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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
APRIL
IS NATIONAL OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT SAFETY MONTH
Alexandria,
VA, (March 2000) - April showers bring May flowers and growing
grass. And when those showers start, it's a good time for wise
consumers to stay inside and think about safety ways to mow that
grass. So, in honor of National Outdoor Power Equipment Safety
Month, April 2000, the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)
reminds consumers to review all the important safety steps that
apply to lawn mowers, tillers, trimmers and any outdoor power
equipment needed to beautify lawns throughout the summer. Because
this equipment is specially designed to cut, chop and trim, it
has characteristics that must be respected from a safety point
of view.
Here,
then, are some OPEI recommended safety steps to review in April
and follow throughout the mowing season:
- Know
how to operate your equipment. Read your operator's manual before
using any power equipment. Know where the controls are located
and their function. Follow safety instructions.
- Keep
children and pets away from the mowing area. Never allow children
to operate any outdoor power equipment. And never carry children,
or anyone, as passengers on a riding mower.
- Dress
properly for the job. Wear long pants, close-fitting clothes,
sturdy shoes, and safety glasses. Do not wear anything that
could get caught in moving parts (loose jewelry or clothing
-- be careful of long hair).
- Handle
gas carefully. Fill up before you start, while the engine is
cold. Do not spill when you fill. Store gas in an approved container
in a cool, ventilated area. Never smoke around gasoline.
- Clear
the area before you start. Pick up rocks, twigs, cans, and toys
-- anything that could be thrown by equipment in operation.
- Operate
equipment carefully and follow recommended procedures. Always
turn off the engine and disconnect the spark plug wire before
attempting to unclog or work on outdoor power equipment. When
leaving equipment unattended, turn off engine and remove key.
- Keep
hands and feet away from moving parts. Never work on equipment
while it is running. Never remove or tamper with safety devices
and labels ... they are provided to protect you and your family.
- Do
not be influenced by unsafe photos. Although newspapers sometimes
publish photographs of happy adults riding on a mower with a
child on their lap, it is important to be a wise consumer and
do not imitate this behavior. It may be a cute photograph and
it may look fun, but it shows an unsafe practice.
- Do
not race lawnmowers. There has also been an alarming growth
in an unsafe practice that unwise consumers may consider fun
-- lawnmower racing. OPEI points out that riding mowers are
hard working utilitarian machines with sharp cutting blades,
and they are excellent timesaving machines that help consumers
beautify their surroundings. They were not designed for racing
... even if the cutting deck has been removed. Be a wise consumer:
do not race with a riding mower.
Almost
all accidents involving outdoor power equipment are entirely preventable.
And, that is why OPEI urges consumers to educate themselves during
National Outdoor Power Equipment Safety Month to avoid accidents
all year long.
OPEI
is a trade association whose membership is primarily composed
of U.S. manufacturers of powered lawn and garden maintenance products,
components and attachment supplies, as well as industry-related
services. OPEI's domestic members manufacture in excess of 95%
of the U.S. consumer retail market for gas and electric powered
lawn and garden maintenance products.
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