MTD, CPSC Remind Mower Operators to 'Think First, Then Reverse'

Published April 26, 2005

CLEVELAND, Ohio – With spring lawn season here, it's vital that people know how to use outdoor power equipment responsibly, especially riding lawn mowers, says mower manufacturer MTD Products. The company notes a riding mower accident Monday in which a toddler in Omaha was critically injured.

Two-year-old Caleb Simmons appeared suddenly when his great-grandfather was operating a riding mower on April 25. The boy wanted to get on the mower, but his foot got stuck under a tire and he was pulled under the moving mower. Caleb had emergency surgery Monday night for lower-leg and abdominal injuries he recieved from the accident. While the family reports that Caleb is doing well and expected to make a good recovery, this accident early in the mowing season puts the safety of lawn mower operation in perspective.

RULES OF THE LAWN

Many professional mower operators work on commercial or office park sites where children and pets are few and far between, or on residential properties while kids and homeowners are gone during the day. Regardless, knowing the rules of safe mower operation is essential to keeping potential passersby – and the operator – from experiencing a dangerous mower accident.

The new Web site www.mowsafe.com, an effort of MTD Products and the Consumer Product Safety Commission offers the following tips for safe mower operation. While the tips are geared toward homeowners operating smaller riding lawn mower or lawn tractors, professional operators also can benefit from the information. Consider it a springtime mower refresher course.

Read Owner’s Manual Before Operation.
Think first, then reverse. Always check what’s behind you to make sure there are no children, pets or objects, before operating a riding mower in reverse.
Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts and from under machine.
Wear eye protection. Always wear safety glasses or goggles during operation.
Clear the mowing area of debris.
Do not mow when children and others are around.
Never let children ride on the operator’s lap or anywhere on the mower.
Slow down before turning and use extra caution on slopes.
Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees.
For riding mowers, always mow up and down on a slope, NEVER mow across the slope on a riding mower. Mowing across a slope can cause the tractor to tip over.
For walk behind mowers, always mow across a slope, NEVER up and down. Mowing up and down a slope with a walk behind mower can cause the operator to slip and get caught under the mowing blade.
Keep safety devices (discharge chute cover, safety interlocks, belt guards, etc.) in place and working. If damaged, replace immediately. Never remove or disable a safety device.
Disengage blades when not mowing. Never cross gravel areas with the blades engaged. Avoid discharging material against a wall or obstruction which may cause discharged material to ricochet back toward you.
Handle gasoline with care. Use only an approved container. Extinguish cigarettes, cigars, pipes and other sources of ignition. Never fuel the mower indoors. If fuel is spilled on clothing, change clothing immediately. Let engine cool for at least 2 minutes before re-fueling.
Know your machine before you mow. Make sure anyone who operates the mower understands and follows the safety and operating instructions in the user manual and on the mower.

Source: www.mowsafe.com

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and MTD Products are offering important advice for operating riding lawn mowers to help keep children safe in their own backyards. CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton reminds people to “think first, then reverse.”

“You would never back your automobile out of the garage without checking behind you to make sure there are no kids or pets or objects in the way," said Stratton. "You ought to do the exact same thing with your riding lawn mower. Always check what's behind you before you operate a riding mower in reverse."

A change to the industry safety standard took effect that prohibits a riding mower from mowing in reverse. The standard allows for a temporary override system that keeps the integrity of the safety enhancement intact, helping avoid consumers defeating or bypassing the system.

"Mowing in reverse is not recommended," said Barbara Hastings of MTD Products. "If absolutely necessary, and one has looked around carefully, riding mowers will cut in reverse after engaging a dedicated safety system. We want people to be responsible."

Two riding lawn mower brands offering new mow-in-reverse options are Cub Cadet with RevTek™ Reverse Mowing Technology and Troy-Bilt featuring RMC™ Reverse Mowing Control. Both systems require a two-step process: turn the key, then press a button to engage the operator-controlled reverse system. Reverse mowing is always turned off when the key is returned to "Normal Mowing" or the engine is turned off.

Fla
New safety standards prohibit mowers from cutting in reverse. Temporary override systems allow operators to manually cut in reverse, though the machines default to non-reverse cutting as soon as the key is returned to the "normal" position or the mower is turned off. Photo: MTD Products, www.mowsafe.com

To mow responsibly and help keep children safe, the CPSC recommends these steps when operating riding mowers:

Keep children and pets inside.

Never let children ride on the operator's lap or anywhere on the mower which can cause accidents and injuries. Teach children that riding mowers aren't toys.

Clear the mowing area of debris before turning on the engine of the mower. Debris could be picked up by the mower, thrown out and injure someone.

"Use common sense in mowing your lawn," emphasizes Stratton. For more information and advice on mowing responsibly, see http://www.mowsafe.com.

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