Station 1
160 Hawley Street
Grayslake, IL
60030
Tel (847) 223-8960
Fax (847) 223-8964
Station 2
1200 Brae Loch Rd.
Grayslake, IL
60030
Tel (847) 986-3020
Fax (847) 986-3022
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Lawn Care Safety
Summer arrives and out come the lawn power tools. Before you start your
yard chores, learn how to play it safe. Mowers and power landscaping
tools can cause injuries ranging from cuts to loss of eyesight and
amputations. Simple things like wet grass, debris in the yard, or shoes
with slippery soles become potential hazards when mowing the lawn. Put
safety first by following these precautions from the Consumer Product
Safety Commission to help prevent injuries in your yard.
Lawn Mowers
 | Don’t allow a child to accompany you on a riding
mower or play in the mowing area!
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| Wear long pants and a long-sleeve shirt, and
sturdy shoes with slip-resistant rubber soles. Wear eye protection;
even grass can cause an eye injury. Protect your ears from motor
noise. Use heavy gloves when changing, sharpening, or cleaning blades.
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| Walk around your yard and remove any sticks,
stones, metal, glass, or wire that could cause injury if thrown from
power equipment. |
| Be sure equipment safety devices are in place
and working properly. |
| Never attempt to change the wheel height
adjustment on your lawn mower while the engine is running. |
| When using a walk-behind mower, mow across the
faces of slopes instead of up and down. When using a ride-on mower,
mow up and down on gentle slopes. Avoid mowing on any excessively
steep slopes. |
| To lessen chances of injury to your feet, avoid
situations that require you to pull the lawn mower backwards. |
| Unplug electric tools and disconnect spark plug
wires on gasoline- powered tools before making adjustments or clearing
jams. |
| Never fill gas tanks while operating equipment
or if the engine is still hot. Wipe up any spills. Store gasoline in
an approved container. |
| Never work with electric power tools in wet or
damp conditions. |
Hedge Trimmers
| When operating your hedge trimmer, keep both
feet on the ground: firm footing is very important to the safe
operation of a hedge trimmer. Standing on stools or ladders increases
your chance for accidents and should be avoided. |
| Do not overreach while operating your hedge
trimmers; you may lose your balance. |
| Do not trim hedges higher than your shoulders.
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| Keep your fingers away from the trimmer blades.
Resist the impulse to clear trimmings from the blade while the trimmer
is running. |
| Before removing an obstruction in the trimmer
blades, be sure to switch it to the "off" position and remove the
spark plug wire. |
| Always hold the hedge trimmer with both hands
while operating. |
| Look for hedge trimmers with cutting teeth on
both sides of the blade for added versatility. When trimming your
hedges, trim the top of the hedge so it is narrower than the bottom to
allow sunlight to reach the lower branches.
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String Trimmers
| Use your string trimmer only for weeds and
grass; it’s not designed to trim shrubbery, climbing ivy or other
greenery. |
| Keep firm footing and balance; don’t overreach;
be sure lighting conditions are adequate; keep your body away from the
rotating string head and hot surfaces. Be sure to keep the string head
below waist level. |
| Before each use, inspect your string trimmer for
loose fasteners, fuel leaks, or other problems. Replace damaged
parts. |
| When using a string trimmer, position the
cutting head at a 30- degree angle to the cutting area. Be sure to let
the tip of the cutting line do the work. Never force the line into the
turf; this can scalp your lawn. |
Pressure Washers
| Be careful with the high-pressure water stream
(it can be up to 2,220 pounds per square inch); keep your hands, feet
and body away from the stream to avoid injuries. Do not point the
sprayer at anyone, whether or not the pressure washer is on. |
| Always hold a pressure washer spray wand with
both hands. Do not overreach while spray cleaning. |
| Do not spray a pressure washer toward electrical
areas.
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Lawn Edgers
| Before using your edger, first carefully examine
the area and remove any objects such as rocks, branches and debris.
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| Check to be sure your edger blade is firmly
attached and not contacting anything before operating. |
| Do not use a lawn edger on graveled surfaces.
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| If your lawn edger strikes a foreign object,
stop operation and disconnect the spark plug wire to inspect the unit
for damage. |
| When using your edger, rest the edger guide
against the edge of the paved surface before starting. To prevent
clogging, edge only when the grass and soil are dry. If clogging does
occur, be sure to turn the unit off and use a stick or tool to clear
the clogged area. |
Lawn Mowers and Mulchers
| When necessary to unclog the discharge chute,
stop the engine (disconnect the spark plug wire for added safety) and
use a stick to remove debris-don’t use your hands. |
| If using a grass catcher, stop the engine and
wait until the cutting blade comes to a complete stop before removing
the bag. |
| Keep your mower or mulcher blade sharp for good
cutting performance. |
| If your mower is self-propelled, be sure the
drive clutch is disengaged when starting. Never stand in front of a
self-propelled mower. |
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Lawn Care Safety
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