As spring approaches and we get ready for the growing season, we need to be aware of the dangers associated with lawn equipment. We should ask the question "How can I be safe around lawn and garden equipment?"

Push and riding lawn mowers are used on most farms. They can be very dangerous. Experience has proven that the best way to "be safe" around any equipment is to understand it. Reading owners manuals along with other literature is the best way to prevent accidents. Carelessness with riding mowers, garden tractors, push mowers, tillers, and weed eaters causes serious accidents. Lawn mower blades are large and spin really fast. If something like a rock or a toy is caught under the blade while the mower is going , it will be thrown out. And when things come flying out under a lawn mower, they are going really fast. Do you know how fast?" (200 mph). That's faster than your car can go." It would hurt to get hit seriously by something going that fast.

Never let a child operate any type of equipment, or ride in your arms, or on the mower with you. "Lawn mower blades are very sharp, like big knives. If you got too close to a mower, you could get cut very badly." This could involve your toes, feet, hands, arms or legs. Too many times each year, children are hurt very seriously with lawn and garden equipment. There are reports of children falling off riding mowers and having severed toes, hands, fingers, arms, or even hacked to death by the blades.

Before mowing, check your lawn to remove any obstacle that could be a potential hazard such as rocks, sticks, and other debris that the mower could pick up and whirl from beneath the mower carriage causing a serious accident. Prevent accidents, when operating mowers or other pieces of lawn and garden equipment, safety should come first through means of prevention. "The lawn mower is not a toy." We can do a lot of things to stay safe while someone is mowing the lawn. I will name some. Keep toys in your play area , pick them up so they won't be thrown by the lawn mower; never throw rocks or sticks into the grass; don't ask for rides on lawn mower; stay inside the house; wait until you are old enough and big enough to mow safely. "it is important to stay away from mower that are being operated, because you could get hit by flying objects." According to the American Red Cross & Briggs & Stratton "knowing Mowing Program" children should be 12 years old before operating a lawn mower.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 5/23/00.
Date Revised 5/23/00.