You Can't Be Successful If You’re Hurt.
SAFETY:
Safety is the number one most important thing to remember and practice anytime you are around a pinsetter or anything mechanical or electrical. The rule of thumb is to always DISCONNECT POWER to the pinsetter that you are working on before attempting to do any repairs or maintenance.
There are various ways to turn a pinsetter on or off depending on the specifics of your bowling center. However, there is only one way to completely guarantee that power is not present and that is to unplug the main power cord that goes into the female receptacle on the top of the electrical box. Some people will turn off the main circuit breaker versus what we are recommending, but technically there is still incoming voltage present to the top of the breaker. Unplugging the machine is a 100% guarantee that you will be safe.
There are a number of things on a pinsetter that can potentially hurt the individual if they are not conscious of some simple rules of the workplace. Always make sure that you are not wearing extremely loose clothing when you are around a running machine. Jackets, sweaters and a variety of other types of clothing can get caught in moving belts, hang on hardware when you are trying to enter or exit a pinsetter, etc. Hair length is another one of those things that can be an issue. If you are allowed to have long hair, I can tell you from personal experience, tie it up or tuck it in a hat when you are around a running pinsetter. If your hair gets caught in a moving cross conveyor belt, I can tell you that it is quite painful and only had to happen one time for me to practice that safety measure going forward. The final thing most of us overlook is jewelry. It always a good idea to take off all your jewelry before working on a pinsetter. Not only do you risk catching your jewelry on something and possibly losing or damaging it, but you may also harm yourself if something like a ring becomes crushed and stuck on your finger.
AWARENESS:
To be aware is to be in control of not only your safety, but the environment that you are being asked to maintain. Pending your initial responsibilities as a pin chaser, try to be focused and aware of what should be considered normal versus abnormal. Many of the things that we have learned working in the back of a bowling center stemmed from what we were able to hear, see, and feel.
Listening can go a long way when it comes to catching problems before they become major catastrophes. Sounds tell you when you have a bearing failing, a loose or broken part, or something that is out of adjustment. There are normal operating noises and then there are the squeals, banging, crashing, and violent sounds. Make sure you learn the difference between the two categories.
The sound of a short turret belt “squealing” because the turret has not indexed for too long is a normal sound that is common in all bowling centers that have A series pinsetters. If you are behind a pinsetter that is emitting loud banging noises, that is a sign of a problem that needs to be addressed. A note should be left for the Chief Mechanic so they can attend to this issue as soon possible. When you have some free time in between your pin chaser duties, walk behind the pinsetters as they are running and listen to each one as you walk until you find the quietest one. That should be the benchmark for all of the pinsetters.
ENVIRONMENT:
Cleanliness is a critical factor that needs to be maintained in the back of the bowling center to promote a smooth and efficient operation. This should be an ongoing effort by the entire team on a daily basis. Ultimately, the cleanliness of the backend and shop area will be directed by your Head Mechanic if not the Owner. If things are organized, floors are swept, and things are put away, this promotes an efficient, safe, and organized environment.
I was taught growing up to always keep the runway clean and clear just like an actual airstrip. My mentor referred to the entire length and width of the floor behind the pinsetters as the “Runway”. We swept this every day and it was amazing what you would see sometimes when you came in the next morning. When the floor is perfectly clean and something falls out of the pinsetter or a bolt comes loose and falls on the floor, your eyes are drawn to it immediately. You deduce that since the floor is always clean this has to be from a pinsetter in the near area and you should start looking for where the part or bolt may have come from.
At the least, you can leave a note for your supervisor so they can do a complete and thorough evaluation. When the floor is constantly a mess and the runway is not clear you never have a base picture in your mind as to what it should look like. So always keep your eyes focused when you walk or sweep the runway.
Organization is the key to clearing a call or fixing a problem on a pinsetter in the least amount of time. Keep your tools organized and put them back after every use, preferably wiped down and clean. By making this a habit there will be no additional time spent thinking about where they may be. Bowlers do not like to have to wait longer that a minute, and in most times no longer than 30 seconds for a problem to be fixed.
The habits and recommendations throughout this document are made by everyone here at KPP because we have all had great success not only in machine performance but also within our career growth over many decades. Typically, great proprietors and business owners that have successful and busy bowling centers tend to follow this line of thinking in regard to hiring people, or at least that has been our collective experience. The better your work habits are, the faster you will have opportunities to learn and grow into a great Head Mechanic or Facility Manager.
We Thank You for taking the time to read this article and we hope it will be helpful in your journey forward.
Don Agent
Brand Manager, KPP