Lawn Mower Safety
Lawn mowers enable homeowners and groundskeepers to keep neat, appealing grass simply by mowing. Many youngsters earn extra money by mowing lawns. However, a lawn mower can be extremely dangerous if it is not handled properly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year lawn mowers injure over 110,000 people seriously enough to require treatment in hospital emergency rooms.
What can be done to prevent lawn mower accidents? The following practices will prevent most accidents:
- Read the operator’s manual. Read the instructions and then follow these instructions carefully. The manual explains safe procedures that should be followed.
- Train operator. Be sure anyone operating the mower understands how the mower operates. Then demonstrate how it should be used. Observe the operator until satisfied that he/she can handle the mower safely.
- Check your lawn before mowing. Objects picked up and hurled by the blade cause many injuries, even deaths. Clear the lawn of sticks, stones, toys, bones and other objects.