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When lawn care is part of the maintenance of your facility, remember safety must be a top priority. Thousands of people are injured annually by improperly using mowers and weed trimmers. Bypassing safety devices, failing to wear protective clothing, wearing wet slippery shoes, and failing to remove debris from the area can all lead to injury. Simple precautions can eliminate and control hazards associated with lawn care work.
One easy and important step is to give your lawn equipment a spring tune-up. Follow your owner’s manual or take your equipment to a professional.
General Safety Precautions
- Before beginning any type of lawn work, walk over your property and remove debris, such as large sticks, hanging limbs, garbage, and wire that could possibly become a projectile.
- Never use electrical equipment in wet or damp areas.
- Always read the owner’s manual for all equipment, such as push and riding mowers, Weed eater, hedge trimmers, edgers, pressure washers, and grass catchers.
- Read manufacturer’s label for safety tips and precautions when using pesticides.
- Wear appropriate clothing, such as long pants, safety glasses or goggles, slip resistant shoes, heavy gloves while changing blades or sharpening them, and reflective vests while working near roadways and sidewalks.
- Properly label all fuel and pesticide containers and keep away from heat sources.
- To dislodge debris or grass buildup, turn your mower off and wait for the blade to stop. Never use your hands to clear the material.
Mower Safety
- Never allow other persons to ride with you on a mower.
- Ensure all safety devices are in working order.
- Turn your lawn mower off before you adjust the height of the blade or dismount.
- While mowing, mow up and down slopes with a riding lawn mower and use a push mower for mowing across slopes.
- Do not pull a push mower towards you or stand in front of a self-propelled mower.
- Never fill your mower tank with gas while the engine is hot or equipment is running.
Weed Trimmers
- Maintain firm footing, keep your balance, and do not overreach.
- Use string trimmers on weeds and grass only and not on shrubs or vines.
- Keep the string head of the trimmer below waist level.
- Do not force the string into the ground. Let the tip of the string perform the job.
- Do not use weed trimmers on surfaces with gravel or loose rocks.
- If a foreign object is dislodged or thrown, turn equipment off and inspect for damages.
Hedge Trimmers
- Maintain firm footing, keep your balance, and do not overreach.
- Hold the trimmer with both hands.
- Do not trim hedges that are higher than your shoulders.
- Do not stand on ladders, stools, buckets, etc., while trimming hedges.
- Always keep your hands and fingers away from moving blades.
- If you must remove trimmings from the blades, turn the trimmer off and remove spark plug wire before doing so.
Pressure Washers and Hoses
- Hold equipment with both hands and never point at other persons even if the sprayer is turned off.
- Do not spray toward electrical equipment.
- Inspect hoses for kinks and other damages. Hold the nozzle or end piece in your hand while turning on water pressure.
KEMI does not assume liability for the content of information contained herein. Safety and health remain your responsibility. This information is to be used for informational purposes only and not intended to be exhaustive or a substitute for proper training, supervision or manufacturers’ instructions/recommendations. KEMI, by publication of this information, does not assume liability for damage or injury arising from reliance upon it. Compliance with this information is not a guarantee or warranty that you will be in conformity with any laws or regulations nor does it ensure the absolute safety of any person, place or object, including, but not limited to, you, your occupation, employees, customers or place of business.
