8 Basic Equipment Safety Steps

Two fatal landscaping-related accidents were reported in the last two weeks, leaving the victims’ coworkers mourning the losses and making contractors industry-wide acutely aware of the importance of job site safety.

Though contractors should thoroughly train employees on equipment use and follow manufacturers’ recommendations in terms of proper equipment operation, job site safety often comes down to a few basic steps. The following eight safety tips, provided by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, can help contractors keep their employees safe as the busy summer season gears up.

OPEI also offers a more detailed safety tips on specific types of equipment. Visit the OPEI Web site or Click here for a PDF-format brochure with safety information in both English and Spanish.

1 . Know how to operate the equipment.
Read the operator's manual before using any power equipment. Know where the controls are and what they do. Follow safety instructions.

2. Dress properly for the job.
Wear long pants, close-fitting clothes, sturdy shoes, and safety glasses. Don't wear anything that could get caught in moving parts (loose jewelry or clothing; be careful of long hair).

3. Handle gas carefully.
Fill up before you start, while the engine is cold. Don't spill when you fill. Store gas in an approved container in a cool ventilated area. Never smoke around gasoline.

4. Clear the area before you start.
Pick up rocks, twigs, cans, golf balls, anything that could be thrown by mowing equipment.

5. Keep children and pets away from the area until you're finished.
Never allow children to operate a mower. And never carry children as passengers on a riding mower.

6. Operate equipment carefully and follow recommended procedures.
Always turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire before attempting to unclog or work on outdoor power equipment. When leaving equipment unattended, turn off the engine and remove key.

7. Keep hands and feet away from moving parts.
Never work on equipment while it is running. Never remove or tamper with safety devices and labels... they're provided to protect you and your family.

8. Wear hearing protection.
When working with equipment that generates increased sound levels be sure to protect your ears. Wear hearing protection such as special earmuffs to prevent potentially damaging sounds from reaching your ears without eliminating the sounds you'll NEED to hear. So protect your ears from sounds that are too LOUD and too CLOSE for too long.

The author is associate editor of Lawn & Landscape and can be reached at lspiers@gie.net.