Be safe maintaining lawns

  • Published
  • By Mike Jett
  • 82nd Training Wing Safety Office
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Each year about 400,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries from lawn and garden tools. About 25,300 people are injured and 75 people are killed on or near riding lawnmowers and tractors.

Help prevent these mishaps by wearing the correct gardening gear, remember certain safety guidelines and taking the proper overall measures of precaution.

Dress appropriately

Appropriate clothing includes:
  • Long pants and long-sleeved shirts to avoid injuries from thrown objects like rocks or sticks
  • Close-fitting clothes and no jewelry to avoid getting anything caught in moving parts
  • Sturdy shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles
  • Eye protection
  • Hearing protection, such as ear plugs, when using motor-driven equipment
  • Heavy gloves protect hands when changing, sharpening or cleaning blades
Remember child safety

One out of every five deaths involves a child. It is estimated that most of the deaths to children occurred when a child was in the path of a moving mower.

Follow these tips to keep children safe:

  • Never let a child ride or operate a garden tractor or riding mower, even if the child is supervised.
  • Teenagers should only be allowed to operate outdoor power equipment if they possess adequate strength and maturity to do so safely. They also should be supervised by a responsible adult.
  • Keep children indoors and supervised at all times when any outdoor power equipment is being used. Young children move quickly and are attracted to mowers and mowing activity, especially if they have previously been given rides on mowers.
  • Never assume children will remain where you last saw them.
  • Be alert and turn off the mower if children enter the mowing area. Be sure power tools are turned off and made inoperable if they must be left unattended to prevent use by children.
Be cautious with lawn care equipment

Other lawn equipment can be dangerous even when it is not in use. For example, weed and hedge trimming equipment have sharp blades that can cut if the blades are mishandled.

Please consider the following precautions to prevent injuries from lawn and garden equipment:

  • Before starting up machinery, remove objects from the area in which you are working that can cause injury or damage equipment, such as sticks, glass, metal, wire and stones.
  • Make sure that safety devices on the equipment are in place and functioning properly before starting work.
  • Unplug electric tools and disconnect spark plug wires on gasoline-powered tools before making adjustments or clearing jams near moving parts.
  • Handle gas carefully. Never fill gasoline tanks while machinery is on or when equipment is still hot. Wipe up spills. Store gas in an approved container away from the house. Never smoke or use any type of flame around gasoline or any gasoline-powered equipment.
  • Do not work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions. For protection against electrocution, use a ground fault circuit interrupter. GFCIs come in several models, including a portable plug-in type. Be sure that extension cords are in good condition, are rated for outdoor use and are the proper gauge for the electrical current capacity of the tool.
  • Use extra care when backing up or when approaching corners, shrubs and trees.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission