You may take great pride in your lawn and give it a lot of TLC. But while pa great lawn is a thing of beauty, you need to take certain precautions when tending that gorgeous green expanse in order to keep yourself and your family safe and avoid a costly trip to the ER. Before you head outside and start up the mower, here are some simple reminders of yard work safety tips that will ensure your lawn care experience is disaster free.

Practice Smart Mowing Techniques

  • Only use push mowers with automatic shut-off abilities, such as those that will stop moving when you release the handle.
  • Make sure your rider mower includes an auto shut off when you are not in the seat.
  • Never remove the grass catcher or unclog the discharge chute until you have shut down the mower completely.
  • Keep away from the exhaust. Did you know a lawn mower can reach up to 240 degrees F? If you were to go near the exhaust, you could get a serious burn.
  • Be careful on hills and around sharp corners to avoid a tip-over.
  • After mowing, turn off the mower and place it out of reach of children while it cools down.

Keep Children and Pets Inside While Mowing the Lawn

Don’t allow them to play in the yard until you have finished mowing and have put away the lawn mower. Not only do you run the risk of running them over, children or pets can get injured from projectiles such as small toys, rocks, and golf balls. Don’t allow children younger than the age of 12 to use a push lawn mower and any child under 16 to use a driving lawn mower. We know it looks like fun and your kids may beg, but don’t take them on rides with you on the riding mower.

Don’t Allow Children to Play on Your Mower

Even when turned off, a mower is a very dangerous machine. In an instant, children can cut themselves on the stationary blades. Sometimes even when turned off, the blades can suddenly kick in and spin, which can sever a finger.

Practice Ladder Safety

If you’re doing other types of yard work that require a ladder, like trimming bushes or removing leaves from your gutters, make sure it is set firmly on a flat surface. Don’t put ladders on boxes or other objects so it can reach higher areas. Lock any doors that could open toward your ladder. And never stand on the top rung of a ladder because you could lose your balance.

Check Extension Cords

Before using extension cords, check them for cracks and seal with electrical tape. If you see any frayed wires, replace the entire cord. Don’t run extension cords through puddles.

Wear Protective Gear

Lawnmowers can hit rocks and sticks that can fly up and hit your body. Don long pants to protect your legs, wear non-slip, closed-toe shoes rather than sandals, wear sunglasses or goggles to protect your eyes, and wear earplugs to cut down on loud noises from the machinery that may lead to hearing loss.

Store Tools in Safe Places

You could get injured by stepping on or being hit with garden tools such as rakes, shovels, and trowels. Store them in safe, enclosed areas when not in use. Place weed killer and lawn fertilizer in hard to reach areas so kids and pets can’t get into them. Seal the bags and store them up high.

Don’t Drink and Mow

Do we really have to say it? Don’t operate lawn machinery or use heavy garden tools while you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Contact Bearce Insurance for Homeowner’s Insurance in Brockton and Bridgewater

Stay safe while caring for your lawn this summer. Need help choosing the right policy for your homeowners’ coverage? Just contact us locally at 508-586-3400 or toll-free at 800-498-9900, or get a convenient online quote.