People always seem fascinated with the concept of being injured by the blade of a lawnmower, but there are plenty of other ways they can injure a person, especially children.
A lot of people don't realize how dangerous a collision or being run-over is for a child from even a small "riding mower", much less a lawn "tractor". Well, the small ones can still weigh a couple hundred pounds. Easily 5x to 20x (or more) the weight of a child. It is my understanding, many injuries such as broken bones in feet and legs are due to kids being struck or run over by the machines without ever being involved in the mowing blades. Kids chasing the machine get run over when the operator suddenly backs-up without lookings (and he can't hear them back there).
Roll-overs can be just as fatal on a 500 lb "garden tractor" as a 5000 lb farm tractor. Anytime you drop 500lbs of steel on a person, they are very likely to get hurt.
Then there is the typical broken foot of a small child that happen when riding on the operator's lap, the child decides to squirm free and dismount the machine while its moving. Their foot can easily get run over.
Some other common ways to get hurt:
As has been mentioned, thrown objects are a common source of injury (as well as property damage).
The small gas engine gets very hot. From personal experience, I know that it can burn the heck out of a curious young child's fingers (mine).
Gasoline stored in or near the machine is dangerous. The next step in a Jr. Fire-bug's progression after matches is gasoline...
Drinking oil, gasoline (or other fluids in larger machines) or getting it in your eyes or lungs can also lead to injuries or death.
Small lead-acid and NiCad starting batteries still pack enough punch to cause burns or fires if shorted-out.
Mower blades can be sharp, even when not running!
- Rick
A lot of people don't realize how dangerous a collision or being run-over is for a child from even a small "riding mower", much less a lawn "tractor". Well, the small ones can still weigh a couple hundred pounds. Easily 5x to 20x (or more) the weight of a child. It is my understanding, many injuries such as broken bones in feet and legs are due to kids being struck or run over by the machines without ever being involved in the mowing blades. Kids chasing the machine get run over when the operator suddenly backs-up without lookings (and he can't hear them back there).
Roll-overs can be just as fatal on a 500 lb "garden tractor" as a 5000 lb farm tractor. Anytime you drop 500lbs of steel on a person, they are very likely to get hurt.
Then there is the typical broken foot of a small child that happen when riding on the operator's lap, the child decides to squirm free and dismount the machine while its moving. Their foot can easily get run over.
Some other common ways to get hurt:
As has been mentioned, thrown objects are a common source of injury (as well as property damage).
The small gas engine gets very hot. From personal experience, I know that it can burn the heck out of a curious young child's fingers (mine).
Gasoline stored in or near the machine is dangerous. The next step in a Jr. Fire-bug's progression after matches is gasoline...
Drinking oil, gasoline (or other fluids in larger machines) or getting it in your eyes or lungs can also lead to injuries or death.
Small lead-acid and NiCad starting batteries still pack enough punch to cause burns or fires if shorted-out.
Mower blades can be sharp, even when not running!
- Rick
