Lawn Mower Safety in Landscaping

1. Types of lawn mower injuries include cuts, burns, fractures, amputations, and struck-by due to loose objects being thrown from blades.

2. Cuts can easily come from any type of equipment. However, mowers will likely cut your hands and feet due to the sharp blades. It's important to immediately apply first aid to wounds, regardless if it's small, to prevent bacterial infection.

3. The mower engine can become hot and can burn your hands, legs, and other parts of the body. Be aware of body placement and do not grab onto the mower's engine until after it has cooled.

4. The rotating blades on a mower can not only cause broken bones, but can cause amputation to a body part. In addition, a sever burn can require amputation to prevent infection or complications.

5. To prevent injuries from mower hazards, it's important to have proper training on how to operate and maintain mowers.

6. Do a pre-work inspection of the area you will be mowing and pick up any sticks, rocks, or other debris that could potentially become a projectile.

7. Always wear the appropriate PPE. You should wear hearing protection, safety glasses, gloves, long pants, and closed toed shoes. Face protection may be required or even a good idea.

8. If your mower has safety guards, do not remove unless performing maintenance as outlined in the operators manual.

9. Only grab where you can see. Do not pick up or move a mower by lifting from the bottom.

10. Never put your hands or feet to remove debris from the mower. Use a broom or a stick instead.

11. If performing maintenance on the machine, or if debris can't be removed any other way, turn off the mower and disconnect the spark plug. Before reaching in, test out the mower to make sure it won't turn on again.

12. In what other ways can you prevent injuries while using a mower?

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