#4. Lawn Care
Step 1: IDENTIFY THE HAZARDS:
Let’s look at the hazards associated with Lawn and Gardening:- Lawn mower (blade and chute)
- Loose objects
- Weed eater
- Lawn edger
- Hedge trimmer
- Insecticides/Fertilizers
Step 2: ASSESS THE RISK: Then assess the impact of each hazard in terms of potential loss and severity:
- Foot and hand injuries from contact with mower blade. Disconnect the spark
Plug prior to reaching underneath the mower deck
- Injury from flying debris
- Eye injury from flying debris
- Injuries from weed eater cord and thrown objects
- Poisoning from insecticides or fertilizers, use less hazardous chemicals
Step 3: ANALYZE RISK CONTROL MEASURES: Once you have identified the hazards and assessed the associated risk, you should decide on some controls that can be employed to reduce or mitigate the hazards:
- Wear safety toe shoes, long pants, goggles, and gloves
- Inspect all lawn and gardening equipment prior to use
- Inspect lawn; remove all loose objects prior to mowing
- Use insecticides and fertilizers as directed. DO NOT MIX INSECTICIDES!
- Let wet lawns dry before mowing
- Unclog chute with a stick not your hand. Note: Disconnect spark plug first
Step 4: MAKE CONTROL DECISIONS: Accept the risk, avoid the risk, reduce the risk, or spread the risk. Do not make dumb decisions.
Back to ORM Posters