Power lawn equipment—like leaf blowers, wood chippers, edgers, and string trimmers—are real time savers; but it’s important to make sure you protect your eyes, ears, lungs, and hands when using them. Here are some safety tips to consider.

Power lawn equipment safety tips:

  • Eye Protection: Always were safety glasses or goggles when using power lawn equipment to protect your eyes from dust and flying debris.
  • Ear Protection: Using power lawn equipment and other power tools can damage your hearing and causing permanent ringing in the ears (tinnitus). Always wear hearing protection, such as ear plugs or ear muffs, when working with power lawn equipment of other power tools.
  • Hand Protection: Whether it’s raking leaves, digging holes, or operating power lawn equipment; it’s important to wear work gloves to protect your hands when working in your yard. Also, be sure to keep you hands well away from blades, particularly when using a wood chipper, and to disconnect the spark plug or unplug power tools before working them.

Watch the video above to find out more.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Danny Lipford: This is one of my favorite times of the year, because the weather has cooled off just enough that outside chores don’t seem as much like chores. Now that’s good since there’s always plenty to be done in the fall, but it’s important not to forget about safety while you’re enjoying the crisp air and taking a few of those things off your to-do list.

Granted, raking leaves isn’t all that dangerous, unless you over do it and maybe strain your back. But more and more power tools are part of fall clean-up, so it’s important to protect yourself.

First, protect your eyes. Leaf blowers are great for taking those sore muscles out of raking the yard, but they do put a lot of dust and small debris in the air, so make sure it doesn’t land in your eyes. Now, many of these tools can be very loud, so if you’re using one for an even just a few minutes, it’s a good idea to use some type of ear protection.

Both safety glasses and hearing protection are also very important when using chippers, like this small one. But especially if you’re using a large one, like this one, that you may rent from the local rental center. And gloves, also a great idea, because these things can yank a limb right out of your hands.

Now, obviously if this machine can grind up things into mulch, you don’t want your hands anywhere near the blade, so be sure to follow the operating instructions for the machine you’re using. And keep your autumn work weekend safe.


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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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