Summer Hazards: Lawn Mower Safety
Each summer in the United States, thousands of adults and children are injured by lawn mowers. These injuries can range from minor scrapes to even the loss of life. The practice of operating a lawn mower safely is easy and extremely important.
Keep your family out of harm's way by reading the tips outlined in this article and you'll be mowing worry free, all summer.
Photo by TheFixer via Flickr
Photo by TheFixer via Flickr
No Children!
We've all seen the neighbor that allows his children to sit on their lap when they mow their yard -- this is a disaster just waiting to happen. Over 8,300 children are injured every year by lawn mowers. These injuries include damage to hands, fingers, wrists, feet, toes and ankles. And 25% of these injuries require amputation.
Don't take the chance! Leave your kids in your home with an adult whenever a lawn mower is in operation.
Clean Your Yard
Photo by meddygarnet via Flickr
According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), "Blade speed can eject a piece of wire or an object at speeds up to 100 miles per hour"
Photo by meddygarnet via Flickr
According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH), "Blade speed can eject a piece of wire or an object at speeds up to 100 miles per hour"
Take a few minutes before you begin mowing your yard to clear it from all debris. This includes sticks, rocks, toys, pine cones and even large clumps of dirt. These can (and will) become projectiles if you don't take the necessary precautions beforehand.
Proper Protective Clothing
Photo by p_a_h via Flickr
As discussed in the previous section, you never know what objects can be thrown around by your lawn mower blade. That's why you should always gear-up before you tackle your lawn.
Put on some long pants, safety glasses or goggles, ear protection, work boots, and leather gloves. These precautions will protect you from the unexpected.
Operating Tips
Photo by p_a_h via Flickr
As discussed in the previous section, you never know what objects can be thrown around by your lawn mower blade. That's why you should always gear-up before you tackle your lawn.
Put on some long pants, safety glasses or goggles, ear protection, work boots, and leather gloves. These precautions will protect you from the unexpected.
Operating Tips
Photo by somegeekintn via Flickr
It's important to understand all of the safety features of your lawn mower. We recommend doing this by reading through the owner's manual that came with your model. Carefully follow each suggestion they give and don't ever try to override any of their built-in safety measures.
If your grass is damp or wet, if it's dark out, or if your mower just doesn't seem to be running correctly, don't mow! These conditions lead to the most serious accidents.
We also recommend never using the reverse feature of your lawn mower. If there's something you need to make another pass over, turn your lawn mower around and mow it going forward.
Proper Maintenance
Photo by tourist_on_earth via Flickr
How long has it been since you tuned up or performed routine maintenance on your mower? If it hasn’t been this year, you'll likely need some lawn mower parts or at least some TLC.
A broken or bent mower blade should never attempt to be 'fixed'. You'll want to purchase a new one if it's beyond sharpening. We've got the blade for your mower here.
Always top-off your gas before you start mowing. If you run out and need to refuel, wait until your mower has cooled down and always fill your tank on a flat, hard surface.
A dirty muffler, intake manifold, cutting unit, or drive unit may present a fire hazard. Clean the grime and debris from your mower frequently to prevent these dangers.
We've got the lawn mower repair and maintenance videos you need to help you get these done.
Conclusion
Your summer is meant to be filled with memories and smiles. Don't ruin this by taking even a trip to the hospital due to a mower injury. Take your time when mowing and never rush the process. It may take some time to implement these tips into your mowing routine, so be patient.
Your family's safety should be your number one concern. Mow safe this summer everyone!
WRITTEN BY
EREPLACE CONTENT TEAM
Comprised of creative, experienced video producers, writers, and graphic designers, the eReplacementParts.com Content Team is focused on using their diverse knowledge base to create high-quality informative content to achieve our simple mission: Help the world fix things. Whether it be through tips, guides, or hacks, we ensure that every piece of content includes only expert knowledge, to guarantee that you can do the job right the first time!
PUBLISHED ON
December 03, 2025