If I said to you, do not put your hand into the grass ejection shoot at the rear of a rotary lawn mower when the blade is rotating, you would probably feel I was patronising you.
However, both professional and amateur, do lose fingers and sustain serious mutilations to their hand whilst trying to clear damp grass that has blocked the shoot.
Only this week, I read the gruesome details of how a Buddhist Monk was decapitated and killed by a lawn mower he had lost control of.
I can cast my mind back over the years and think of various accidents that have happened which could have been avoided.
One in particular, that actually happened to me, cam from a small stone that was ejected from beneath the deck of a Hayter Harrier rotary mower and hit me in the centre of the eye ball.
The lawn I had been cutting was adjacent to a gravel drive and a few stones had moved onto the grass. The strange thing was, I actually saw the stone leave the mower and travel up to hit me in the eye.
I could hardly see for a week and the pain was excruciating and I was extremely lucky not to lose the sight in that eye. But, how many of us wear eye protection when using a mower?
Here are a few thoughts on mower safety and how to avoid a dangerous situation.
1. Never work on a mower with the blade in motion. Switch off the engine and let all moving parts come to a standstill before attempting to remove any blockages or obstructions. It is too easy to take the chance and misjudge the situation - the result of any misjudgement can result in loss of limb or life.
2. If working on a two stroke engine, disconnect the spark plug cap from the spark plug. It is possible for the engine to start, especially if already warm, by rotating the blade suddenly.
3. Take care when working on a hot engine. The exhaust can remain hot for some time after the engine has been switched off.
4. If you are using a ride on machine and you have to stop for any reason to remove an obstacle from your path, disengaged the cutter and preferably stop the engine. If you do leave the engine running, be sure that the machine has a brake engaged and is on a level surface. It is not uncommon for an operator to be run over by his own machine.
5. If working near a gravel drive or path, walk the edge first or at the very least, be vigilant as you proceed to ensure that there are no stones lying on the surface. You are not only putting your safety at risk (see my example) but you can easily project a stone towards other people who may be in the vicinity.
Windows and cars are also at risk from projectiles ejected from machinery - including strimmers.
6. Never fill a hot machine with petrol the moment you switch off the engine. Chances are, if you have topped the machine up at the start, you will have been working for an hour so take a five minute break so that the metal can cool sufficiently to avoid ignition. Always, always switch off the engine before attempting to fill up.
7. Check all nuts and bolts, especially the blade on a regular basis to ensure nothing can fall off and cause injury or damage.
Thinking of buying a new lawn mower but unsure what to buy? - Check out the post - Which mower? - what to look for when buying a lawnmower
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