With the weather finally warming up, it’s time to hit the garden and make the best of it. Here we are again in the lawn mowing season,
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Although lawn mowers are one of the most efficient garden maintenance tools when it comes to saving time, they do have their dangers. Each year people lose toes, fingers and suffer from a multitude of injuries including broken bones caused by improper use.
By staying focused on the task, and using precautions it’s possible to avoid most lawn mower injuries. Here are some safety tips that will keep you safe from the mower:
- Wear suitable attire – mowers don’t waste time in throwing up any stones or other objects that are in their path. It’s for this reason that we recommend wearing eye protection, gloves, and long trousers and long sleeved t-shirts. To prevent you from taking a tumble, also consider wearing shoes that are both closed toe and slip resistant. Grass can be slippery. Never cut grass with sandals, flip flops or bare feet.
- Don’t mow when grass is wet –this is something that is particularly relevant for those with an electric lawnmower. Be wary of wet grass with other types of lawn mowers, as it’s easy to slip and hurt yourself.
- Mow during daylight hours – not being able to see what you’re doing and where you’re going could put you in danger. You don’t want to trip or slip over and cause an injury.
- Hills and slopes – the best way to handle inclines is to mow across them. If you choose to mow the other way, you are at risk of pulling the mower over your feet.
- Don’t pull, push – by pushing your mower you can retain control of what’s happening. It’s also a way to reduce tripping over backwards.
- Don’t leave it running – if you must walk away from your machine, be sure to switch it off
- No alcohol or children – the lawn mower should not be operated after drinking any alcohol or by children under the age of 16. It can be a danger.
If anything feels uncomfortable whilst you are mowing the lawn, stop what you’re doing immediately.
Take care this summer and save yourself an unpleasant and unnecessary visit to the hospital caused by not following our lawnmower safety tips.