LawnMower Tips

A lawnmower (often spelled as one word—lawnmower) is atype of mower, used to Lawn Mower

cut grass to an even length on a smaller scale. Mowers were inventedin Britain in 1830 by Edwin Beard Budding, primarily to cut the lawnon sports grounds and expansive gardens. Since many sports had justbeen invented in Britain that required a flat soft ground (such as croquet,cricket, soccer and rugby), a more efficient way of making uniform lengthgrass was needed, and so the mower was born.

Lawnmower safety is important in rural areas where large yardsare common. Mowing and maintenance around farm buildings and equipmentis almost a year-round task, often one of the first farm chores delegatedto young family members. Because mowing consumes so much time and routinelyinvolves inexperienced operators, safety is a real concern. Every yearthousands of people are injured in lawn mower accidents.

Last Updated - 13th November 2005

LawnMower hazards

The mower is a cutting machine designed to trim grass but has thepotential to cut anything that is placed in its path. The cuttingedge of the mower blade can travel at speeds of up to 200 miles perhour. Even a dull blade at that speed can slice fingers and toes thatget in its way.

Other materials, such as toys, stones, sticks, and equipment parts,can become projectiles when struck by the blade. These items, too,can travel up to 200 miles per hour as they leave the discharge chute.Items thrown from mowers can cause serious injury to other peoplein the area or to the operator when there is no rear guard. Thrownitems also can cause property damage.

In addition to cutting and projectile dangers, mowers also can causeburns. The muffler and cylinder head heat up during operation, andremain hot for some time after the engine has been turned off.

Fuel is another danger. Most mowers are powered by gasoline-drivencombustion engines. Gasoline is a very explosive and flammable materialthat should be treated with respect. One gallon of gasoline combinedwith the correct amount of air is equivalent to 83 pounds of dynamite.Gasoline is flammable because it vaporizes with air to form a mixturethat ignites easily. Vaporization can occur in temperatures as lowas zero degrees.

Safe practices

Prepare lawn for mowing. Every time before you mow, check your lawnfor items such as sticks, rocks, toys, sports equipment, dog bones,wire, and equipment parts. Make sure miscellaneous items are not hiddenin tall grass. Also look for and remember immovable objects, suchas pipes, or partially buried rocks. Running into a fixed object canshatter the blade and throw jagged chunks of metal out the dischargechute or under the housing.

Handle fuel with care. Always use care when filling the tank withgasoline. Wipe up spills. Never fill the tank on a mower that hasbeen operating and is hot. Vapors from the gasoline can be ignitedby a hot muffler.

Wear appropriate clothes. Close-fitting clothes are less likelyto get caught on controls or moving parts. Long pants and sturdy leathershoes protect you from flying sticks, stones, or other items not caughtby the rear guard. Shoes also should provide good traction. A canvasor opentoed shoe cannot protect your foot if it slips into the blade.When mowing for long periods of time or if noise is objectionable,wear hearing protection such as earplugs.

Use safe mowing techniques. - Make sure other people, especiallychildren, are out of the area. Young children should be supervisedin the house while the yard is being mowed. They cannot understandthe dangers, and the operator may not hear or see children approach.
Never point the discharge chute at anyone. You never know when somethingwill be thrown from the mower. Never run the mower over gravel.

Do not mow wet grass. Wet grass is slippery and the operator canlose footing, slip under the mower, or allow the mower to roll backwards.Wet grass also clogs the discharge chute and can cause the engineto falter. When this happens, always turn off the engine and waita few seconds for the blades to stop rotating before correcting it.

Use care on inclines. Some slopes are too steep to mow safely, souse good judgment. Always push walk-behind mowers across slopes toavoid coming in contact with the mower (e.g., by sliding down thehill onto the mower, or allowing the mower to roll backwards on topof operator). Drive riding mowers up and down slopes.

Never leave a running mower unattended. When you leave the operator'sposition the mower should be turned off. New models have an operatorpresence switch that automatically kills the engine when the operatorreleases the handle.

Disconnect spark plug to service. Disconnect the spark plug whenyou work on the mower. This prevents the engine from accidentallybeing started. Many people are hurt every year because mowers startunexpectedly when the blade is turned by hand. Keep all parts in workingcondition. Fluid leaks (gas or oil), blade sharpening, and balancingmay require professional service.

Safe mower features

Safety features on newer mowers help prevent hazardous situationsthat can lead to injury. Do not disconnect special features or controlsto avoid using them. Look for a shield on the back blade housing behindthe rear wheels of the mower. This shield protects the operator'sfeet from exposure to the blade and thrown objects.

A deadman switch, or operator presence switch, requires the operatorto hold the device to keep the mower running. If for some reason theoperator releases the switch, the engine is turned off. When placedat the correct location, the switch makes it physically impossiblefor an operator to hold the switch and reach down to the danger areawhere the blade is operating. Some switches also have a braking devicethat stops blade rotation.

Other solutions

Think of the layout of the yard and ways to make mowing safer. Doyou have steep slopes that are dangerous and difficult to mow? Arethere lots of trees with low-hanging branches to mow around? Retainingwalls can help reduce inclines, and flower beds eliminate the needfor mowing in difficult areas. Adding mulch one to three feet arounda tree (depending on size) makes trimming easier. Keep trees prunedproperly so that you can see while mowing. Filling depressions orlow spots ith soil can help you prevent sprains.

Additional Safety Tips

Carefully read and follow safety instructions in your owner's manual.

Periodically check the lawn mower.

Make sure nuts, bolts and screws are tight.

Remove grass, debris and excessive grease from the engine.

Fill gas tank outdoors while the engine is cold. Stay away fromall heat sources (including cigarettes. Immediately wipe up any spills.Replace gas cap securely.

Set the blade height for at least 2 to 3 inches.

Avoid loose clothing and jewelry

Tie back long hair

Make sure the lawn mower is on level ground when you start it.

Stay clear of the blades when starting your lawn mower

Allow no one, especially children and animals, in the area whereyou are working.

If someone approaches you while you are mowing the lawn, turn offthe engine.

Move across, rather than up or down, a slope.

Never make a sharp turn on a slope.

Frequently remove debris from the blades with a stick. Be sureto turn the engine off first and wait for the blades to stop. Unplugan electric mower and disconnect the spark plug on a gasoline-poweredmower.

Turn the engine off if you need to leave the mower unattended.

Always put the mower away after you use but let the engine cooloff first.

Walk behind power mowers.

Never raise or tilt the mower once it is running.

Do not carry passengers on riding mowers.

Look behind you before you back up on a riding mower to be sureno one has strayed into the area.

Mow slowly and avoid holes and sudden drops while on a riding mowerwhich could cause the machine to overturn.

When getting off a riding mower, be sure the blade is disengagedand the transmission is in PARK.

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