Broken window...what would you do?

[familylawncare]

One of crew was weedeating today at a commercial location and threw a rock through an employee's car window. Now, I realize that accidents like this do happen, but the weedeater had the deflector removed, which is against written company policy. I feel this contributed to the problem. When I asked crew Foreman, he stated he ok'd removal of the deflector because "all companies do it". I reminded him of our safety rules AND the fact that since the weedeater had been modified,our insurance could be negated.
I feel the larger problem could have been one of our employees ,or a passerby being injured and with "modification" insurance not being any good.
Repair cost over $400,and is second instance, with the same cause in 2 years with the same crew.
How would you react?

[topsites]

Get a used windshield!

Cost you like $1-200 installed and everything.
Hell if it ain't the windshield it shouldn't be more either, might be less, I don't know.

And maybe you don't have to pay anything, seeing how it was their fault,
maybe the crew who removes guards is willing to divvy up this minor expense.

I mean you gotta let them work it out, stuff like this, it's like when you have a dozen children
you just don't got time for puny individual problems like that.
Let them handle it, as far as finding one, fixing it, paying for it, all of that, on their time.

[shovelracer]

Have the bill paid and move on. Deflector doesnt do anything except protect the trimmer user. If the crew or an employee is accident prone than thats a different story. Not much you can do, fire someone or suck it up.

[VirginiaLawnCare]

What topsites said. Plus I have insurance and i run with them removed to. I really don't see what the question is? Your going to pay it regardless so just pay it and if you want the guards back on tell them to put them back on and leave them on end of story.

Me personally I wouldn't of even made a big deal about it things happen especially broken windows from something going flying from trimmer or mower.

[GreenmanCT]

a string trimmer can really put a rock through a window?

[mowerbrad]

Since you said that this is the same crew that did this a before, they obviously don't learn. I would seriously reconsider the person who is crew leader. Like you said, next time this "window" could be an employees or a passer-by. The least that should be done, is you having a long talk with the crew leader and crew.

[PROCUT1]

Pay for the window.

Let the crew know that the next person you see with a removed guard will be fired.

[kaferhaus]

I'd fire the idiot that allowed the guard to be removed.

First time one of you has an employee or bystander injured from a thrown object and you get your ass sued you'll find out real quick how expensive removing that guard was.

Removing a factory installed safety device from any piece of equipment that you are using "professionally" is idiotic and shows a blatant disregard for safety.

Try telling that BS to a jury about how ineffective the guards are..... of course it was ineffective.... some dumb ass removed it.

[sa1lng]

It seems like there are a couple of issues. 1) Just handle the car window problem. Call your local auto glass shop, schedule the repair, pay for it and apologize to the owner of the vehicle and your client. 2) You have a problem with the foreman. Regardless of the safety issues regarding the guard, if you as the owner have instructed the supervisor that you do not want them removed, and he gave permission to your employee, then you need to deal with the supervisor. You have a responsibility to listen to your employees and consider opinions, but once you have made a decision, your staff should be expected to follow your decision.

[DennisF]

Removing the guards is stupid. If some bystander is injured by flying debris from the trimmer and the guard has been removed, your insurance company could refuse to cover any loss, since you were using equipment with the safety devices removed. That would leave you the owner on the hook if a law suit were filed for personal injury.
Consider yourself lucky, and pay for the glass repair. Make sure that no employee removes any safety device from any tool, and if they do....fire them.