Routine task can turn treacherous – what to know before you mow
Of all the tools you have in your home, basement, and garage or shed, the power lawn mower is one of the most dangerous. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 60,000 injuries are treated by hospital emergency rooms every year because of unsafe operation of power lawn mowers. Also statistics show that kids and teens under the age of 15 are especially vulnerable to injury from lawn mowers. Many teenagers perform mowing services and other lawn care maintenance as part of their summer jobs. This may be the main reason why that age group tops the injury list, but everyone using lawn mowing equipment needs to use their head and follow safety rules regardless of their age.
Kathy Haywood, program coordinator of Agricultural Safety and Health for The Ohio State University Extension and local spokesperson for the Holmes County OSU Extension office, advises people to read all manuals and operating guides that come with their lawn equipment. There are many safety features that come equipped on most mowers and it’s important to know exactly how your mower works and what safety features are available.
“Know your mower,” Haywood suggested. “The owner’s manual and operating guides that are required by law to accompany equipment and mowers are required for a reason. These documents contain specific information about the particular piece of equipment that you are using. It’s important to know what safety features the manufacturer has put in place and how they recommend using the equipment.”
Haywood also reminds everyone of a very obvious fact.
“Lawn mowers only have one seat,” she stated. “This means there should only be one rider. This is extremely important and very simple to understand--one seat, one rider.”
While any child may enjoy riding a lawn mower with an adult it should never be done. A child can easily fall off a mower and get hit by the blades, which incidentally are spinning at up to 200 mph. Forty percent of all injuries are caused by falling or jumping from mowers. Also, allowing children to ride on a lawn mower sends a false message, that lawn mowers are fun and toys. In truth, they are dangerous equipment that should only be operated by adults.
Haywood also cautions people that are using lawn mowers with ROPS (roll-over protective structures) to make sure the ROPS are locked in their upright position when operating the mower. When mowing, individuals should also avoid steep hills or slopes.
“Making sure you’re in the safest position at all times is the goal,” she added. “If you have a bank or hill that is steep, you should really avoid it with a riding mower. Use a push mower or weed-eat the area. Also make sure all objects are picked up in the yard before mowing (including rocks, trees branches, and toys). Watch any slope that you may be mowing. Always wear good, sturdy shoes when working around mowers and avoid mowing wet grass.”
In addition to these common safety practices, it’s a good idea to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go. This keeps control in your hands at all times. Manufacturers of mowers also recommend that children younger than 16 years not be allowed to use ride-on mowers and children younger than 12 years not be allowed to use walk-behind mowers.
Make sure that children are indoors or at a safe distance well away from the area that you plan to mow.
Start and refuel mowers outdoors, not in a garage or shed. Mowers should be refueled with the motor turned off and cool.
Make sure that blade settings (to set the wheel height or dislodge debris) are done by an adult, with the mower off and the spark plug removed or disconnected.
Also, do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse. Running over an individual is always the most severe accident that happens with any mower. Coming in contact with the blade is catastrophic. Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
Even though most of us have heard these warnings and rules many times, every year there continues to be several fatalities and thousands of injuries involving lawn mowers. Naturally the summer months are the most deadly for mower accidents so be aware when you mow and practice safety at all times.
Kathy Haywood, program coordinator of Agricultural Safety and Health for The Ohio State University Extension and local spokesperson for the Holmes County OSU Extension office, advises people to read all manuals and operating guides that come with their lawn equipment. There are many safety features that come equipped on most mowers and it’s important to know exactly how your mower works and what safety features are available.
“Know your mower,” Haywood suggested. “The owner’s manual and operating guides that are required by law to accompany equipment and mowers are required for a reason. These documents contain specific information about the particular piece of equipment that you are using. It’s important to know what safety features the manufacturer has put in place and how they recommend using the equipment.”
Haywood also reminds everyone of a very obvious fact.
“Lawn mowers only have one seat,” she stated. “This means there should only be one rider. This is extremely important and very simple to understand--one seat, one rider.”
While any child may enjoy riding a lawn mower with an adult it should never be done. A child can easily fall off a mower and get hit by the blades, which incidentally are spinning at up to 200 mph. Forty percent of all injuries are caused by falling or jumping from mowers. Also, allowing children to ride on a lawn mower sends a false message, that lawn mowers are fun and toys. In truth, they are dangerous equipment that should only be operated by adults.
Haywood also cautions people that are using lawn mowers with ROPS (roll-over protective structures) to make sure the ROPS are locked in their upright position when operating the mower. When mowing, individuals should also avoid steep hills or slopes.
“Making sure you’re in the safest position at all times is the goal,” she added. “If you have a bank or hill that is steep, you should really avoid it with a riding mower. Use a push mower or weed-eat the area. Also make sure all objects are picked up in the yard before mowing (including rocks, trees branches, and toys). Watch any slope that you may be mowing. Always wear good, sturdy shoes when working around mowers and avoid mowing wet grass.”
In addition to these common safety practices, it’s a good idea to use a mower with a control that stops the mower from moving forward if the handle is let go. This keeps control in your hands at all times. Manufacturers of mowers also recommend that children younger than 16 years not be allowed to use ride-on mowers and children younger than 12 years not be allowed to use walk-behind mowers.
Make sure that children are indoors or at a safe distance well away from the area that you plan to mow.
Start and refuel mowers outdoors, not in a garage or shed. Mowers should be refueled with the motor turned off and cool.
Make sure that blade settings (to set the wheel height or dislodge debris) are done by an adult, with the mower off and the spark plug removed or disconnected.
Also, do not pull the mower backward or mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary, and carefully look for children behind you when you mow in reverse. Running over an individual is always the most severe accident that happens with any mower. Coming in contact with the blade is catastrophic. Always turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop completely before removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute, or crossing gravel paths, roads, or other areas.
Even though most of us have heard these warnings and rules many times, every year there continues to be several fatalities and thousands of injuries involving lawn mowers. Naturally the summer months are the most deadly for mower accidents so be aware when you mow and practice safety at all times.
Published: July 12, 2011
