Yard Safety Considerations

Are you about to get behind a mower? Ready to rev up a chain saw? Summer arrives and out come the power tools. Before you start your yard chores, learn how to play it safe. Thousands of people are hurt each year using power lawn and garden equipment. Put safety first by following these precautions from the Consumer Product Safety Commission to help prevent injuries while you tackle your yard projects.

Lawn Mowers

• Dress appropriately. Wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt. Don’t wear anything that could get caught in moving parts. Put on sturdy shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles. Wear eye protection; even grass can cause an eye injury. Protect your ears from motor noise. Use heavy gloves when changing, sharpening, or cleaning blades.
• Before you start work, walk around your yard and remove any sticks, stones, metal, glass, or wire that could cause injury if thrown from power equipment.
• Be sure equipment safety devices are in place and working properly.
• Unplug electric tools and disconnect spark plug wires on gasoline- powered tools before making adjustments or clearing jams near moving parts.
• Never fill gasoline tanks while operating equipment or when the engine is still hot. Wipe up any spills. Always store gasoline in an approved container and away from the house.
• Never work with electric power tools in wet or damp conditions.
• Be sure that extension cords are in good condition and the proper size for the electric current capacity of the tool.

• When operating your hedge trimmer, keep both feet on the ground: firm footing is very important to the safe operation of a hedge trimmer. In addition, unstable operating positions (for example, standing on stools or ladders) increase your chance for accidents and should be avoided.
• Do not overreach while operating your hedge trimmers; you may lose your balance.
• Do not trim hedges higher than your shoulders.
• Keep your fingers away from the hedge trimmer blades. Resist the impulse to clear trimmings from the blade while the trimmer is running.
• Before attempting to remove an obstruction in the blades of your hedge trimmer, be sure to switch it to the "off" position and remove the spark plug wire.
• Always hold the hedge trimmer with both hands while operating.
• Look for hedge trimmers with cutting teeth on both sides of the blade for added versatility. When trimming your hedges, trim the top of the hedge so it is narrower than the bottom to allow sunlight to reach the lower branches.

• Use your string trimmer only for weeds and grass; it’s not designed to trim shrubbery, climbing ivy or other greenery not at ground level.
• Keep firm footing and balance; don’t overreach; be sure lighting conditions are adequate; keep your body away from the rotating string head and hot surfaces. Be sure to keep the string head below waist level.
• Before each use, inspect your string trimmer for loose fasteners, fuel leaks, or other problems. Replace damaged parts (a cracked or chipped string head, for example).
• When using a string trimmer, position the cutting head at a 30- degree angle to the cutting area. Be sure to let the tip of the cutting line do the work. Never force the line into the turf; this can scalp your lawn.

• Be careful with the high-pressure water stream (it can be up to 2,220 pounds per square inch) from your pressure washer; keep your hands, feet and body away from the stream to avoid injuries. Do not point the sprayer at anyone, whether or not the pressure washer is on.
• Always hold a pressure washer spray wand with both hands.
• Do not spray a pressure washer toward electrical areas.
• Do not overreach while spray cleaning with a pressure washer wand.
• After using your pressure washer, do not store it until the engine cools down.

• Before using your lawn edger, first carefully examine the area to be manicured and remove any objects such as rocks, branches and debris. Objects struck and thrown by the lawn edger can cause severe injury.
• Check to be sure your edger blade is firmly attached and not contacting anything before operating.
• Do not use lawn edgers on graveled surfaces.
• If your lawn edger strikes a foreign object, stop operation and disconnect the spark plug wire to inspect the unit for damage.
• When using your edger, rest the edger guide against the edge of the paved surface (i.e., sidewalk or driveway) before starting the work. In addition, to prevent clogging, edge only when the grass and soil are dry. If clogging does oc- cur, be sure to turn the unit off and use a stick or tool to clear the clogged area.

• When necessary to unclog the discharge chute, stop the engine (disconnect the spark plug wire for added safety) and use a stick to remove debris-don’t use your hands.
• If you are using a grass catcher, stop the engine and wait until the cutting blade comes to a complete stop before removing or attaching the bag.
• Never attempt to change the wheel height adjustment on your lawn mower while the engine is running.
• When using a walk-behind mower, mow across the faces of slopes instead of up and down. When using a ride-on mower, mow up and down on gentle slopes. Avoid mowing on any excessively steep slopes.
• To lessen chances of injury to your feet, avoid situations that require you to pull the lawn mower backwards.
• Keep your mower or mulcher blade sharp for good cutting performance.
• If your mower is self-propelled, be sure the drive clutch is disengaged when starting. Never stand in front of a self-propelled mower.
• Mow in daylight. Look ahead three to four feet while mowing.
• Always shut off the engine and let it cool before refueling. Clean up any fuel spillage before restarting the mower.
• Don’t allow a child to accompany you on a riding mower.
• For lawn mowers, excessive vibration is a warning sign of trouble. If this occurs, stop the engine, remove the spark plug wire and look for the cause.
• Never mow when the lawn is wet. This can cause soil compaction, spread disease and pull out grass plants.

• Wear a facemask to avoid dust inhalation when using a leaf blower in dry, dusty conditions.
• Reduce blower speed when pedestrians are passing by.
• For best results, blow or vacuum leaves when they are dry and coverage is not very deep.

• Know what kind of ground you are tilling. When tilling new ground for a garden, check first for underground electrical cables, telephone lines, pipes and hoses. Ask your utility company if they know whether any of these are on your property. As an extra precaution, carefully dig in a few spots with a shovel before tilling.
• Depending on soil conditions tillers can unexpectedly bounce up or jump forward and cause injury. If this occurs, let go of the handlebars rather than trying to restrain the machine.
• Never operate your tiller at high speeds on slippery surfaces. When backing up, watch your footing to avoid slips and falls.

Karen Funkenbusch, Research Associate, Missouri AgrAbility Project and Rural Health and Safety Program, UMC (573)882-2731