Keeping the lawn mowed is a regular responsibility for many of us. Lawn maintenance might not seem dangerous, but it is important to take precautions just in case.
Thousands of people suffer injuries each year as a result of being unprepared or careless while mowing their lawns. As a result, you should take all essential safety measures to protect yourself and others from harm while mowing.
We’ll go over some basic precautions you should take before, during, and after mowing the lawn. By adhering to these recommendations, you can safely and responsibly enjoy a well-kept lawn while reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
Mowing Safety Tips
Mowing The Lawn
Keep the kids away from the grass while you mow it to prevent any accidents. Before using a lawn mower, it is important to familiarise oneself with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Mowing should be avoided during thunderstorms, when the grass is damp, and when there is not enough light. Clear the area to be mowed of any debris, such as stones, toys, or twigs that could be picked up and flung by the lawn mower.
The lawnmower, as well as any safety features, such as guards, shields, and grass catchers, should be in good working order. A ground fault circuit interrupter should be included in an electric lawn mower to protect the user from electrocution. It’s very discouraging to have kids ride shotguns on ride-on mowers or tractors.
Wearing sturdy closed-toe shoes with slip-proof soles, safety goggles, close-fitting clothing, or glasses with side shields, and hearing protection can all help keep you safe while mowing the lawn. Also, keep an eye out for holes or bumps that may be concealed by tall grass, as well as any debris that the mower blades may pick up and throw.
Be wary of corners, trees, and anything else that can obscure your line of sight. If the mower collides with something, the operator must immediately stop, shut it off, and check for damage. The lawnmower shouldn’t be used if it’s broken; wait to fix it.
Only when absolutely essential should you mow backwards, and even then, you should check carefully for youngsters behind you. Care must be used when mowing a hillside. Mowing up and down slopes with a walk-behind mower can be dangerous because of the risk of falling under the blades. However, when using a riding mower, it’s important to mow in the direction of the slope rather than across it.
Remember that lawn trimmers have the potential to launch things at tremendous velocity. If you are using a lawn mower, you should be aware of your surroundings at all times and keep children away from the area you are working in.
Wear Proper Footwear
Sandals are not an appropriate footwear choice for mowing the lawn. Sandals are not recommended since they are less stable and could result in contact with moving or hot parts if you trip or fall. Wearing sandals raises the risk of injury when getting on a riding or zero-turn mower.
Avoid Yard Missiles
Before you start mowing, pick up stones, branches, toys, sprinklers, and other items that could fly up and smash your windows or those of your neighbours. If you happen to see something you missed as you’re mowing, there’s no need to backtrack. Just grab it and go with it.
Don’t Pull Backward
If you can help it, avoid having a lawnmower pulled towards you. If you lose your footing, the mower could easily be pulled on top of you. The risk is very real and substantial.
Remove The Spark Plug Before Changing Blades
Before working on your lawnmower, check sure the engine is off and the spark plug is removed. Wear protective gear and exercise caution when working near the blades or other moving parts.
When working on the blade, the spark plug must always be removed. A slight tap on the blade at the peak of the compression stroke could propel the piston over the “hump” and into the power stroke. If you do this, the blade may suddenly thrust forwards, striking your hand.
Use Caution When Refueling
Use extreme caution when refuelling your lawn mower to avoid accidents. Before refuelling, always let the engine cool down by turning it off, and always use a funnel to prevent gasoline spillage.
Turn off the mower and wait for the blades to stop spinning before crossing any roadways, gravel, or other surfaces.
Remove the grass catcher and clear out the discharge funnel only after the mower has been turned off and the blades have stopped spinning. To further avoid injury, you shouldn’t leave the mower alone until the blades have stopped spinning.
Mind The Hills
Mow up and down the hill because riding mowers topple sideways more frequently than forwards or backwards. Using push mowers, mow the slopes from side to side.
This will prevent you from falling into the mower or having the mower roll back towards you if you happen to slip. Mowing wet grass on hills is very dangerous, regardless of the sort of mower you use.
Wear Hearing Protection
Exposure to noises in excess of 85 dB over extended periods of time can be harmful to hearing, as reported by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 100 dB of noise can be generated by a lawn mower.
Keep Clear Of Moving Blades
Do not try to clear the chute, alter the wheel’s height, inspect the blades, or perform any other task that could put your limbs in the path of the spinning blades. The justifications are simple to see. Never knot the safety lever or turn off the death switch.
FAQs About Lawn Mowing
How Often Should I Inspect My Lawn Mower?
It’s a good idea to inspect your lawn mower before each use to make sure it’s in good working condition.
Can I Mow The Lawn In The Rain?
It’s best to avoid mowing the lawn in the rain, as wet grass can be more difficult to cut and can pose a slipping hazard.
Can I Let My Child Ride On The Lawn Mower With Me?
No, it’s not safe for children to ride on or operate lawn mowers, as they can be seriously injured by the blades or flying debris.
What Should I Do If I’m Feeling Tired Or Dizzy While Mowing?
Take a break and rest before continuing, and make sure to stay hydrated and well-rested before mowing.
How Should I Store My Lawn Mower During The Off-Season?
Store your lawn mower in a cool, dry place and keep it out of reach of children and pets. Additionally, make sure the fuel tank is empty before storing it.
TYPES OF LAWN MOWER INJURIES
- Cuts: Blades can cause cuts everywhere on the body, although they tend to happen on the hands and feet. The bacteria in even minor cuts and wounds can be harmful. Antibiotics are frequently required due to the prevalence of infections.
- Burns: Burns can be caused by a lawn mower’s hot motor, gas tank, or exhaust.
- Missile Injuries: Wires and other things in the yard that become caught in the blades’ rotation might inflict serious harm.
- Fractures: If you come into contact with a mower’s spinning blades, you risk serious injury.
- Amputations: Mower blades are extremely sharp and can easily amputate limbs. It is sometimes necessary to amputate a body part because of the severity of the burn, cut, or fracture.
Conclusion
The text’s primary focus is on lawn mowing safety procedures. The area to be mowed should be free of any obstructions, children should be kept away from the grass, safety goggles, close-fitting clothing, or glasses with side shields, and hearing protection should be worn, and the mower operator should be wary of corners, trees, and anything else that might obstruct the operator’s line of sight.
The operator must promptly stop, turn off, and inspect the mower for damage if it collides with something. Keep youngsters away from the area while you mow the lawn, and be mindful of your surroundings. Avoiding yard missiles necessitates that you do not wear sandals while mowing the lawn.
Remove the spark plug while switching blades, and be careful when fueling the mower before use. Last but not least, if you need to cross a road, gravel, or other surface while driving a lawnmower, be sure to turn it off and wait for the blades to stop spinning before proceeding.
The discharge funnel and grass collector must be removed and cleaned once the mower has been turned off and the blades have stopped whirling. Always mow uphill and downhill, use hearing protection, stay away from moving blades, and don’t tie the safety lever or flip the kill switch. Damage from lawnmower blades includes lacerations, burns, shattered bones, and even amputations.
Content Summary
- Keeping the lawn mowed is a regular responsibility for many of us.
- Lawn maintenance might not seem dangerous, but it is important to take precautions just in case.
- As a result, you should take all essential safety measures to protect yourself and others from harm while mowing.
- We’ll go over some basic precautions you should take before, during, and after mowing the lawn.
- By adhering to these recommendations, you can safely and responsibly enjoy a well-kept lawn while reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
- Keep the kids away from the grass while you mow it to prevent any accidents.
- Before using a lawn mower, it is important to familiarise oneself with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- The lawnmower, as well as any safety features, such as guards, shields, and grass catchers, should be in good working order.
- Wearing sturdy closed-toe shoes with slip-proof soles, safety goggles, close-fitting clothing, glasses with side shields, and hearing protection can all help keep you safe while mowing the lawn.
- The lawnmower shouldn’t be used if it’s broken; wait to fix it.
- Only when absolutely essential should you mow backwards, and even then, you should check carefully for youngsters behind you.
- Care must be used when mowing a hillside.
- Mowing up and down slopes with a walk-behind mower can be dangerous because of the risk of falling under the blades.
- However, when using a riding mower, it’s important to mow in the direction of the slope rather than across it.
- If you are using a lawn mower, you should be aware of your surroundings at all times and keep children away from the area you are working in.
- Wearing sandals raises the risk of injury when getting on a riding or zero-turn mower.
- If you can help it, avoid having a lawnmower pulled towards you.
- If you lose your footing, the mower could easily be pulled on top of you.
- Before working on your lawnmower, check sure the engine is off, and the spark plug is removed.
- Wear protective gear and exercise caution when working near the blades or other moving parts.
- When working on the blade, the spark plug must always be removed.
- Use extreme caution when refuelling your lawn mower to avoid accidents.
- Remove the grass catcher and clear out the discharge funnel only after the mower has been turned off and the blades have stopped spinning.
- To further avoid injury, you shouldn’t leave the mower alone until the blades have stopped spinning.
- Using push mowers, mow the slopes from side to side.
- This will prevent you from falling into the mower or having the mower roll back towards you if you happen to slip.
- Mowing wet grass on hills is very dangerous, regardless of the sort of mower you use.
- Exposure to noises in excess of 85 dB over extended periods of time can be harmful to hearing, as reported by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Do not try to clear the chute, alter the wheel’s height, inspect the blades, or perform any other task that could put your limbs in the path of the spinning blades.
- Never knot the safety lever or turn off the death switch.
- The bacteria in even minor cuts and wounds can be harmful.
- Burns: Burns can be caused by a lawn mower’s hot motor, gas tank, or exhaust.
- Fractures: If you come into contact with a mower’s spinning blades, you risk serious injury.
- It is sometimes necessary to amputate a body part because of the severity of the burn, cut, or fracture.
