Lawn Mower Safety
The lawn power is considered to be one of the most dangerous tools at home. Each year, more than 10,000 people are brought to the hospital due to lawn mower related accidents. The sad part is that many of the victims are below 18 years of age.
The range of injuries often treated includes deep cuts, minor burns, loss of fingers or toes, broken bones and a lot more. Believe it or not, even people who are not using the lawn mower directly also get hurt. To prevent this from happening, you should be well aware of the proper use of the lawn mower.
When you are using the lawn mower for the first time, be sure you read all the safety information located in the operator’s manual.
Companies are well aware of the dangers of using a lawn mower and have already installed certain safety devices. Never tamper with it and be sure to check that these are working properly.
Before you work on your lawn, walk around to see if there are any stones, toys and other objects which might enter the machine and fly out causing serious injury.
Since children are sometimes the victim of lawn mower accidents, keep them away from it. If you are working on the lawn and your children are nearby, have them supervised by another adult because if the lawn mower you have does not have a bag to collect the debris, this may fly out and cause an injury.
Children should never be allowed to ride the lawn mower because this is not a toy. There have been incidents where children who were riding accidentally fell of the lawn mower and have been badly injured.
One way to prevent that from happening is to put a collection bag near your lawn mower. You can also put a plate that covers the opening where the cut grass is released.
If you have finished working in one area and have to move to another one, make sure that the mower blade has stopped moving before leaving the current location.
Proper attire must be worn when working with a lawn mower. So you don’t accidentally slip when and have your toes cut by the blade, be sure you are wearing shoes and not sandals. Since the motor of a lawn mower is very noisy, you better wear some protection for your ears.
When you are cleaning the lawn mower, be sure you are wearing protective goggles and gloves so grease does not get on your hands or eyes.
If you have a gasoline powered lawn mower, be sure to put fuel outdoors and not inside the garage or tools shed. It will also be a good idea to do it only when the motor is cool because gas is flammable.
For those who have not yet bought a lawn mower, it is best to get one that will stop moving once you let go off the handle. This is also known as a dead man’s switch which is very useful safety feature.
The lawn mower is a machine that should only be used by an adult. Although some parents let their children mow the lawn as a chore, these people have to be aware of the safety precautions so they or others will not sustain any injuries as well.
