Tag: March 2023

Lawnmower Safety Quiz

Questions

1. What PPE should be worn when operating a lawnmower?
2. When mowing beside a road, what way should the chute be pointed?
3. Before removing debris from a lawnmower deck, what should you do?
4. True or false: passengers are allowed on a lawnmower.
5. Where should a lawnmower be stored after use?

Answers

1. Closed‐toed shoes, ear, eye protection, long pants, and long sleeves
2. The chute should be pointed away from the road.
3. Before removing debris from the deck of a lawnmower, always turn the engine off and remove the key.
4. False; passengers should never ride on a lawnmower.
5. A lawnmower should be stored on level ground, out of access from children or untrained individuals.

Lawnmower Safety

LAWNMOWER SAFETY BASICS

• PPE: closed‐toed shoes, ear, and eye protection
• Always turn off mower engine when removing any grass, cleaning clogged chutes, or crossing gravel paths and road
• Do not allow children to ride as passengers
• Keep all guards, shields, switches, and other safety devices in proper working order

OPERATION OF MACHINE

• Check for bystanders.
• Move the on/off switch to on, close choke, prime the fuel line, grasp the pull cord handle firmly, and pull until the tool starts, then place the choke back in the open position.
• When operating near or on loose material, be sure to position the mower so that the discharge is away from bystanders, fragile objects, and the road.
• If operating near a roadside, look up often to ensure there are no oncoming cars.
• Mow with discharge pointing away from trees to prevent the ricochet of projected materials from the mower.

ENDING OPERATIONS

• Park on even ground in a safe location out of access to untrained persons and children
• Stop the ride on the mower and shift the gear selector to the park position.
• Raise and secure the cutting blades.
• Lock the parking brake.
• Stop the engine and remove the keys.
• Remove any materials from around the engine and mowing deck
• Remove the grass catch bag and empty the contents

Ag Injury News Report

2/06/2023: Plymouth County 2 year old run over by tractor
2/06/2023: Man killed, son injured in Preble Co. tractor crash
2/03/2023: Man dies in grain bin on farm south of Unionville
2/02/2023: Missouri man dies after semi strikes a farm tractor
1/26/2023: Washington County barn fire; farm worker suffers smoke inhalation
1/19/2023: Man killed after tractor tire explodes at south Alabama shop
1/19/2023: Wyoming man killed after crashing UTV while moving cattle