Lawn Equipment Safety
Every year, about 80,000 Americans receive hospital treatment for lawn mower injuries, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also says that every year about 230,000 people are injured using edgers, trimmers, and other lawn equipment. In 2001, 167 deaths were reported due to yard equipment. Fortunately, with a few precautions, many of these injuries are preventable. Does this Spark an idea?
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Most at Risk
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About 16,200 children received medical treatment for lawn mower injuries in 2007, reports Science Daily. Therefore, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends never allowing children under 12 to operate any type of lawn mower, and never letting children under 16 to operate riding lawn mowers. Children should also never ride as a passenger on a riding lawn mowers, walk in front or behind the mower operator or play near running yard equipment.
Safety Gear
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David Bishai, MD, PhD, MPH, and associate professor in the Department of Population and Family Health Sciences at the Bloomberg School, recommends wearing safety gear whenever running lawn equipment. This includes safety glasses or goggles, long pants, and sturdy shoes. Hearing protection and long sleeves are also recommended for running yard equipment. Avoid wearing loose clothing that might get caught up in machinery.
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Equipment Check
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Before heading out into the yard, always check over lawn equipment. Make sure tools have adequate levels of fuel. Check filters and belts, as well as oil and transmission levels, where appropriate. If equipment is damaged, repair it while the tool is cool.
Location Check
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Before running lawn equipment, examine the work location. Look for toys, rocks, limbs, and other debris that might cause damage to the tool or fly through the air if accidentally struck. Before using a mower, weed trimmer, or edger, also check the area for loose wiring, extension cords, puddles or wet areas.
General Safety
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When operating machines like lawn mowers, use particular caution when going up or down hills. It's easy for mowers to tip over and fall onto operators when going upward, according to the University of Michigan Health Minute update newsletter.
If children or pets wander into the area, immediately turn off the equipment. Always turn off machines and allow them to cool before attempting to add fuel, other fluids, or repair or unclog the equipment. Some of the most common yard equipment injuries occur to hands, according to the University of Illinois Extension website.
To prevent fire hazards, use yard equipment in the cool of the morning and only use weed trimmers on dry vegetation.
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References
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