Lawn Mower Safety

[reynoldston]

These numbers are taken from the CPSC(Consumer product safety commission), using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. Then cross checked with hospital electronic statistics.

We're just wondering why most of these accidents are happening. It seems like most people think think people are stupid, now I'm wondering what specifically happens that causes people to get injured.

This isn't something that I can answer seeing I have never known anyone who ever got injured with a mower in my last 73 years. Now working with wood, chainsaws, and trees it is a different story. Also just because someone wrote down a lot of numbers I don't buy it. No doubt in my mine that injury's do happen with mowers but not that many. I don't call other people stupid because of accidents because that is very childless calling other people names. I just think most accidents happen because people get in a hurry and take short cuts. What one person may think as dangerous the next may not so who is right and who is wrong here. So let's not call people stupid because they don't think like you.

 

[ThePromisedLawn]

This isn't something that I can answer seeing I have never known anyone who ever got injured with a mower in my last 73 years. Now working with wood, chainsaws, and trees it is a different story. Also just because someone wrote down a lot of numbers I don't buy it. No doubt in my mine that injury's do happen with mowers but not that many. I don't call other people stupid because of accidents because that is very childless calling other people names. I just think most accidents happen because people get in a hurry and take short cuts. What one person may think as dangerous the next may not so who is right and who is wrong here. So let's not call people stupid because they don't think like you.

Oh, sorry if it seemed like I was the one calling them stupid, I just mean from the responses that I've gotten from the forum and the survey. Most people believe it's the ignorance of other individuals that have caused these accidents. I'm just trying to figure out what is the exact reason why people think it's safe, but the statistics say otherwise.

 

[ThePromisedLawn]

In the short amount of time I've been doing this I've seen a lot of accidents... All of them were user stupidity... One example a crew mate of mine had a laborer on his crew the laborer was new.and didn't know how to adjust the height of the front wheels on a toro proline my crew mate and all his brilliance showed him by grabbing the deck and lifting the front by hand while the new.guy still had blades engaged 4 tips of his fingers are gone.

Another example less stupidity but still dumb a crew mate was on a 8 foot cherry pickers with a hedge trimmer trimming an arb the ladder tipped and he dropped the hedger he instinctially tried to catch the hedger on his was down and he grabbed it by the blade which wasn't moving but was Sharp gashed his hand open needed 15 stitches

I know these are not riding mower stuff just show stupidity

From your experience, do you think that if there was a device that stopped the blade if it detected someone reaching down to the deck? This would eliminate any stupid acts while the blade is still running.

 

[lawn mower fanatic]

From your experience, do you think that if there was a device that stopped the blade if it detected someone reaching down to the deck? This would eliminate any stupid acts while the blade is still running.

That's why there is the Roto-Stop feature on mowers where if you let go of the bar, the blades stop, but the engine stays running. It's almost impossible to get your hand in the blade without letting go of the bar, but I guess my foot could still slip under there. If there was a sensor that could sense your hand, it would probably mistake obstacles in the yard as your hand.

 

[reynoldston]

From your experience, do you think that if there was a device that stopped the blade if it detected someone reaching down to the deck? This would eliminate any stupid acts while the blade is still running.

Yes there is such a thing. Its a safety device that go's on table saws. Not that I would want to try one out but as I understand you can put your hand into the table saw blade and it stops the blade so fast you don't get cut.. Its a one time thing but its better then losing a hand or finger. I would have a feeling just like the table saw no one wants to pay the big money for this and find it a lot cheaper to just keep your hand out of the blade when its running.

 

[ThePromisedLawn]

Yes there is such a thing. Its a safety device that go's on table saws. Not that I would want to try one out but as I understand you can put your hand into the table saw blade and it stops the blade so fast you don't get cut.. Its a one time thing but its better then losing a hand or finger. I would have a feeling just like the table saw no one wants to pay the big money for this and find it a lot cheaper to just keep your hand out of the blade when its running.

That's actually where we got this idea from! If the technology didn't break the blade while stopping it, would you consider getting it?

 

[Ric]

Oh, sorry if it seemed like I was the one calling them stupid, I just mean from the responses that I've gotten from the forum and the survey. Most people believe it's the ignorance of other individuals that have caused these accidents. I'm just trying to figure out what is the exact reason why people think it's safe, but the statistics say otherwise.

Your just trying to figure out what is the exact reason why people think it's safe, but the statistics say otherwise. Let me ask you this question, Is it safe to drive your vehicle down the road or how about a motorcycle? Is it safe to own and use a gun. You will get a yes answers to those questions from the majority of people, but yet accidents and deaths happen in all and you can add other scenarios like your ride on mower as well. So does the answer to your question exist, probably not, will you get opinions, yes but the mowers will still be sold, guns will be used and vehicles will be drove and there will be people who shouldn't be allowed to operate or own them.

 

[MRCo.]

The system to stop the blade is not feasible on a mower in my opinion. On a saw, the electric motor can be stopped instantly as the blade is braked, but on the mower the engine pushing the spindles would still be working- even if the system deactivated the clutch it still keeps moving a while. Further, the mower blades are much heavier and have much more inertia than a saw blade. I just can't see it. I also don't think that's the big issue. I'd imagine the main issue is 'moving' accidents, like flipping the mower. And good luck with that- just like tree service guys and chaps, lawn pros don't use their ROPS because it looks cheesy!

 

[exotion]

From your experience, do you think that if there was a device that stopped the blade if it detected someone reaching down to the deck? This would eliminate any stupid acts while the blade is still running.

If it were to stop the blade fast enough ....

 

[MRCo.]

Another thought- effective sopping for zero turn in a slide would be the thought, to me, that it needs to come about in terms of is to fail safely. The brakes are out there and I would love to see how they work. They claim they do as when you brake, the front end of the vehicle / mower / whatever dips (which it does) adding pressure and thus braking performance from the front wheels. My only question on that would be that if the mower is leaning away, bouncing, and the front wheels do not have constant and solid ground contact, then where is the brake power coming from to make the front dip to add braking power to the front wheels. Am I making my point? It's a chicken and egg thing. Just a thought.