After reading an account of a lady who was seriously injured when a mower her husband was riding kicked up a horseshoe, I thought this would be a timely article.
When a person takes hold of any tool or power equipment, he or she becomes responsible for the safety of people and property in and around the work area. Take into consideration the following factors when running a lawnmower.
•Know your machine. Read the manual that came with it.
•Maintain your machine. Sharp blades, fresh oil and proper grease will not only make your mower last longer but also make it cut better and safer to use.
•Know the safety features of the mower. All power equipment has safety standards that must be met, along with guards, covers, switches and safety warnings all over the equipment. If these are removed, broken, bypassed or held out of place, they can certainly create a dangerous situation.
•Wear proper clothing. Long pants and safety glasses, especially when running a trimmer, can save lots of injuries.
•Walk the yard. Pick up and remove limbs, rocks and any foreign objects. Watch the ground as you cut for items that may be buried in the grass or overlooked.
•Know who will be, or may be, around. Sometimes children may get excited and run up to a person on a mower. Instruct the kids to play in a safe area, and watch for them to come around. Immediately disengage the blades should someone approach. Never give a ride to a passenger when the blade is engaged.
After all the recent rain, we will have plenty of yard work to do. Use a little common sense, be safe and remember, help is just around the corner at your local hardware store.
