Keep your staff on board: reducing vibration risks in professional mowing

Keep your staff on board with Ferris suspension 

Landscape contractors across Europe are facing the same challenge: fewer skilled workers available while workloads continue to grow. Crews are expected to maintain more hectares, cover more ground, and keep productivity high throughout long working days. But productivity does not depend on horsepower alone. Operator comfort, fatigue levels and long-term health all play a critical role in how efficiently work gets done.

Ferris zero turn mowers are designed with this reality in mind. Our unique IS^® (Independent Suspension) system helps reduce the shocks and vibrations operators experience when mowing rough terrain. The result is a machine that allows crews to work longer, maintain higher speeds and stay focused on the job at hand. 

Less fatigue means more productivity, and a better chance of keeping skilled operators on your team. A more comfortable working day contributes to higher job satisfaction and long-term retention.

Labour shortages are increasing pressure on crews

The labour shortage in the green industry is forcing landscape contractors to cover more hectares in a day with fewer workers, stretching employee productivity beyond its limits.

Traditional mowing equipment transfers every bump, rut and uneven surface directly to the operator. Over the course of a full working day, this constant exposure to shocks and vibration causes fatigue, discomfort and reduced concentration. Operators often compensate for this harsh ride by instinctively slowing down when terrain becomes rough. While this may protect the operator in the short term, it reduces overall productivity and prevents the mower from operating at its full potential.

Ferris mowers address this issue by absorbing terrain impacts before they reach the operator. This allows crews to maintain mowing speed while reducing strain on the body.

Why vibration matters in professional mowing

Many operators underestimate the impact vibration can have on the body. However, long-term exposure to vibration from machinery can lead to serious health problems.

Two main types of vibration exposure are associated with professional lawn care equipment:

Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV)

Hand-Arm Vibration occurs when vibration is transmitted through the hands and arms when operating powered equipment.

Prolonged exposure can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), a widely recognised industrial disease affecting the blood vessels, nerves, muscles and joints of the hand, wrist and arm.

Symptoms can include numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength and circulation problems. HAVS can be prevented with proper exposure management and equipment design, but once permanent damage occurs it cannot be reversed.

Whole-Body Vibration (WBV)

Whole-body vibration is transmitted through the seat and footrest of ride-on equipment.

Large shocks and jolts caused by uneven terrain can create stress on the spine and musculoskeletal system. Over time, this can lead to back pain, general discomfort and long-term health risks for operators who spend many hours operating mowing equipment.

European legislation on vibration exposure

To protect workers from excessive vibration exposure, legislation defines two key values for both hand-arm and whole-body vibration. These values represent daily exposure levels normalised to an 8-hour reference period.

These limits determine how employers must manage vibration exposure.

Equipment with a vibration exposure value equal to or below the action value can typically be used for a full working day.

When exposure levels fall between the action value and the limit value, employers are required to take measures to reduce vibration exposure. The limit value must never be exceeded.

Ferris zero turn mowers… No limits!

Ferris occupies a unique position in the professional mowing market. Ferris zero turn mowers are equipped with four-wheel Independent Suspension, similar to the suspension systems used in cars and modern agricultural tractors.

The suspension system reduces shocks and vibrations caused by both the terrain and the mower itself, two factors that can contribute significantly to operator fatigue during long working days.

Many operators instinctively slow down when mowing rough terrain to compensate for the harsh ride of conventional zero turn mowers. When protected from these effects with a Ferris suspended ride-on mower, the operator can maintain speed and fully utilise the horsepower available from the machine. This translates directly into higher productivity and more ground covered in less time.

Measurements show that Ferris mowers equipped with the unique IS^® suspension system operate below the vibration exposure action values referenced in the table above.

As a result, Ferris zero turn mowers can be used for a full 8-hour working day without restrictions related to vibration exposure limits.

How Ferris suspension works in practice

Ferris suspension systems are engineered as integrated components that work together with the mower chassis and cutting deck to maintain stability and consistent cut quality on uneven terrain.

As the wheels move over bumps and contours in the ground, the suspension absorbs much of the impact before it reaches the machine. At the same time, a reactive deck mounting system allows the mower deck to float independently, following the terrain rather than being forced rigidly along with the chassis.

This coordinated movement allows the deck to maintain a consistent cutting height while reducing shock loads transferred through the machine. The result is improved stability, reliable traction and consistent mowing performance across varying terrain conditions.

In short, this integrated design contributes to:

• More consistent cut quality on uneven terrain

• Improved traction and ground contact

• Greater machine stability at working speeds

• Reduced shock loads transferred through the chassis

Keeping skilled operators on your team

Employee turnover is one of the hidden costs many contractors underestimate. Recruiting and training new operators takes time, and productivity often drops during the transition period.

Providing equipment that reduces fatigue and improves operator comfort is a practical way to support staff retention. Operators who can work efficiently without excessive strain are more likely to stay motivated and perform consistently throughout the season.

Investing in equipment that prioritises operator comfort also sends a clear message to your crew: their wellbeing matters. Contractors who provide reliable, comfortable mowers create a better working environment and give their teams the tools they need to take pride in their work.

And in a competitive labour market, keeping experienced operators on your team is often just as important as the machines themselves. Ferris suspension helps you do both: keeping operators comfortably on board during the job, and on board with your business.

 

Feel the Ferris difference for yourself

Reading about comfort and reduced fatigue is one thing, experiencing it is another. 

Ready to see and feel what “work hard, feel good” really means in practice? Book your demo today.

Important information

The information contained on this page is intended for general information purposes only. Although we take the greatest care in compiling the information, we cannot guarantee that the information is complete, current or accurate. We accept no liability for direct or indirect damages resulting from the use of, reliance on, or actions taken based on the information provided.

About Briggs & Stratton

Briggs & Stratton, headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, provides innovative products and diverse power solutions to help people get work done. Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest producer of engines for lawn and garden, turf care and job site power equipment and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of lithium-ion batteries, standby generators and energy storage systems through its Briggs & Stratton^®, Vanguard^®, Ferris^®, Simplicity^®, Snapper^®, Billy Goat^®, Allmand^® and Branco^® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents. Learn more at BriggsandStratton.com.