Lawn Mower Safety tips

Lawn mowers can be dangerous and can cause serious injury if not used properly. Become familiar with the mower you intend to use and use good judgement and be safety-minded. Below are some safety guidelines we have put together to ensure you finish any mowing job safely. Have a great summer and “Happy mowing!”

Safety Guidelines

» Read the operator’s manual for safety instructions. Do make sure you follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

» Pick up all debris (stigs, stones, garden toys etc) before each mowing.

» Keep children and pets a safe distance away from lawn mowers. Before beginning to mow, send children and pets inside with an adult or older brother/sister. A fast moving mower blade can throw objects at speeds of up to 200 miles per hour or 100m in 1 second!

» Keep feet and hands away from blades when starting and running engine.

» Wear sturdy shoes and long trousers. Clothing protects the mower operator from thrown objects such as stones and other garden debris.  Earplugs protect hearing from the loud noise that an engine can make. Safety glasses or goggles protect the eyes from dust, dirt  and small rocks thrown out by the blade and the engine-cooling fan. Never wear anything that can be caught in the machine such as loose clothing or jewelery. Always tie back long hair.

» Be careful when working with petrol. Petrol can be extremely explosive! Fires can occur when re-filling a mower that is hot or still running. Never smoke around petrol. Try not to spill any petrol when filling. Always use a spout when filling to avoid spills. And never store petrol in a home or a utility building, especially near gas hot water heaters.

» Operate the lawn mower at a safe speed of travel and always push mower rather than pull it toward you. When using a riding mower only operate up and down steep slopes to reduce the chance of the mower overturning. A riding mower may overturn if it begins spinning on the uphill side of a slope. If the uphill mower wheel spins when going  across a slope, stop or turn down the slope immediately.

» Watch your footing on steep slopes and wet grass.

» Don’t leave a running engine unattended.

» Refuel the engine only when it is shut off and cool.

» Wear goggles when operating line trimmers, brushcutters and power edgers.

» Stop engine and disconnect spark plug wire before working on engine or blade.

» Keep the mower in good repair and adjustment.

» Never let someone else ride with you when operating a riding mower. This could be very dangerous.  Each year, injuries and even deaths occur because children ride as passengers on riding mowers, small tractors, and other machinery. A few minutes of fun riding is not worth the risk of injury or even death.

» And finally always leave your mower in a safe place away from children. It is extremely important that you park the mower properly when the job is complete. Small children find lawnmowers fascinating and like to copy older brothers/sisters and parents. Children may start a mower  may be unable to stop the mower before injuring themselves.