Who thinks summer is the best time of year?!
Does summer conjure up memories of time spent with family and friends paddleboarding or boating on the lake, hiking or biking in the great outdoors, enjoying barbeques and cold drinks on the deck and toasting marshmellows until perfectly brown on a campfire?
We have to laugh when we read this quote from James Dent about what a perfect summer day means to him.
Yes, with the good also comes the chores of summer … cutting the grass (which our Team absolutely love doing), pulling weeds, applying fertilizer, watering.
Whether you are an old pro, a new home owner or perhaps it is the first season that your teenage son or daughter is in charge of cutting the lawn, following are some tips on safe grass cutting.
Lawn Mowers
Lawn mowers may seem simple enough to operate, but like any power tool, there are serious hazards that come with operating them.
Here are some tips for the safe use of power mowers to review heading into grass cutting season.
Read the Manual
If you purchased a new lawn mower or it is the first season that a family member is in charge of mowing the lawn, before turning on the mower, make sure to read and follow the instructions in the manufacturer’s operating manual. If you are ‘passing on the torch’ to a family member, make sure you also fully train them on how to operate the mower, then observe them working with it until you are satisfied that they can operate it safely. And make sure to train them on the mower’s safety features, including how to stop the mower quickly in case of an emergency.
FamilyHandyman.com suggests “don’t let kids under 12 operate a push mower or kids under 16 run a rider”.
What to Wear
In the landscaping industry, we require that our staff wear the proper footwear – safety boots and PPE. We understand that most homeowners may not have safety boots and likely wouldn’t wear them even if they had them, but at least make sure to wear sturdy close-toed shoes while using the lawnmower. Do not wear open toed sandals. Sandals are less stable and a trip, slip or stumble could cause you to come in contact with moving or hot parts plus it is easier to stub your toe in open toed shoes.
It is also recommended to use sturdy gloves with a grip, hearing protection, and not to wear loose or torn clothing.
Refueling
Before starting the mower, fill the fuel tank, while the engine is cold.
If the engine has been running, shut off the engine and allow it to cool. Position yourself comfortably so that you can refuel without slipping and remove the fuel cap slowly, holding it at the semi-locked position until pressure is released. After filling, allow the nozzle to empty by keeping it in the filler opening for a few moments after shutting off fuel flow. Replace the fuel cap after checking to see that its venting is not clogged.
If you spill any fuel on equipment, wipe it up and allow any residue to dry before starting the engine.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s and don’ts of operating a power mower:
Before Starting
Know the controls and how to stop the machine quickly.- Before starting inspect the mower and ensure that the blade is sharp and secure.
- Check that shields and other guards are in place and working properly.
- Clear the area to be cut of rocks and debris that might be thrown by the blades.
- Ensure blade-stopping controls are effective and adjust as necessary.
- Disconnect the spark plug wire and/or remove the spark plug before sharpening, replacing and/or cleaning the blades.
- Do not mow when surfaces are too slippery for you or the mower.
During Operation
- Keep hands away from the blades.
- Do not remove the grass catcher or unclog chute with the motor running.
- Do not reach under the machine.
- Do not touch hot motor parts.
- Do not spray cold water on a hot engine.
- Do not make wheel height adjustments while the motor is running.
- Do not leave blades rotating when crossing graveled area.
- Keep people away from the area to be mowed as the lawn mower can hurl objects in any direction.
- Do not leave a running mower unattended.
Additional Tips
- When operating on rough ground set the mower at the highest cutting level.
- If cutting slopes, mow across. Mowing in this direction ensures that your feet are less likely to slide under the mower and that the mower cannot roll back.
- When mowing watch for hidden hazards such as holes, roots, drain pipes and insect nests.
- Proceed slowly into tall, heavy grass to avoid choking the mower or stalling the motor.
These are just some tips to keep in mind for safe mowing.
Earth Smart Property Solutions also offers weekly and biweekly mowing services as well as vacation cuts. Please contact our office to learn more or click here to learn more about this service. This service may not be available in some outlying areas.
Sources:
Please note that this blog is an adaptation of an article in Turf & Rec Magazine, April/May 2017, “Safe mowing in the summer time” written by The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) and oriented towards workers in the landscape industry. CCOHS promotes the total well being of workers in Canada by providing information, training, education, systems and solutions that support health and safety programs and injury and illness prevention. This article has been adapted to apply to homeowners.
Family Handy Man, Top Ten Mower Safety Tips
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