in Nashville, November 14-17.
• Establishing education pages on the Toro and Exmark Web sites to provide contractors, end-users, dealers and distributors easy access to ZRT and other product safety information.
• Developing comprehensive training materials for commercial operators that will be distributed with support from Toro’s dealer-distributor network. In-field training and customized classes also will be offered.

"Safety has always been a top priority for The Toro Company, so we constantly monitor industry reports on where and how equipment is being operated," said Lynde Sorensen, Toro’s Managing Director of Corporate Communications. "We observed in our analysis that commercial ZRTs are too often operated in unsafe conditions. In particular, mowing too close to sudden drop-offs, steep inclines, retaining walls, or unstable ground surrounding ponds or drainage ditches can cause loss of traction and control and can result in serious injuries or fatalities."

Mike Hoffman, Group Vice President for the landscape contractor business, added, "By taking the lead, we can effectively reach commercial and landscape maintenance operators with a comprehensive safety initiative that clearly defines what it means to be ‘Driving In the Safety Zone’."

Hoffman said the safety initiative is in addition to existing safety tools for Toro brand ZRT mowers including safety videos, extensive safety decals and an operator manual with safety information in a permanent tube attached to the mower. Exmark will expand its existing safety training program in which more than 1,500 operators were trained last year.

The Toro Company is a $1.4 billion company with nearly 5,000 employees worldwide. It is a leading provider of outdoor maintenance and beautification products for home, recreation and commercial landscapes.