To stay safe while mowing, wear the right gear, read your manual, and always use common sense. Each year, about 250,000 lawn care-related injuries occur. Stay on top of lawn mower safety so you don’t become the next statistic.
We gathered the best safety tips using experience, research, and expert advice. If you don’t want to go cruisin’ for a bruisin’ the next time you mow, abide by our easy-to-follow guide.
1. Wear the proper gear
Purchase proper safety gear and wear it every time you mow. To make shopping simple, we list our suggestions in the table below.
| Suggested safety gear | What it does |
| Dust mask | Keeps contaminants out of your lungs |
| Hat with a visor | Provides shade |
| Long sleeves and pants | Protects arms and legs from the sun and debris |
| Heavy-duty non-slip shoes | Prevents falls, protects feet |
| Safety glasses | Protects eyes from the sun and debris |
| Sunscreen | Protects skin from the sun |
| Vibration-dampening gloves | Protects hands, improves grip, and provides comfort |
| Earbuds or earmuffs | Protects hearing when the mower’s at least 85 decibels |
2. Mind the manual
Carefully read the owner’s manual and follow all stated safety rules. That includes conducting safety checks and ensuring the blade break works. Only use the mower as directed, and don’t modify its functionality.
3. Maintain your mower
The mower manual also lists recommended lawn mower maintenance. Delaying tune-ups, inspections, and blade sharpening can lead to massive injury. Remember, the biggest safety concern is the mower’s rapidly rotating blades.
“If you don’t grease the spindles, the bearing could lock up. Even worse, it could come apart, sending parts flying. Also, as the blades wear, they can crack and send shrapnel flying,” explains Jeff Yochum, lead maintenance tech at Ring Container Technologies in Valdosta.
Blade maintenance also keeps the grass safe. A dull blade “frays the ends of grass blades and results in brown tips, which are unsightly and increase the plants’ susceptibility to certain plant diseases,” says Sam Bauer, an extension educator at the University of Minnesota Extension.
My tip: Remove the spark plug before servicing the mower blades.
Learn more about mowing in our guides:
- 10 Ways to Prevent Grass From Clumping When Mowing
- How to Clean and Replace Your Lawn Mower’s Air Filter
- How to Change Oil in a Lawn Mower
- What’s the One-Third Rule of Mowing
- How Early Can You Mow Your Lawn?
- How to Clean a Lawn Mower Deck
4. Inspect with intent
Before mowing, carefully clean and inspect the mower before using it. Make sure everything is in working order. While mowing, turn off the mower before investigating an issue. Use a tool or stick to remove debris, not your hands.
Additionally, never touch the blade with your bare hands, feet, or other body parts. “My neighbor almost lost a toe to a push mower blade,” says Yochum.
Read more: How to Change Your Lawn Mower’s Blade
5. Scan your surroundings
Before mowing, scan your yard for possible hazards. Look for cliffs, rocks, and anything else that may cause slip and fall injuries. Then, make sure there aren’t children or pets playing in the yard.
Also, ensure the lawn isn’t wet. You shouldn’t mow wet grass because it’s slippery, thus injury prone. Additionally, it’s bad for the grass.
6. Discard debris
Before mowing, remove hazardous lawn debris. Sticks and stones can break your bones when you trip over them. Furthermore, debris becomes a dangerous projectile when the speedily spinning blade sends it flying through the air. Additionally, debris can cause mower malfunctions.
7. Be smart when you start
Refrain from recklessly running the mower. Instead, follow these rules:
- Only start gas mowers outdoors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- After filling the gas tank, wait a few minutes for the fumes to evaporate before starting the mower.
- Don’t power up the mower while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Don’t use a riding mower with a child onboard.
- Don’t touch the engine cover while the mower’s on.
- Don’t leave the mower on when it’s unattended or not in use.
- Don’t refill the gas while the engine’s hot.
- Don’t leave the mower unattended with the keys in it.
Also, don’t let children use a mower until they have the strength and savvy to do it safely. Typically, that’s around 12 years old for walk-behind mowers and 16 for riding mowers.
8. Reject reverse
Stay safe by mowing forward and not in reverse. It’s hard to see behind you, which increases the likelihood of tripping, falling in holes, and backing into a child or pet.
FAQ about lawn mower safety
When using a riding lawn mower on a hilly lawn, prevent rollover injury by mowing up and down hills instead of across them. Slow down on steep slopes and sharp turns, but gradual, wide turns are best.
Mowing long grass stresses the mower’s blades, belts, and engine. “It’ll put extra strain and wear and tear on the blades, and additional strain on the belts. You can also bog the engine down, causing undue strain on the engine,” explains Yochum.
The best time to cut the grass is mid-morning, typically between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wait until the dew dries, but before the sun’s strong enough to stress the grass.
Usually, lawn mowing costs $35 to $100, depending on your yard and location. For example, hiring a pro to mow 1/4 acre will probably cost $40 to $65, while an acre will likely cost over $100.
Most gas mowers last 8 to 10 years, and electric lawn mowers typically last 5 to 7 years. However, a high-quality gas riding mower can last a generation, if well-maintained. For example, Yochum’s brother cuts the grass with a 2007 John Deere.
Read more: Electric Vs. Gas Lawn Mowers
When to call a lawn care pro
The safest way to mow is to leave it to a pro. However, many homeowners don’t know that quality lawn care is just a mouse click away.
Lawn Love proudly connects you to many of America’s most skilled lawn care pros. Our vetting system includes insurance verification and a clean background check. In addition to mowing, use our website or mobile app to get weed control or fertilization. We help with over 30 home services and offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Sources:
- Jeff Yochum, lead maintenance technician at Ring Container Technologies, Valdosta, GA. Personal interview.
- “CPSC Alerts Consumers to Lawn and Garden Care Dangers.” United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- “Lawn Mower Safety.” OrthoInfo from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
- “Mowers and mowing safety.” By Sam Bauer, extension educator. University of Minnesota Extension.
- “Lawn mower safety tips.” Iowa Healthcare.
- “Mowing and Trimming Safety.” By Sara Lind, information specialist, and Mitch Ricketts, coordinator, health, safety, and Environmental, Quality. K-State Research and Extension.
- “Lawn Mower Safety.” By Herb Willcutt, extension professor and Agricultural Engineer. Extension Service of Mississippi State University.
Main Photo Credit: Pexels
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