6 Ways To Maintain Safety During Lawn Maintenance

French chemist Louis Pasteur said that “chance favors only the prepared mind.” Or, another way to put it is that proactivity tends to lead to better luck than reactivity. As it applies to lawn maintenance, there are certain safety issues that can be avoided with a little preparation.

Let’s go over six ways to maintain or improve safety when you’re working on any home job.

1. Wear the Right Gear

First, put away those flip-flops and swim trunks. Choose the clothing you’ll wear during lawn maintenance wisely, as the majority of lawn maintenance injuries occur simply because the person wasn’t protecting a certain part of their body. Boots, pants/jeans and sunglasses or protective eyewear are a must.

2. Keep a Defensive Mindset

Not using the mower? Turn it off. Need to grab more line for the trimmer? Take the battery pack with you. Extra gas? Keep it secured. With all types of lawn maintenance, have the mindset that an accident could occur (and then you’ll likely prevent one). This is especially true if you have children or elderly residents at home.

3. Turn To a Professional When Needed

Don’t try to sharpen lawnmower blades or repair complex lawn maintenance equipment yourself. Instead, turn to a professional when you need advice, repairs or maintenance. At Classic Turf Equipment, we even have a variety of outdoor power equipment products for sale and can assist you with any question or need you may have.

4. Don’t Take Shortcuts

It’s tempting to angle the power or trimmer briefly to navigate inclines and corners, but if it’s going to be a safety risk, don’t do it. Another example is trying to finish a job quickly after it starts raining, even though you’re using electrical equipment. Staying safe always takes priority over convenience.

5. Keep Fire Safety In Mind

There are certain things you can do during lawn maintenance that increase the risk of a fire, so make sure you keep these in mind. For instance, grass can accumulate in (and on top of) the mower, so clear it off regularly as there could be a risk of ignition. Another example is letting the engine cool down before you disassemble or clean anything.

6. Call 911 for Any Emergencies

At the end of the day, if anything occurs that compromises your safety or the safety of those around you, call 911 to seek emergency assistance immediately. Regardless of the severity of the injury, stop the lawn maintenance and get help before moving on to other tasks.

If you’re interested in more lawn maintenance tips, contact us today and we’ll be happy to help.