Conway Snowmobile Club Grooming Procedures, Policies, and Training Created: October 7, 2009 CRW Approved: October 8, 2009 Conway Grooming Committee Revised: Page 1 of 12
Table of Contents Table of Contents...2 Introduction...3 General Policies...4 Groomer Assignment...4 Certification Requirements...5 Age...5 Operation and Maintenance...5 Time Tracking...5 Ride-Along Time...5 Supervised Time...5 Certification...6 What Every Operator Should Know...7 Ten Common Operator Abuses...9 Certified Operators...11 Groomer Managers...11 List of Certified Operators...11 Stipulations...12 Page 2 of 12
Introduction The Conway Snowmobile Club maintains well over 100 miles of trails throughout Conway, Ashfield, South Deerfield, Whately, and Hatfield. These trails run on both private and public lands, cross many streams and rivers, and pass near homes and farmer s fields. One hundred percent of trail grooming is accomplished by volunteers. The Grooming Policies, Procedures, and Training booklet is designed to set club policy and familiarize groomer operators with trails, equipment, hazards, procedures, and training to ensure an operator s safety, the safety of others, and to protect valuable equipment. Page 3 of 12
General Policies Groomer Assignment During the snowmobile season, individual groomers are assigned to a specific groomer manager. Equipment assigned to the manager is under the direct control of the manager. The equipment is normally parked and stored as defined by the manager, and use of that equipment should originate and terminate where the manager has designated. Parking of grooming equipment other than at the groomer manager s location must be approved by that specific manager. The manager must notify the committee if the parking/storage location has changed, even if temporarily. The manager of a specific piece of equipment must be notified of any issues with the equipment by any operators using the equipment. Page 4 of 12
Certification Requirements Groomer operators must be approved by the grooming committee before taking on any grooming responsibilities and operating equipment. To become a certified operator one must: 1. Be at least 16-1/2 years. 2. Read the IASA s resource guide entitled Guidelines for Snowmobile Trail Groomer Operator Training, 2005. 3. Understand maintenance and operating procedures for the specified power equipment. 4. Understand time tracking requirements outlined in this document. 5. Meet minimum ride-along requirements. 6. Meet minimum supervised operator requirements for the specific power equipment. 7. Receive certification from the Grooming Committee for the equipment to be operated. Age By state law, operators must be 16-1/2 years old to operate a snowmobile and cross public road ways. Conway s requirement is that a certified groomer operator must be at least 16-1/2 years of age. An individual may participate in the certification program and operate a groomer under the direct supervision of an existing certified operator at 14 years of age. Operation and Maintenance A certified operator must validate that the trainee has had proper training for the operation of the specific type of power equipment and understands the maintenance of the same machine. Time Tracking Tracking or logging time is a vital part of grooming and almost as important as the grooming itself. Logging time allows for the club to balance operators, justify time spent grooming public and private lands when applying for grants, report hours to S.A.M. to be used in larger political actions in support of snowmobiling, and to receive reimbursement as part of S.A.M. s annual grooming contract. A rider MUST submit grooming logs. By not submitting grooming logs an operator can immediately be decertified. Grooming logs must be submitted to the club s grooming secretary any time grooming is performed during a week no later than Wednesday of the following week. A week is defined as Sunday to Saturday. Ride-Along Time Ride-Along time is defined as time spent directly observing the operation of equipment and actual grooming of trails by a certified operator. This time needs to be as a passenger in any capable cabenclosed machine and can be either as a passenger on a grooming snowmobile or by riding in front of or behind a groomer snowmobile on another snowmobile. The minimum requirement for ride-along time is 12 hours but additional time can be required at the discretion of the certified operator/trainer. Supervised Time Supervised time is time a trainee spends grooming trails under the direct supervision of a certified operator. Minimum supervised time for a snowmobile type groomer is 1 hour. 6 hours is required for all Page 5 of 12
non-snowmobile power equipment. The trainer may determine at their discretion that more time is required. Certification Upon successful completion of reading, ride-along, and supervised time for a specific equipment type (listed at the end of this document), the trainer will make a recommendation for trainee to be certified. A trainee may be immediately certified by the certified operator/trainer so that the new operator can groom without supervision. All certified operators will be listed in this document. Page 6 of 12
What Every Operator Should Know 1 Every Groomer Operator Should Be Able To: 1. Demonstrate an Understanding of the Basics of Snowmobile Trail Grooming. a. Understand trail grooming s general purpose, objectives, principles, and practices, along with common terms used in trail grooming. b. Understand the basic characteristics and mechanics of snow. c. Understand the role and importance of grooming managers and schedules. d. Understand the source and level of funding for their snowmobile trails. 2. Know the Grooming Equipment they are Operating and Identify its Key Controls, Components, and Features. a. Know the capabilities, characteristics, and limitations of their grooming machine and blade if equipped. b. Identify key controls and components of their grooming equipment (steering, throttle, brakes, lights, mirrors, hydraulics, tracks, engine, hitch, etc.) c. Know the capabilities, characteristics, and limitations of their grooming implement(s) (drag, tiller, or compactor bar as applicable). d. Identify key features of their grooming implements (frame, blades, wheels, tongue, hydraulics, skegs, pan, tines, drum, lights, etc. as applicable) 3. Start, Operate, And Control the Groomer. a. Properly conduct a pre- and post-operation visual inspection. b. Operate and understand all in-cab controls, instruments, and gauges. c. Start, stop, and park the vehicle. d. Back up the vehicle and hook it up to implements. e. Operate the vehicle on the right side of the trail. f. Demonstrate proper technique to get the vehicle unstuck. g. Demonstrate front blade functions and operation. h. Demonstrate the function and operation of rear implements. 4. Demonstrate Good Operator Safety Procedures. a. Be prepared by carrying tools, safety equipment, and proper clothing. b. Ensure grooming equipment is always visible with lights and reflective material. c. Always wear seat belts and operate cautiously when using front blade. d. Safely stop and park grooming equipment when on trail. e. Safely secure grooming equipment that breaks down on the trail. f. Avoid ice crossings. g. Check equipment prior to departure. 5. Demonstrate Proper Equipment Operation Techniques and Procedures. a. Understand general grooming operating guidelines, including minimum snow depth, best time to groom, the optimal temperature range for grooming, and grooming procedures for when there is low visibility. b. Understand grooming basics like: constantly watching the trail behind the groomer; don t leave holes, debris, or back-up piles on the trail; and know your trail so you can anticipate grooming needs and adjustments. c. Understand proper grooming speed and problems caused by grooming too fast. d. Understand the proper technique for grooming curves, hills, and bridges. e. Understand the difference between building and maintaining a trail base. f. Understand what to do when meeting snowmobiles on the trail. g. Understand proper grooming width and direction of travel. h. Understand proper techniques for grooming with a drag. i. Understand proper techniques for grooming with a tiller. j. Understand proper techniques for use of a front blade. k. Understand proper techniques and tips for operating tracked vehicles. l. Know the Top 10 Operator Abuses 6. Perform Proper Equipment Inspection and Maintenance. a. Understand the importance of preventative maintenance. 1 IASA - GUIDELINES for SNOWMOBILE TRAIL GROOMER OPERATOR TRAINING Page 7 of 12
b. Practice the Four Elements of Preventative Maintenance. c. Refuel and lubricate the equipment. d. Perform pre-shift inspection and maintenance. e. Periodically stop to perform walk-around inspection during grooming shift. f. Perform post-shift inspection and maintenance. g. Notify grooming manager of equipment maintenance needs. h. Assist with pre-season, off-season, and regularly scheduled maintenance as requested. 7. Perform Proper Record Keeping. a. Complete Daily Groomer Operator s Logs and Pre- and Post Operation Checklists. b. Keep accurate records of equipment use and maintenance. c. Submit Equipment Maintenance Requests. 8. Know the Local Area and Local Procedures. a. Know local trail routes and have maps available for snowmobilers. b. Know local trail signing guidelines. c. Know local laws and any special closures for sensitive areas. d. Know local emergency procedures and contact information. Page 8 of 12
Ten Common Operator Abuses 2 The following are ten common operator abuses of tracked snow grooming vehicles that can lead to premature equipment wear and equipment failure: 1. Failure to Perform Proper Warm Up. Neglecting warm up procedures can impair control responses and cut down on the life of the engine and transmission. Start the vehicle and check the steering, hydraulics, brakes, tracks, frame, attachments, etc. while it s warming up for at least 5 to 10 minutes. 2. Failure to Perform Walk-Around Inspection. There is no replacement for an operator s daily start up inspection. The operator must be very familiar with the machine. With daily inspections, the operator has the opportunity to check for loose fittings, bolts, oil leaks, and other problems that can be easily corrected and help prevent a major problem from developing. Have a checklist for each unit. Also stop each hour during operation and walk around the machine for a general visual inspection. 3. Operating When Repairs are Needed. If a vehicle is operated with known problems, even minor ones, it unnecessarily risks the vehicle s integrity and the operator s safety. 4. Operation Without Proper Training. Untrained operators, or even experienced equipment operators who are unfamiliar with the vehicle, may overload the equipment which can cause stress and damage the vehicle. An important part of every operator s training should be to read and understand the operator s manual before operating the equipment. Operators must always be attentive to odd sounds and the vehicle s response to controls. 5. Misapplication of Equipment to Job. All too often, tracked vehicles are used for purposes they were not designed for. A grooming vehicle is not a bulldozer and should not be used as one. Knowing and respecting the limits of the vehicle s capabilities is important to protecting the life and usefulness of the tractor, as well as the safety of the operator. 6. Going Too Fast. Tracked vehicles are designed to pull heavy loads at relatively low speeds. Operation at a high speed over rough terrain can damage the tracks or drive train and can also cause excessive vibration that can harm the tractor s frame and components. Additionally, working in too high of a gear overworks and overheats the transmission. It also generally produces a poorly groomed trail. Operators who chronically groom too fast should be replaced since they put the equipment at risk and produce poor quality trails that do not stand up well to traffic. 7. Unauthorized Modifications. Some operators believe that modifications to their equipment, like resetting hydraulic pressures or recalibrating the fuel pump for more horsepower, are smart moves. In reality, unauthorized modifications like these will often stress the vehicle beyond its limits. This can result in warranties being voided if a failure occurs or shorten the normal life cycle of the vehicle. Always check with the manufacturer before making any modifications to grooming equipment. 8. High Temperature Shutdown. Not allowing the engine temperature to stabilize before shutdown can damage turbochargers and cause premature engine wear. Always allow the engine to idle for 5 to10 minutes before shutdown. This also provides an excellent time to perform a walk-around shutdown inspection, as well as a time to warm up the operator s vehicle for the drive home. 9. Unfamiliarity with the Trail. 2 IASA - GUIDELINES for SNOWMOBILE TRAIL GROOMER OPERATOR TRAINING Page 9 of 12
Operators who are unfamiliar with a trail can run into sudden hidden dangers such as rocks, trees, wet areas, and steep grades that can pose a threat to themselves and the vehicle. Operators who helped construct the trail or who performed summer maintenance on the trail are a valuable asset since they know what the area looks like without snow cover. They are also the best people to have set the outer edges of the groomed trail at the beginning of the season. Know the trail and stay on it. Groom with a plan and stick with the plan. Operators should follow the trail signs and NEVER follow snowmobile tracks through open areas unless they re absolutely certain that is exactly where the trail is located. Snowmobilers often shortcut bends in the trail and can get the groomer into extreme trouble if it follows them off-trail. 10. Using Attachments Improperly. Even if the front blade can remove a large drift in one pass, make several passes and do it in smaller, less stressful cuts. Saw limbs into several small pieces before pushing them off the trail with the front blade. Use it, but don t abuse it! Page 10 of 12
Certified Operators The club has defined three types of power equipment that must be individually certified. A master certification indicates a person is certified to run all grooming equipment. A person only needs to be certified in the same class as a trainee in order to act as a trainer or supervisor. Levels of certification are: 1 - Master 2 - Tracker 3 - Kubota 4 - Snowmobile Groomer Managers Groomer Managers are overall responsible for some or all pieces of grooming equipment including being the primary contact for a specific piece of equipment. Grooming equipment is normally parked at a manager s location during the snowmobile season. List of Certified Operators Operator Certification Levels Date Certified Manager Paul Sokoloski 1 10/8/2009 Yes Mike Barlow 1 10/8/2009 Yes Dan Thurlow 1 10/8/2009 Yes Greg Felton 1 10/8/2009 Yes Scott Sumner 4 10/8/2009 Yes Craig Warner 4 10/8/2009 Ron Hawkes 4 10/8/2009 Darrel Chase 4 10/8/2009 Lee Totman 4 10/8/2009 Yes Pete Hanas 4 10/8/2009 Page 11 of 12
Stipulations Operating rights can be revoked at any time by the grooming committee by a majority vote. Groomer operator certification is at the pure discretion of the grooming committee. Page 12 of 12