Lawnmower safety--prevent accidents today

Now that summer is here and the grass is growing, millions of Americans will fire up lawnmowers and head out to cut their lawns.  Individuals with smaller yards often use push-style mowers - powered or unpowered mowers that require the operator to walk-behind and grip a handle to operate the machine; those with larger plots of grass, however, rely on gas-powered riding lawnmowers to maintain their lawns.  While riding lawnmowers are useful tools for cutting large areas of grass, and for a host of other gardening and landscaping purposes, improper operation of riding lawnmowers can result in serious injury or death.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that, between 2003 and 2005, riding lawn mower accidents accounted for 37,000 consumer injuries necessitating treatment in hospital emergency rooms.  Furthermore, between 2001 and 2003, the CPSC attributed an average of 95 deaths annually to riding lawn mowers.

The most common hazards associated with riding lawnmowers include blade contact and loss of stability.  The majority of fatal accidents fit into the following patterns:  the machine tips over; the victim falls under or is run over by the machine (often young children are the victims of this type of accident); or the victim is thrown from or falls off the machine.

To avoid serious injury or death, follow these tips when operating your riding lawnmower:

1. Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s).
2. Do not put hands or feet near rotating parts or under the machine. Keep clear of the discharge opening at all times.
3. Only allow responsible adults to operate this machine.
4. Clear the area of objects such as rocks, wire, toys, etc., which could be thrown by the blade(s).
5. Be sure the area is clear of bystanders before operating. Stop the machine if anyone enters the area.
6. Never carry passengers.
7. Do not mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary. Always look down and behind before and while backing.
8. Never direct discharged material toward anyone. Avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction. Material may ricochet back toward the operator. Stop the blades(s) when crossing gravel surfaces.
9. Do not operate machine without the entire grass catcher, discharge guard, or other safety devices in place and working.
10. Slow down before turning.
11. Never leave a running machine unattended. Always turn off the blade(s), set the parking brake, stop the engine, and remove the key before dismounting.
12. Disengage blade(s) when not mowing. Shut off engine and wait for all parts to come to a complete stop before cleaning the machine, removing the grass catcher, or unclogging the discharge guard.
13. Operate machine only in daylight or good artificial light.
14. Do not operate the machine while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
15. Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing roadways.
16. Use extra care when loading or unloading the machine into a trailer or truck.
17. Always wear eye protection when operating machine.
18. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for wheel weights or counterweights.
19. Mow up and down slopes, not across.
20. Do no try to stabilize the machine by putting your foot down.

Fore more information and safety tips, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/588.html.

Shea & Shea is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm located in San Jose, California.  The firm has extensive experience in representing individuals and their families in cases involving catastrophic injuries including wrongful death and traumatic brain injury.  Since 1966, Shea & Shea have successfully represented the seriously injured and their families in both state and federal courts.   To learn more, visit us at www.Shea-Shea.com or telephone 888-989-SHEA.