Safety First-Always

[mechanic mark]

I've been reading posts today concerning accidental deaths & close calls. I'm glad these posts have been written & brought to our attention. We sure do take a lot of things for granted. I, being in my 60's, have been trying to learn how to slow down, it's not easy when your mind says yes you can but your body says no you shouldn't. I try to double check everything when loading & unloading mower, just making sure everything is secure, & while mowing etc. I would like to add a safety issue concerning re-fueling. Before re-fueling mower, weed eater, chainsaw, etc. let engine cool down for 10-15 minutes before doing so, preferably in the shade. Gasoline & a hot engine are a dangerous mix. A number of years ago I had a backpack blower catch fire because I did not give it time to cool down, I was in a hurry to finish job. Thankfully no one was hurt & was able to put fire out, blower was shot at 10 years old.

 

[DaveTN]

Good idea there Mark...ALWAYS SAFETLY FIRST!! A neighbor up the road from me
burned his house to the ground trying to refuel a riding mower in his basement and
was going to take a break to eat lunch and resume mowing. He never had time to
get upstairs to eat lunch his wife was preparing. What happened was the fumes off
the gasoline traveled across the garage floor and to the burning pilot light on the gas
water heater. The resultant explosion didn't kill him but set off a natural gas fire (he
forgot to turn off the gas at the meter as he raced to warn his wife). They both got out
with the clothes on their backs and nothing else. The house burned to the ground with
only the chimney and some foundation blocks left. He was lucky not to have been burned
alive or killed in the explosion! Not a good idea to keep gasoline in the basement or attached
garage, yet people do it due to house designs. Be careful fueling up weedeaters and blowers
as well as mowers. :thumbsup: