Last Updated on May 8, 2022 by Gary Stephen
We all love beautiful lawns. Unfortunately, tending a lawn comes with its fair share of risks that can not only hurt you, but sometimes even kill you or one of your loved ones. The cool thing is there are plenty of things you can do to keep your lawn tending rituals safe and sound. Here are 8 yard work safety tips you should observe:
8 Yard Work Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life
Get rid of obstructions.
Before you start mowing, walk around your yard and look out for sticks, stones, and other debris you can hit with the lawnmower and injure the lawnmower and other people passing or standing by.
You don’t need to be fancy when looking out for these materials. Take a casual walk in your yard and pick any material you feel can cause any form of danger.
Wear protective gear | Yard Work Safety Tips
You can’t be safe if you don’t protect your body. Wear good quality gloves to protect your hands when handling grass and other debris. You also should wear eye protection to protect yourself from dust, debris, and the harsh sun rays.
Unless you are using an electric lawnmower, always wear ear protection. This can be simple earplugs or high-end headphones for mowing. It’s up to you to choose the most ideal.
Finally, ensure you are wearing high-quality, tough boots such as steel-toed boots to protect your feet against harmful objects sitting on your lawn.
Practice smart mowing techniques
You not only need to be safe when mowing, but also smart in how you go about it. If using a push mower, use one with an automatic shut-off ability. Such a machine will stop moving when you release the handle, which minimizes the chances of an accident happening.
Never unclog the discharge chute or remove the grass catcher until you have completely shut down the mower. When doing the unclogging, ensure you are wearing good quality gloves.
Lawnmowers can reach up to 240 degrees Fahrenheit when working, so keep away from the exhaust to avoid incurring a severe burn. You also should keep your kids away.
Is your lawn sloped? Mow with caution as your lawn mower can tip over. You also should avoid taking sharp corners.
Once you are done with mowing, turn off the lawnmower and place it at a safe place away from children.
Don’t be casual with water | Yard Work Safety Tips
If you have a pool, install a fence around and keep it covered when not in use.
To keep water moving, install a pump in your water features. This way, you eliminate standing water that is known to harbor mosquito larvae.
To reduce the chances of people falling onto your pool at night, ensure the area is adequately lit.
After watering your lawn, roll up your garden hose, so it doesn’t become a tripping hazard.
Use the snowblower with care.
During winter, you use the snowblower to pick up snow and throw it out of your yard. Plenty of things can go wrong when doing it, so you should be ultra-cautious when using the machine.
The machine is designed to pick up and throw snow. Not sticks, stones, and bottles. To avoid surprises, stick to blowing snow on the pavement and well-maintained areas of your yard.
When blowing snow in an inclined area, clear the area in an up and down motion, down the incline. Never move across it.
If your home is at the street end of your driveway, don’t blow the snow with your back turned to the traffic. Due to snowdrifts, drivers might not see you and hit you. Other drivers might lose control on the icy roads and get onto your yard.
Watch how you wield an ax
When trimming bush or putting up structures such as grow tents in your yard, exercise caution. Wear protective gear at all times.
Ensure the hatchet or ax is sharp. You might have the impression that a blunt ax or hatchet will be safer that a sharp one, but this isn’t the case.
When making a chop, ensure the arc of the swing doesn’t come back in the direction of your body. Before you embark on a large project, ensure you are well versed in the proper use of garden tools.
Don’t electrocute yourself | Yard Work Safety Tips
Whether you have an electric lawnmower, snow blower, leaf blower, or any other electric appliance, be cautious about how you handle it to avoid electrocuting yourself. Before plugging in the device into an outlet, ensure the ON/OFF switch is in the OFF position.
You should never use an electrical tool under wet conditions. It’s common for some homeowners to want to mow their lawn when raining. Don’t do this with an electric lawnmower. In fact, never trim your property when it’s raining or when the grass is wet as the wet grass not only fails to cut properly, you can also easily slip and fall and injure yourself.
Is your appliance using electrical cords? Regularly inspect and replace old and nicked up extensions to avoid injuries. When getting new cables, ensure they are the right size for your appliance’s current demands.
At all times, be conscious of the location of the cords, so you don’t trip over them or sever them. Once you are done with your work, unplug the equipment from the power and let it cool before storing it.
Hold tightly to chainsaws and hedgers.
Things can quickly get out of control if you don’t handle chainsaws and hedgers properly, so you need to exercise caution when using them. As a rule of thumb, ensure the area you are working on is clear of obstructions. You also should wear safety glasses, earplugs, helmet, and other protective attire.
When cutting anything on your yard, ensure your feet are firmly on the ground. Avoid making cuts while standing on a ladder at all costs. You also should never cut anything while raising your machine above your shoulder level as it causes instability.
You also should be conscious of kickbacks when handling a chainsaw.
