E-356 07/05

Lawn Maintenance Safety

David W. Smith, Extension Safety Program The Texas A&M University System

Most homeowners do not consider lawn a clutch handle or switch that stops the blade within 3 maintenance to be dangerous. However, the Consumer seconds after the operator lets go. Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that more Walk-behind mowers can be extremely dangerous than 230,000 people per year are treated for injuries from to operators and bystanders when safety guards are lawn and garden tools. These tools include lawn mowers, removed, safety shut-down devices disabled or when the trimmers, edgers and other power equipment. Injuries mowers are operated in a manner or environment that is include minor to severe burns and lacerations, broken unsafe. To prevent injury: and dislocated bones, eye injuries and loss of fi ngers, • Remove any toys, limbs, rocks, wire or glass from toes and legs. In 2001, the CPSC reported 167 deaths the yard before mowing. Locate all sprinkler associated with lawn and garden tools, more than half heads, exposed electrical wire or cords, tree involving riding lawn mowers and garden tractors. stumps or exposed roots and pipe. You can avoid accidents like these by making safety • Keep your hands and feet away from the blade a regular part of lawn maintenance, particularly when area while the mower is running. using lawn mowers and other power tools. • Never reach into the discharge chute to clear away grass or other obstructions when the blades Lawn Mowers are turning. • Never bypass the engine kill handle or remove Mowers can be walk-behind or the riding variety. the shields when mowing. Both types of mower present similar hazards to • Mow back and forth along the side of a steep hill, operators, bystanders and animals that may be nearby. never up and down the slope. Rotary blades under the mower rotate at about 200 miles • Don’t point the discharge chute toward per hour, or 300 feet per second. Though somewhat bystanders. protected by guards, all mowers are dangerous when • Wear boots or shoes with good traction to avoid the operator uses poor judgment or fails to follow safety slipping or falling. procedures. • Don’t allow children to operate a walk-behind mower they cannot safely control. Walk-Behind Mowers • To avoid spilling fuel, use a funnel when Walk-behind mowers include self-propelled and refueling a hot engine. Clean up any fuel spills push-type mowers. These mowers are commonly used immediately. by young children because they are lightweight and easy • Never smoke while servicing, operating or to manipulate. refueling a mower. Several safety features on • Wear long pants, hard shoes, safety glasses, these mowers protect users against earplugs, etc., to protect yourself against fl ying accidental injury. For example, debris and noise. all new mowers have directional • Allow the engine to cool before returning it to a fl aps or shielded discharge outlets storage shed. that direct grass and any other • Turn the power off and disconnect the spark plug projectiles away from the operator. wire before cleaning, inspecting, adjusting or Since 1978, walk-behind lawn repairing the cutting blade. mowers have been equipped with • Don’t run a gasoline-powered mower inside a • Don’t operate a riding mower when under the storage shed-this could cause carbon monoxide infl uence of alcohol or other drugs that impair poisoning. judgment. • Never touch the spark plug with your hand or a • Don’t let children play on the lawn where you tool when the mower is running. are mowing; they could be struck by fl ying • Never leave a running mower unattended, objects. especially when children are nearby. • Don’t let children operate riding mowers until • Don’t mow a wet lawn. Slipping on rain-soaked they have had proper instruction and can safely grass is the leading cause of foot injury by power steer, brake and adjust gears. mowers. • Keep the cord behind you when using an electric Power Tools mower. Trail it over your shoulder and always In addition to mowers, other power tools help us mow away from the cord. manicure and shape our landscapes. Electric and gas- Riding Mowers powered weed trimmers, lawn edgers, hedge trimmers Riding mowers save homeowners valuable time and and leaf blowers do the work that used to take days and energy. These small tractors are much more powerful backaches to accomplish. However, this equipment can than walk-behind mowers and move two to three times be dangerous. In 1989, the CPSC reported that power as fast. To avoid accidents lawn trimmers or edgers caused about 4,600 injuries on riding mowers or larger requiring emergency- room treatment. About one-third tractors, it is important to use of the injuries were to the eye. safe driving techniques and Weed trimmers can throw stones, sticks and other safety devices. objects at high speeds. Lawn edgers with metal blades According to the CPSC, in can cut through underground objects, splinter concrete or 2001, more than half the cause sparks. Hedge trimmers are sometimes heavy, and 167 deaths from lawn and fatigue can cause cutting accidents. Leaf blowers are loud garden tools involved riding and can produce air gusts in excess of 200 miles per hour mowers and garden tractors. that can lift small rocks and other objects into the air. Modern riding mowers come with seat safety Users must take special care to prevent these accidents switches that stop the cutting blades whenever the driver with these tools. leaves the seat. Some riding mowers also have safety Weed Trimmers interlocks that prevent the mower from starting unless • Before trimming, remove all controls are in proper position and the driver is in the glass, limbs, rocks and trash seat. In addition to the safety tips listed for walk-behind that could become projectiles. mowers, take these precautions when using a riding • Watch for exposed electrical mower: wires, communication lines • Don’t allow extra riders. and extension cords to avoid • Test drive the mower and become familiar with it damaging them with the before engaging the blades. trimmer string. • Put the riding mower into neutral before starting • Don’t remove protective guards and string it or turning it off. guides. • Watch for holes and hidden hazards. • Monitor the string length. Automatic-feed and • Don’t drive too close to a creek, ditch or any bump-feed trimmers may release more string other obstruction. than you think and cause the string to strike you • Make sure the transmission is in neutral and unexpectedly. the mower blade disengaged before starting the • Make sure all children and bystanders are out of engine. the way before you begin trimming. • Mow up and down sloping terrain. Do not mow • Protect yourself with long pants, long-sleeve across a slope. shirts, gloves, hard boots, goggles or safety • Keep the mower in gear when going down glasses,, and earplugs. slopes. • With electric trimmers, inspect all extension • Slow down when turning and when working on cords for cuts, nicks or scrapes. Exposed wires slopes. are an electrical hazard. Replace damaged cords • Always look behind you before backing the immediately. mower. • Don’t operate electric trimmers around water • Disengage the mower blade when on pavement, puddles or in wet conditions. sidewalks or gravel lanes. • Unplug electric trimmers and turn off gas- pose an electrical hazard. Replace damaged cords powered trimmers before inspecting, cleaning, immediately. adjusting or replacing the string. • Don’t operate electric blowers around water • Never leave an electric trimmer plugged in or a puddles or when conditions are wet. gas-powered trimmer running while unattended. • Before refueling, place the gas-powered trimmer Lawn and Garden on the ground and allow the engine to cool. Chemicals Lawn Edgers Homeowners and • Make sure all children and bystanders are at a landscape maintenance safe distance before starting the edger. companies periodically • Don’t start an edger if the blade is touching the apply natural and synthetic ground. It could move unpredictably and injure insecticides, herbicides your feet or legs. and fungicides to control • Watch out for exposed electrical wires, a variety of insects, weeds communication lines and extension cords that and plant diseases. If you use a lawn and garden could be struck by the edger. chemical, read the product label carefully to determine • Wear goggles or safety glasses to guard against its toxicity to humans, animals and the environment. fl ying objects. The label will give the recommended application rate • Don’t remove the protective guards or shields. and instructions, and will list any protective clothing or • Operate the edger at full blade speed. equipment required. Use only the amount of chemical • When edging along roadways, stay as close to specifi ed. the curb as possible to avoid being hit by passing Consider the potential effects on the environment vehicles. and benefi cial insects in your landscape when selecting • Never leave an electric- or gas-powered edger lawn and garden chemicals. For example, instead of plugged in or running while unattended. using a general-purpose pesticide, use a product that • Unplug or turn off an electric or gas-powered treats only the specifi c problem. edger before inspecting, cleaning, adjusting or Other precautions include: replacing the blade. • Keep children and animals away from the application area. Follow label directions Hedge Trimmers regarding re-entry into the treated area. • Wear gloves, goggles or safety glasses and ear • Protect your skin, eyes and nose during and after plugs. application. • Make sure all screws, blades or chains are secure. • Close all doors and windows to the house. Vibrating equipment can cause the screws to • Remove animal water and food containers. loosen. Protect bird baths and fi sh ponds from chemical • Keep extension cords clear of blades. exposure. • Disconnect extension cords and shut down hedge • Avoid over-irrigating treatment area because trimmers before inspecting, cleaning, adjusting pesticides may be washed away or become or replacing the blades. concentrated in standing water puddles. • Do not leave hedge trimmers unattended; they • Use only the recommended amount. Excess have sharp blades and can injure children and application will not do a better job. others. • After application, store extra chemicals out of • Never use an electric hedge trimmer overhead. reach of children and pets. If the trimmer becomes lodged, disconnect the • Never store lawn and garden chemicals with or power before trying to dislodge it. near food, animal feeds or medical supplies. • Keep chemicals locked in a well-ventilated Leaf Blowers storage area, where temperatures stay above • Don’t use the blower to clean debris off of freezing and less than 90 degrees. yourself. • Be aware of pedestrians and others in the area. Taking precautions when using and maintaining Don’t direct the blower toward bystanders. lawn equipment and chemicals can help you avoid • Wear goggles or safety glasses and earplugs. accidents associated with lawn maintenance. • With electric blowers, inspect all extension cords for cuts, nicks, scrapes or exposed wire that could