Over Engineering

A reference to modern groundskeeping or greenkeeping practices that typically have high or unnecessary, inputs of resources.

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  Overtime

Time that an employee carries out that is beyond normal hours, which will be defined in a contract of employment. Overtime might allow for additional payment from an employer, although this is not obligatory, in which case time-in-lieu should be given: the treatment of overtime, rates or lieu should be given in a contract of employment. In the grounds care industry, there can be a significant quantity of overtime hours built up, especially during renovation times, or as part of normal working practices where staff shortages are present. Care needs to be taken to ensure an excessive quantity of

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  Parameter

A quantity, value or variable used in measuring or assessing something. The word is commonly used when discussing or applying performance standards.

  Pareto Principle

A concept, which is also known as the 80/20 rule, that states that approximately 80% of an effect, consequence or an observation is related to approximately 20% of causes, features or characteristics. For example, 80% of sales might be made by 20% of a customer base, or 80% of comments might be received from 20% of a population or user group. Alternatively, 80% of the major influences on a turfgrass surface might be strongly related to 20% of performance standards, or 80% of a project outcome might be achieved by 20% of contributors. An analysis of a problem can be carried out to identify

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  Parkinson's Law

A work task can end up using all the available time allowed for its completion.

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  Performance Standard

An indicator of a product with a clearly defined measurable parameter. A numeric rating can be applied to each standard which describe the overall quality rating for a product. For example, if using the historic PQS framework this might be 5 for high, 3 for standard, 1 for basic, or 0 for below basic, or other ratings as required. The overall rating should be seen as indicative of the entire surface, although this will depend on the extent of the sampling undertaken and if the sampling locations are generally representative of the surface.

  Pesticide Management Hierarchy

A concept which is similar to that of the Waste Management Hierarchy, rather than the traditional Integrated Pest Management which is more suited to agricultural crops and which is not suited to turfgrass surfaces where a genuine focus on minimising and eliminating pesticides and sustainable practices are to be aimed for. See also Other IPM.

  Pesticide Use, Control Measures for

Effective control measures are needed to ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, as well as reducing waste, making efficient use of often expensive products, protects the health of workers and others, ...

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  Pesticide Use, Unsafe

The unsafe use (for example, include inaccurate application, poor handling, mixing, disposal or storage) of pesticides can create serious problems and risks to the environment, humans and wildlife. Examples of these include: • Users and other people, such as neighbours, passers-by: contamination resulting in illness or sickness, to skin irritation or burns, to breathing problems, and also death. • Adjacent properties and land: Soil, water, air contamination from spray drift or spillage, as well as illness to humans and animals, e.g. pets, reducing soil quality of micro-organisms. • Wildlife

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  Pesticides, Eliminating the use of

Whilst this significantly reduces, or eliminates, contamination and pollution of the environment from harmful substances, providing many benefits to wildlife, plants and humans, there can be numerous limitations and challenges which arise from eliminating pesticide use. These can include: • Increasing likelihood of the frequency and extent of damage from weeds, pests and diseases. • Increase in time and subsequent labour costs to carry out alternative control methods, especially an increase in time allocated for manual / physical and mechanical activities to reduce the conditions which are f

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