Outdoor Power Equipment Safety
BINGHAMTON, NY - Make safety a priority when you are using outdoor power equipment this season, especially if you have children. Keep children safely indoors when operating lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chippers and shredder. "Never take children as passengers on riding mowers. They are meant only for adults to ride and operate safely, no matter how tempting it may seem to take a child along," said Claudia Edwards, Public Health Director of the Broome County Health Department. "Riding mowers are designed to cut grass, and they come with many safety features that apply to one operator. They are not built for passengers, especially children." The New York State Health Department and the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) say that Childhood Injury Prevention Week is September 1-7, a perfect time to review outdoor power equipment safety. Both organizations strongly recommend that adults keep children and pets inside the house when using any outdoor power equipment, including mowers; trimmers and edgers; chain saws; chippers and shredders; leaf blowers and snow throwers. If any child or pet enters the work area, adults should turn off the machine immediately. Involving children in yard clean-up is one way that they can understand the importance of following outdoor power equipment safety. Ms. Edwards said, "Parents can ask young children to pick up debris and small stones from the area, calling the job the 'safety patrol'. Turn it into a counting or identification game. Parents can emphasize the importance of the 'safety patrol' by explaining that toys, rocks or other debris can be thrown hundreds of feet by a lawn mower, chipper or blower, and can injure someone or damage the machine. After children finish their 'safety patrol', send them inside the house from where they can watch the job safely completed by the power equipment." Ms. Edwards added, "Adults educate children by example. Other role model safety tips include: wearing protective eye wear and clothing while operating power equipment; properly handling fuel; and, reading the operator's manual to understand the machine's features and controls." The State Health Department and the OPEI share these safety tips for the following equipment:- Chipper/Shredder: This machine shreds, grinds, pulverizes leaves, twigs, hedge clippings, brush and branches. Operate the machine on level ground, not a paved or gravel surface. Discharged materials may bounce from the hard surface and cause personal injury. Stand clear of the discharged area when operating the equipment. Before clearing a clog, turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire. Avoid metal, rocks, bottles, cans and other foreign objects getting caught in the equipment. Before clearing a clog, turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire. Avoid metal, rocks, bottles, cans and other foreign objects getting caught in the equipment. Don't transport or move the equipment when it's running.
- Garden Tiller: This equipment cuts, blends and prepares soil for planting. Always remove stones, tree trunks, large roots or other debris from the area. Stop the tiller, and shut down immediately if an object is hit.
- Leaf Blower: This machine makes it easy and fast to get leaves and twigs off the ground. Never allow bystanders in the work area. Never point the nozzle in the direction of people or pets. Use a dust mask in dusty or dirty conditions. Never operate the machine in unventilated areas. Follow local ordinances that may set certain hours when the machine may be operated.
For more information on outdoor power equipment, call the Broome County Health Department at 607.778.3921, or contact the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute at www.opei.org.
CONTACT:
Diane O'Hora, Supervising Public Health Educator,
Broome County Health Department, 607.778.3921
email: dohora@co.broome.ny.us
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