Fire department offers lawn mower safety precautions

In light of the number or tragedies associated with lawn mower accidents in the Middle Tennessee region, the Columbia Fire Department urges local residents to heed the following safety tips:

First, always read the owner’s manual and follow any specific tips included for your particular piece of equipment.

Lawn mower accidents can usually be attributed to four categories of accidents:

Mowers running

over the operator

or bystander

◆ When a mower operator has the mower in motion and the operator is not attentive to their surroundings, a person, a pet and/or other object can be run over, causing injury to the person, pet or object being ran over and/or the operator of the mower. Operators must be aware of what is around them and avoid using a power mower in the presence of bystanders.

◆ Mower operators also have to be careful of injuring themselves. When using a push mower, caution must be used when pulling the mower backwards. The operator’s foot can be run over, and serious injuries can occur.

Riding Mower


◆ Mower can overturn when being used on steep grades. If this occurs, the operator can be pinned beneath the mower and/or come into contact with the moving blades. Serious injury can occur if either of these happen. Mowers can usually go up and down grades better than traveling from side to side.

Being Hit By

a Flying Object

◆ Objects in the area to be mowed can be propelled for large distances and cause a wide range of personal injuries as well as property damage. The mower operator must check the area to be mowed for objects like rocks, wire, etc that could be thrown and cause injury or damage.

Making Contact

With a Moving Blade

◆ Mower operator can come into contact with moving blades if the operator tries to perform maintenance on the machine while the engine is running. If a repair must be done or grass discharge chute cleared, the engine must always be turned off.

Safety Tips

Before Mowing

◆ Make sure lawn/grass is dry. If not, wait.

◆ Wear appropriate close fitting clothes and substantial shoes.

◆ Inspect the area to be mowed for any type of debris that could be thrown.

◆ If you are using an electric mower, make sure the mower is “double insulated” and make sure to plug it into a three-prong grounded outlet.

As You Mow

◆ Mow forward if possible.

◆ Never get near blade or mower deck.

◆ Always keep discharge pointed away from others.

◆ Never run over gravel, driveways, sidewalks or other hard surfaces with mower blades in operation.

◆ If using electric mower, always keep electric cord out of the cutting area/path.

Other tips

◆ Always store gasoline in an approved manner.

◆ Never use gasoline for anything other than it is intended.

◆ Disconnect the sparkplug wire or electric power before you attempt any maintenance.


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