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Proper Landscaping Safety
Take Care of You and Your Lawn Safely
By Timothy Rea
About the same time every year,
summertime rolls around causing the grass to start growing and the weeds to
begin taking over the lawn. It’s once again time to take out the lawnmower
and other landscaping tools to begin sculpting the lawn. However, landscaping
can be a dangerous activity, and there are several safety procedures that
should be observed whenever you are working outdoors.
The first consideration in
making sure that your lawn care is completed in a safe fashion is making sure
that the lawn is free of objects that can become entangled in the lawnmower
blades. This would include toys, sticks or twigs, dog feces, rocks,
or anything else that the lawnmower could dangerously fling up at you as you
cut the grass. Also be sure that pets are entirely out of the way.
Mowing the lawn in the summertime means that it will be warm or hot outdoors;
however, for protective purposes, you should still wear long pants if at all
tolerable, helping to keep flying debris from making contact with your skin.
Never mow the lawn or use any gardening tools while barefoot, and avoid sandals.
Use supportive sneakers or some form of enclosed shoe for complete foot protection.
Goggles are a necessary safety
hazard, especially when trimming and edging; any pieces of dirt or grass flying
up into your face could scratch your eyes, so it is best to protect them.
Before beginning your yard work, you should consider the damage the sun can
inflict. Consider wearing a hat to help block damage from ultraviolet
rays, and be sure to wear a proper amount of sunscreen to keep from getting
burned. Be sure to stay hydrated, drinking plenty of water, as sweating
causes loss precious fluids while you work. Landscaping is not an easy
task, even at minimal effort, and it can severely dehydrate an unprepared
individual.
Check the fuel tank of the
lawnmower before starting the motor it’s never a good idea to fill the tank
when the lawnmower is hot from use, and gas cans should not be close to the
exhaust pipe when warm, as fumes could ignite. Never try to unclog a
lawnmower without first turning it off AND disconnecting the spark plug.
Even when turned off, it is possible for some lawnmower motors to start upon
simply from rotating the blade. This can pose a serious danger to digits
and limbs which could easily have been avoided by taking the proper safety
measures.
Never pull the lawnmower toward
you (a lawnmower should always move forward, away from you), and never leave
it or any other landscaping or gardening tools running when unattended.
Hedge trimmers, edgers, and weed eaters should not be used to trim anything
that is above your head. In these instances, you should use a cherry
picker. If the cord becomes tangled, be sure to disconnect power before
trying to untangle it.
Landscaping and lawn care can
be an enjoyable experience when handled appropriately. Many people enjoy
the satisfaction of creating a perfectly sculpted lawn that is accented with
colorful flowers and shrubs. However, if you don’t proceed with the
proper safety precautions, your contented time in the yard could turn into
a disaster.
Writen By Timothy Rea
Copyright 2006
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