Live Smart: Health and Safety Activities for Youth Clubs

Bulletin 907

Mowing Mania

YOU WILL TEACH CLUB MEMBERS

To follow safety practices when operating lawn and garden equipment.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

Posterboard, markers, stop watch

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Ask club members: How many of you are responsible for mowing the lawn? What type of equipment do you use? Have you ever injured yourself when you were mowing?

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW?

Tell club members: When operating lawn and garden equipment, follow these safety tips. (You may want to list these on a piece of posterboard.)

• Read the operator's manual and learn to operate the equipment properly.
• Clear the lawn of all debris prior to mowing. Lawn mowers can throw yard debris and other objects with incredible force.
• Be sure the discharge chute and guards are in place at all times. The guards and chute protect the operator from moving parts.
• Do not mow if bystanders are present in the mowing area. Watch especially for small children who may be attracted to mowers.
• Dress for the job. Wear close-fitting clothing, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Also, wear sturdy shoes with hard soles and traction.
• Take precautions to protect yourself from the sun. Most lawn care is completed on hot summer days. Always wear a hat and sunblock.
• Always tuck in shirt tails and avoid wearing jewelry and scarves. These items may become caught in equipment.
• Wear ear plugs to protect your ears from noise and safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris. Heavy gloves can be worn when operating a walk-behind mower. Gloves increase the operator's grip and absorb a portion ofthe engine vibration.
• Never add fuel to a hot engine. Always allow the engine to cool before refueling. Never refuel indoors.
• Keep hands and feet away from moving engine parts at all times.
• Shut down the engine if the mower becomes clogged. Wait for all moving parts to stop before attempting to unclog the equipment. Never use your hands; use a stick.
• Mow only when the grass is dry to prevent mower clogging.
• Mow only in a forward direction when using a walk-behind mower. Never pull the mower backward or toward you.
• Mow across the slope of the hill when using a walk-behind on a gentle hill or incline. Mowing up and down can cause slips and falls.

When operating a riding mower, follow the previous rules in addition to the following.

• Practice driving the mower before beginning to mow in order to familarize yourself with all of the controls.
• Keep all safety devices, switches, and shields in place.
• Never carry passengers. Lawn mowers are equipped with one seat, and one seat means one rider.
• Mow up and down the slope when mowing on a hill or incline. Note: This is the opposite of what you do when you are using a walk-behind mower.
• Avoid sudden stops and starts when mowing on a hill.
• Slow down for all sharp turns and avoid steep hills and drop-offs to avoid overturns.
• Shut down the engine and wait for all moving parts to stop before getting out of the seat.
• Remove the key from the ignition when the lawn mower is not being used. Young children like to play on lawn mowers. Removing the key protects their safety.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

How Fast Are You?
Ask for a volunteer, but be sure to emphasize that you need the help of someone who has very fast reflexes. Instruct your volunteer to turn the stopwatch on and off as quickly as he/she can. How much time does it take; read the time aloud. Tell club members that a cutting blade on a lawn mower spins at a speed of 52 times each second. In other words, a mower could cut you 52 times in one second. Compare the volunter's reflex time with lawn mower speed using the chart below. Be sure to emphasize that the member was prepared to move quickly in this situation, but that you would not be prepared when injured by a lawn mower. Allow all members to test their speed.

0.1 seconds = 6 cuts 0.2 seconds = 10 cuts 0.3 seconds = 15 cuts 0.4 seconds = 21 cuts 0.5 seconds = 26 cuts

0.6 seconds = 32 cuts 0.7 seconds = 36 cuts 0.8 seconds = 42 cuts 0.9 seconds = 47 cuts 1.0 seconds = 52 cuts

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