Use Common Sense When Working In Yard

Fri., June 6, 1997

Nick Harder The Orange County Register

You don’t have to be a new homeowner to have an accident maintaining or improving the place where you live. Among the most frequent accidents suffered are those involving lawn and garden equipment. Ask anyone using these tools, and they’ll probably confess that they didn’t read the safety advisories that come with the written instructions.

Let’s face it. Reading the safety instructions of a machine that seems simple to use is not high on anyone’s priority list. Whether you’re developing a new yard or renovating your existing yard using equipment, the dangers are there.

Severe cuts and damage are just two of the hazards if you don’t use equipment properly. But the benefit of using lawn and garden equipment, especially power equipment, overwhelms not using it. It’s just a matter of doing things with an eye toward safety.

OK, so reading safety suggestions is really boring.

But it beats losing an eye or a toe.

And some of the safety measures people could take (but seldom do) even make common sense. Among them:

Clean up. Before you mow the lawn, examine it for objects that could cause the mower to clog or that can be thrown by the blades.

Footwear. It may be a hot day, but it’s still best to wear safe footwear. No sandals, no thongs.

Turn off. Don’t leave your mower engine running while you refill the gas tank. This may be tempting if your mower is hard to start. If you have to refill, turn off the engine and relax for 15-30 minutes until the engine cools.

Kill it. Don’t leave the mower motor running without someone tending it. If it’s self-propelled, it could slip into gear.

Slopes. Don’t mow slopes - no matter how slight and small - vertically. You’re inviting disaster from either direction. Mow horizontally. That’s for a walk-behind mower. It’s just the opposite for a riding mower. Use the vertical method with it. There’s less chance you’ll tip over.

Kids. It may be fulfilling to let your little one watch while you mow the lawn, but children often are at risk even as bystanders. You may wear safety shoes and goggles, but chances are your little one won’t.

Another problem kids can suffer just watching too close is flying objects. A fast-moving lawn mower blade can hurl a small rock at tremendous speed.

Even if kids are not at risk by a hurled stone or debris from the mower blades, they could prove a distraction to the person mowing.

And make sure children stay away from the mower even after you’re through with it. Those hot exhaust parts can give a toddler a bad burn.

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