It’s got to that time of year where when you step outside, you can feel the suns rays hit against your skin. With the weather warming that only means one thing…it’s lawn mowing season. And with regular lawn mowing you must make sure you are well aware of all safety hints and tips to keep yourself and those around you safe and protected.
Lawn mowers are one of the most helpful tools for garden maintenance, however they also have the potential to be incredibly dangerous. Every year there are reported injuries of people suffering from cuts, loss of fingers and toes, broken bones and many other types of injury just from improper use of a lawn mower.
Many injuries from lawn mowers can easily be prevented from concentration and common sense. We’ve put together a list of our most helpful lawn mower safety tips for safety precautions for using your mower.
- Wear suitable clothing – long trousers, long-sleeved shirts, eye and ear protection, gloves, closed-toed shoes with slip resistant soles. Mowers can easily throw stones up and other small objects back at you so protection is always necessary. Never ever mow your lawn bare foot or in sandals.
- Never cut on wet grass – This is particularly relevant if you have an electric lawnmower. Even with petrol machines it is dangerous as wet grass can increase the risk of slipping and hurting yourself.
- Only mow in daylight – This is similar to the point above, as you may trip and hurt yourself if you can’t see where you’re moving to.
- Slopes – Use extra caution when mowing hills and slopes. Mow across slopes to avoid pulling the mower over your feet if you happen to slip, trip or fall.
- Push with your mower, don’t pull – By pushing your mower forward you remain in control of its whereabouts. By moving forward it also reduced the risk of tripping from walking backwards.
- Keep hands and feet safe – Hands and feet shouldn’t be used to touch or clean the lawn mower blade under any circumstances, even when the engine is off. If there is debris obstructing the blade, once you clear it, the blade can quickly swing around and cause injury.
- Maintain your lawnmower – Keep your machine in good working order. When using a lawn mower for the first time in a season, have it serviced to ensure that it is working correctly.
- Never leave your mower unattended – Do not leave a lawn mower unattended when it is running. If you must walk away from the machine, shut off the engine.
- Clear the area – Remove stones, toys and other objects from the lawn before you start mowing.
- No intoxication – Don’t drink alcohol before being tempted to start mowing your lawn.
- No children – Keep children away from lawnmowers at all times. They are not toys so don’t let them be mistaken for one.
- Always turn the engine off – Turn off the engine when crossing gravel paths, roads or other areas, removing the grass catcher, unclogging the discharge chute and walking away from the mower.
It is incredibly important to follow these tips to prevent any accidents. Mowing your lawn also requires common sense. If you feel like something could be dangerous or unsafe, then stop immediately.
