Riding Lawn Mower Safety
Posted by John Sedgewick - 30/06/11 at 09:06 pmLawn mowing can be faster and easier with a riding mower than with a push mower. However, it can also be more dangerous. To avoid serious injuries and deaths associated specifically with riding mowers, remember:
-riding mowers can have an unexpectedly high center of gravity, which can lead to rollover accidents. It is best to avoid mowing across sloping ground, because even a moderate slope can cause a mower to overturn and roll downhill. The rollover problem gets worse as the operator gets bigger because the taller and heavier the operator, the higher the center of gravity is raised. Higher center of gravity means a greater chance of an upset. Also, soft ground increases the chances of rollover because of the risk that the downhill wheels will sink, increasing the apparent angle of the slope. If you must mow sloping ground with a riding mower, mow straight up or straight down the slope. That will diminish the chance of rollover;
-the likelihood of injury in a rollover mowing accident can be lowered if both a seat belt and rollover bar (ROPS- rollover protective structure) are used because if the operator stays in the seat and within the protective shield of the ROPS, the he or she may avoid being crushed between the machine and the ground. The ROPS and the seatbelt must be used together, however, because one without the other can be more dangerous than having neither. If a ROPS-protected mower rolls, the operator is going to fall out if he or she is not buckled in, and falling out increases the risk of a crush injury. On the other hand, if an operator is buckled into a rolling mower with no ROPS, he or she has no chance to escape from the machine. Either scenario is likely to result in a devastating and life threatening crush injury. Mowing on a slope is dangerous even with both a ROPS and a seatbelt, however, as the ROPS may not protect the operator if the mower rolls against a large stone, a stump or a tree;
-riding mowers are small vehicles with no rear view mirrors and the operator’s ability to see while backing up can be extremely limited. This is complicated by the fact that operators do not expect people to be behind them, and often do not even attempt to look before backing up. “Backover” incidents are not uncommon. When they occur, the frequently involve small children and devastating injuries.
-to avoid backover incidents, do not allow young children outside while mowing is underway, think twice and look three times before backing. To minimize the risk of injury, be sure that the mower is set up so that it will not mow in reverse. The blade should stop spinning when the mower is in reverse. That way, if there is a backover incident, the injury will not be aggravated by contact with the spinning blade.
Finally, as part of riding mower safety, be sure that your mower has an “empty seat” kill switch, sometimes referred to as a “dead man” switch. This switch is usually located in or as part of the seat, and is intended to shut the motor down when the operator is not in the seat. This prevents people from attempting to mow while walking along beside the mower (such as people have tried to do to stabilize a mower on a slope) and stops the mower if the operator is thrown or knocked from the operator’s seat (as he or she might be if hit by a tree branch or if thrown off balance). Never disable or tamper with the kill switch, and test it often to be sure that it is functioning properly.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a riding mower accident, call Berman and Simmons to discuss what happened. We have handled these cases before, and are able to quickly examine the mower and the location where the injury happened and advise you about possible legal rights and remedies. We can also quickly arrange for an engineer or other lawn mower expert to assist in reviewing the case. Either way, we would be glad to assist you by sharing our expertise, experience and insight. All of our work is done on a contingent fee basis, so there is no charge unless or until we are successful. Call our toll free number 1-800-244-3576 is our toll free number or visit our website www.bermansimmons.com to learn more about our work and our lawyers. We are easy to talk to and ready to help.
