Every time you start your mower, you are dealing with a dangerous and potentially deadly piece of equipment, for yourself and others in the area. The leading cause of lawn mower injury is debris, such as rocks and branches, being propelled at high speed from mower blades, as reported in the journal Annals of Emergency Medicine.

OSHA and other lawn maintenance organizations recommend a thorough sweeping of a work area, removing debris and temporary fixtures, such as metal stakes, before performing any landscaping tasks. Specific important precautions include the following:

• Clear the work area before you begin.
• Pick up sticks, bottles, rocks, wires and other debris before you begin.
• Flag or mark objects that cannot be removed so they are more visible.
• Keep children and bystanders away from the area.
• Wear long pants to protect your legs from debris.
• Wear safety glasses at all times unless you are inside an enclosed cab.
• Workers in the area should wear safety glasses and a face shield when operating string and brush trimmers.
• Shut off equipment when crossing a sidewalk, driveway or road.

Unfortunately, these simple precautions are often not taken; precautions that may have prevented accidents like these:

• A 30-year-old lawn care worker was killed as a result of being struck by a metal projectile kicked up by a coworker’s lawn mower. The projectile was a piece of a pet tie-out stake that was sheared off and thrown by the lawn mower.
• An 11-year-old lost her foot when the mower she was riding on “just for fun” tipped over with the blade running.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that each year, 800 children are run over by riding mowers or small tractors and more than 600 of those incidents result in amputation; 75 people are killed, and 20,000 injured; one in five deaths involves a child. For children under age 10, the most common cause of major limb loss is lawn mowers.

Keep in mind these safety tips and take actions to protect yourself, your loved ones and your neighbors!

The University of Idaho is blessed with a pastoral campus landscape and thousands of mature trees which provide an aesthetically appealing place to work, learn and enjoy. Ongoing maintenance and care is required to keep them safe and healthy so that they can provide our students, faculty and staff with decades of enjoyment, shade and clean air.

The Landscape Arboriculture team works year-round providing this service to keep the U of I campus safe and beautiful. Doing so requires pedestrian and vehicle safeguards be implemented whenever tree work is happening. The Fall Zone area is cordoned off with ribbon, cones or fencing to provide protection for you. Signage may be installed directing pedestrians and/or vehicles to use a different route. One or two ground persons in safety vests, hearing protection and helmets are there to deal with felled branches and logs and monitor the Fall Zone to make sure it remains clear of objects and people that could be damaged or injured.

As a pedestrian or vehicle driver it is imperative that you also make safety your priority by following all signage or verbal instructions when tree work is happening along your chosen route. When you see orange safety signs, vests and helmets in an area, pay attention to your surroundings. Avoid distractions like cell phones or conversations and follow the safety guidelines put in place to protect you.

Never cross into the Fall Zone unless specifically allowed to by an authorized ground person. This is a time when your convenience is not a priority — your safety is. Paying attention to this work and following directions will allow you to safely reach your destination.