As with any moving vehicle, there are risks involved with the operation of ride on mowers, or any lawnmower. When you take into account that ride on mowers don’t just propel themselves like normal moving vehicles, they have sharp blades that spin at thousands of revolutions per minute you have a recipe for some nasty accidents. For this reason there are safety procedures and regulations put in place by the manufacturer to reduce the incidence of these accidents happening to you. Combine this with common sense and good practice and you’ll probably never encounter one of the following most common types of lawn mower accident. Injury caused by contact with the rotating lawn mower blade. Injury by being run over by a lawn mower. This can happen when the driver of a ride on mower is reversing. At risk to this even are small children and animals who may be below the drivers line of vision. Another cause of injury if from hand mowers which can be pulled or pushed over an operator’s foot. Burns caused by touching bare skin on the engine casing. Injury from a flying object, ejected by the lawn mower. Due to rotating blades, small stones and debris to be ‘fired’ out from under the lawn mower at a speed of over 100 mph. Flying objects can cause bruising, broken bones and even blindness. Over turning a mower and having it fall on the operator. This can occur when the mower is attempting to mow a steep section or turn a tight corner. The harmful effects can include coming into contact with the rotating blades and also having the weight of the mower land on a limb or the body. To avoid these injuries please pay special attention to the following points.
Firstly, make sure you read your safety manual and that the nuances of your ride on mower are well known to you. Be familiar with the basic safety checks. Is there a seat belt? If so make sure it is working. Determine that electronic safety switches such as a ‘dead mans’ switch is working and enabled. Ensure guards, shields, blades and belts are installed correctly and securely. Make sure you have a full tank of gas and sufficient oil before starting. Do not use your ride on mower if it appears faulty. Get it serviced by a qualified professional before use.
For your starting procedure; make certain your transmission is out of gear. If you have a hydrostatic transmission make sure your foot is off the accelerator. Keep out of reach of all moving parts, children, and animals. Start mowing on the flat, short grass to prevent objects being flung when blades start up.
While driving keep your drive speed slow enough to keep control of the ride on mower if unexpected hazards are encountered. Understand your mowing route. Devise a plan where you can travel up/down the slopes rather than traversing them. Take extra care when ascending/descending steep slopes. Use 150 as the maximum angle to attempt to mow. (Many ride on mowers are only safe up to 11 degrees. A few specially designed steep gradient ride on mowers can handle more than that.) If you are driving a zero turn mower be careful as independent wheel transmissions can a ZTR ride on mower difficult and dangerous to control on a slope. Watch out for areas with thick grass, as this can disguise rutted ground. If your mowing encounters obstacles, plan a route that is the most efficient – covers the most amount of ground with the least mowing. If you encounter a piece of debris or toy, make an effort to safely park and remove it. Do not run it over.
After mowing is over, stop the mower on flat ground. Raise the cutting deck to the transport height. Secure the park brake. Power off the engine and remove the keys.
Take extreme caution when you need to refuel to prevent spilling fuel onto hot engine or exhaust. Before making adjustments bring the machine to a complete standstill and isolate. Be aware of the potential for ejected material and ensure that no person or animal is endangered when operating the equipment.
Keeping the ride on mower clean will keep it in a safe condition and contribute to it’s longevity. It is wise to use an air blower and not a hose around the engine. A hose can be used safely on the cutting deck to clear grass build up. Keep your work area clean and tidy to eliminate accidents.
Keep the ride on mower parked on flat ground. Store the keys away from the machine to prevent unauthorized use. Storage in a shed or under cover is advised in order to prevent rust. and damage from exposure to the elements.
Want to find out more about safety ride on mowers? Then visit Mike Welch’s site on how to select the best ride on mower for your needs.