Mowing Safety

When mowing your lawn, there are several important safety precautions to keep in mind at all times. Lawn mowers make lawn and garden maintenance worlds easier, and it is often easy to forget that there are sharp, whirling blades underneath them. There are a significant number of mowing accidents each year, but with a little care, they can be easily avoided.

Safety Tips for Lawn Mowers

The first thing to remember is never to remove or modify the guards in place on your mower. The guards are there for your protection, and removing them is very ill-advised. Being able to mow four inches closer to your house is not worth sacrificing your safety, and the blades can damage your property, too.

The second thing to remember is that you should only attempt to service a lawn mower when it is off. Never reach beneath a running mower for any reason, and only perform minor servicing by yourself. If your lawn mower blades need tightening, sharpening, or other repairs, consult a professional to make sure that everything is repaired properly and replaced safely.

Finally, check your lawn for debris before you mow. This might seem unnecessary, but if a mower blade hits a rock, it can send the item flying. The same is true for gravel, glass, and anything else that might be out in the yard. Objects ejected from lawn mowers in this fashion can easily break windows, puncture skin, and cause serious eye or face injury. It is often wise to rake your lawn lightly before mowing to avoid these kinds of accidents.