Welcomed by a breakfast of doughnuts and coffee, South Jersey municipal crews commenced on the grounds of LB Smith in Deptford, NJ, for an annual safety training event on Sept. 17.

Despite the pending arrival of Hurricane Isabel, more than 80 crew members, of the Public Works Association of New Jersey (PWANJ) Districts 6, 7 and 8, spent the morning learning about backhoe loader safety. The certified safety course — followed by a test — is a requirement for New Jersey municipal workers who use backhoe loaders on the job.

Joel Powell, Volvo compact college equipment marketing manager, discussed the safety concerns of backhoe loaders and answered a wide variety of questions from those in attendance, many of whom were impressed with the new features on Volvo’s BL70.

By holding the safety training event, “We are making a commitment to service the municipalities in South Jersey,” said Sean Collins, LB Smith general manager, who noted that LB Smith’s success in the municipal market hinges on two employees: Anne Schroeder, LB Smith Deptford office manager, and Gary MacGuigan, regional sales manager.

Following the morning’s safety seminar, hands-on training lured workers out into the brilliant sunshine, where many tested out controls, inspected engines and asked Volvo and LB Smith representatives a variety of questions.

With backhoe safety in mind, workers later indulged in a lunch spread including chicken, meatballs, sausage, peppers, stuffed shells and salad.