Please help with mower safety PSA

[Surgeon]

We have had four heartbreaking but preventable garden tractor / lawnmower accidents to children here in one week with some pretty devastating injuries. As one of the surgeons involved I have been drafted into doing radio and TV public service announcements / interviews but getting the data together is harder than I thought. I know the medical data (the statistics on the injuries sustained by children from mowers and cutters, the injury types, the long term consequences of the injuries, etc) but I cannot find the mechanical information. How fast does a lawn mower blade turn? How much energy is involved? How long does a mower blade spin after you turn of off (assuming no blade brake or even with a blade brake)? How does that energy compare to a bullet? an ax? a propeller? a _______?.... I want a comparison that will really drive home the forces involved and the dangers involved. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions on where to look for data, thoughts on what they would include or suggestions for comparisons. What am I missing? All input is welcome. The knowledge base on TBN never ceases to amaze me. Thank you in advance! -Rob

 

[RonR]

Well, I can help with a little of it. I'm providing the details, so if I mess up a step, you or someone can jump in and fix it.

For a push mower, assume a 21" blade. Gas engines run about 3400RPM.

Figure the circumference: 3.14 x 21 / 12 (to get it to feet) = 5.495 ft

Spinning at 3400 RPM means the blade tips are moving 3400 x 5.495 = 18,683 ft/Min.

Converting to Miles/HR: 18,683 x 60 / 5,280 = 212 MPH.

If you are talking a tractor mower, like a bush hog, you would figure it the same way. The tractor PTO is probably 540 RPM on the rear, and ?? if it's a mid mower. You'd have to know or measure the gearbox ratio to figure how many RPMs the blade is turning. But the calculations are the same.

Assume a 6 ft blade with a 1:1 gear box on a rear PTO:

circumference: 6 x 3.14 = 18.84 ft
Speed: 540 x 18.84 = 10173 ft / min
MPH: 10173 x 60 / 5280 = 115 MPH.

An engineer could probably figure the energy involved when the blade hits something (I ain't one). Might be able to compare it to the impact of a bullet or an X MPH impact with a car, etc.

Oh, this would be REAL graphic, but you could video a bush hog running over a cantelop or small watermellon. I'd never want to see a person go into a mower, but my guess is it would look about the same when it happened.

Hope this helps.

Ron

 

[Surgeon]

Ron, Thanks. That is a great help. I am trying to be overprepared. I have never done radio much less television. I am happy in my own little medical world but this is one of those issues that I have to crawl out of my shell and suck it up. I will ask them on Monday if they will let me run something over for the camera. -Rob

 

[AlanB]

The most graphic, (and sticks in my mind the absolute most) safety message I have ever seen is the one that the US Army has that says take off the ring, not the finger.

Shows the 98% severed finger, ring in the middle, end of finger off to the side.

Not sure that you would want to put something like that out, but I can tell you THAT PICTURE is why I do not wear a wedding ring.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Surgeon,

Stop trying to be nice to people, statistics and laws of physics will not change the safety habits of people who think that accidents only happen to others and that it will not happen to them because they know better.

You have what you need, show them the blood and gore, let them shake hands with a handless person or see a mutilated child, if this makes them sick so much the more memorable.

Sorry to be so blunt but as you have observed people are casual about safety until it's too late.

Good luck & go get them!

 

[Soundguy]

Check most mower sales websites.. blade tip speed is listed for most of them..

Soundguy

 

[AlanB]

My memory may be faulty, or there are two of these out there.

Anyway, page 9 here.

https://crc.army.mil/MULTIMEDIA/magazines/countermeasure/2000_issues/cmmar00.pdf

I guess you have to know your audience, and what may be appropriate to one, is not to the others.

I know for me, you telling me blade tip speed of my mowers is pointless.

My buddy telling me he had a nightmare about his daughter tugging around the mower and putting her hands under it (NOTE, this did not happen, he had a dream about it) turns my stomach, and makes me thing a bit.

I think blade tip speed is OSHA regulated by the way, and should be able to find in the CFR.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Surgeon,

Information of a more practical and socially acceptable nature.

In industry our workman's compensation insurance company often provides safety information, inspections and/or training as part of the policy cost.

You might try any large insurance company's public relations department.

Other common sources of public safety information are the police and fire departments but I've never heard of them presenting a mower hazard demonstration.

There are industrial safety training videos available for any hazard but these are copyrighted and not inexpensive.

Your idea of running a mower over a generic flesh simulant should provide an image disturbing enough for people to remember when they operate a mower with children present.

Welcome to the frustrating world of safety compliance where friends and fellow employees resist your every effort to keep them safe. Should you continue in this effort let me bestow upon you a title you are sure to be addressed by “Doctor No".

 

[AlanB]

Toro / Exmark put out a safety training film as well, I think I have a copy somewhere............... But the point being more, have you contacted the mower manufacturer "Consumer safety" departments and asked for help?

It is a tough and unpopular place to be the "safety guy"

 

[Surgeon]

Thanks for everyone’s help. The spot went well today. The television studio was an interesting experience (but one that I hope to avoid in the future). Given the morning audience I was nixed on any demos. (I was considering mowing a cucumber.) The numbers for these injuries are appalling. Last year alone there were 16,500 mower injuries to children and 220,000 to adults with 75 fatalities 1/5th of which were children. Radio spots next week. I will call Deere and Toro and see what they have to say.

Ron: the interviewer seemed impressed with the tip speed data.

 

[mjncad]

Here are a couple of pictures of my idiot neighbor mowing the weeds with his daughter. Mom does the same thing; but I don't have pictures of mother and daughter on a weed mowing outing.

For giggles, I contacted the county child social services agency via email sans pictures and asked them if this behavior warranted their interest. The county said it didn't.

Please note, I have disabled the RIO switch on my own JD L130 and have posted a link on how to do it; but, we do not have children and pets, and I am the only own to mow on our property. Is disabling the RIO switch stupid? Maybe; but I do it at my own risk, and should I sell the L130, the RIO switch can be reinstalled and made active again in about 5-minutes.

 

[BTDT]

I applaud your efforts, but where does it end. Are you going to do a spot for gunshot victims, knifing victims, children hurt due to improper/no seatbelt use. Like some said, the more graphic the more lasting the impression, but how much good is it really going to do.

 

[AlanB]

Glad it worked out well.

What actually were the accidents? How, what, why in these instances?

At some point, life is a risk, and we weigh out the benifits vs. the gains and we all come to different answers.

MJNCAD, did you really call DHS on a guy because he was riding a kid on his mower? I guess on that to steal a line from BTDT, where do you draw the line? If it was my kid, I would just wonder why I was there, when I could have been running something else.

 

[mjarrels]

I'll NEVER forget the time a Second Class Aviation Machinest Mate got sucked into an Navy S-3A aircraft intake... UGLY.

mark

 

[AlanB]

Just for reference, here is my 11 year old this evening.

Personally, I am a lot more comfortable with him there then a lot of the guys I know, and some I work with.

Guess that makes me an idiot in your book, and yes, there are dangers involved, just like other actions in life, I personally feel the benefits outweigh the risks, but would have to wonder if a neighbor called DHS on me for allowing him to operate equipment.

 

[Defective]

Alan,

I'd go right along with mjncads assessment of his situation. I'll also go right along with YOUR assessment of YOUR situation.

These two situations are very different. Your 11 year old is apparently trained to operate that machine and trustworthy. The other situation is wrong any way you look at it. That lawn tractor is a SINGLE seat machine. A passenger of any age impairs safe operation and puts the passenger at risk.

BTW: My son learned to operate a ROPS & seatbelt equipped 8N at 9 years of age. He quickly became a better operator than his dad.

 

[mjncad]

MJNCAD, did you really call DHS on a guy because he was riding a kid on his mower? I guess on that to steal a line from BTDT, where do you draw the line? If it was my kid, I would just wonder why I was there, when I could have been running something else.

I only inquired with SS and did not provide a name or address for my idiot neighbor. Without going into boring details, the idiot neighbor has been a thorn in the side for a number of people on our street with their rude and inconsiderate behavior. Could I have an ulterior motive to see the idiot in trouble with the authorities? Let's just say I wouldn't lose any sleep if they had to explain to the SS why they were endangering their daughter's life and limb. Would any of my neighbors who have had to endure the idiot's nonsense lose any sleep either? I doubt it. The idiot neighbor is the type of person that would sue John Deere for the injuries or death to their child in spite of all the lawyer speak that is written in every machinery manual these days. My idiot neighbor would get along real well with the old gal who sued McDonald's for burning her crotch with hot coffee because she failed to exercise common sense regarding a hot drink in a car.

Although I have no kids by choice, I don't have a problem with a responsible and mature child being taught to operate machinery when they are ready to. However I just shake my head when I see the parents endangering their child because they think a lawn tractor is a riding toy. Quite frankly, I find steering my L130 lawn tractor with its manual steering gear more tiring than my power steering equipped 4200 CUT. I can't imagine trying to steer that little tractor one handed while holding on to a child.

Since SS showed no interest in my inquiry, I see no reason in pursuing the matter further. However, I find it odd that Wacko Jacko Michael Jackson is vilified in public for holding his infant kid over a hotel railing in Germany. The same goes for Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin for holding his infant while feeding crocs on TV. Mind you, I'm no fan of Wacko Jacko; but the the parental behavior is similar in all three cases I mention here, with the big difference is that my idiot neighbor is not a celebrity.

 

[mjncad]

Just for reference, here is my 11 year old this evening.

Personally, I am a lot more comfortable with him there then a lot of the guys I know, and some I work with.

Guess that makes me an idiot in your book, and yes, there are dangers involved, just like other actions in life, I personally feel the benefits outweigh the risks, but would have to wonder if a neighbor called DHS on me for allowing him to operate equipment.

As long as you've instructed your 11-year old properly on the operation of the tractor, then I don't see a problem. However, I don't see your son riding on the hood, fenders or other parts of the tractor that aren't meant for people. He is where the operator is supposed to be.

Some kids are mature and physically capable to operate machinery. Others aren't regardless of age.

 

[Surgeon]

In terms of where does it stop?...I think most people know that guns and knives are dangerous in the wrong hands. There will always be the idiots that get the Darwin awards. The problem with lawnmowers is that people in general do not recognize the danger from these common household tools. Even I was surprised by the number of injuries nationally and I deal with them on a regular basis. Of the patients that I have seen the parents are to a person good parents who made some bad judgements. The injuries I have seen recently are the following: A 5 year old who ran out to the mower and trying to stop when his Dad motioned for him to stay away but ended up sliding both feet under the mower deck. His Dad frequently gave rides to his son but never with the blades on and the child was running out to try to get a ride. He lost a foot and partially amputated the second foot. Another 6 year child was holding a limb back for her Dad as he was mowing when her feet slipped on wet grass on a slope putting both feet under the deck. Her shoe saved on foot but the other was partially amputated. (He had been very careful to make sure she stood on the non discharge side) I have two back over injuries where young children came up behind the riding mower operator (one uncle and one mother) simply backed up. Both cases were hydrostatic transmissions. Both children have permanent disabilities. I have two ride along injuries where the child fell off and the operator (Grandfather and father) could not stop the mower or the blade. Grandfather was a heavy equipment operator for over 40 years and now is an alcoholic. (The guilt that the mother/father/uncles/grandfathers have is incredible and unending.) I also know of several other projectile injuries including permanent blindness. I know of several push mower accidents including one involving the Honda with that really impressive blade brake that the operator could not react quickly enough to activate. The child lost two toes. So to answer the question it seemed like a worthwhile endeavor so I did it and maybe it will have no effect but I at least feel like I tried.

 

[mjncad]

Alan,

I'd go right along with mjncads assessment of his situation. I'll also go right along with YOUR assessment of YOUR situation.

These two situations are very different. Your 11 year old is apparently trained to operate that machine and trustworthy. The other situation is wrong any way you look at it. That lawn tractor is a SINGLE seat machine. A passenger of any age impairs safe operation and puts the passenger at risk.

BTW: My son learned to operate a ROPS & seatbelt equipped 8N at 9 years of age. He quickly became a better operator than his dad.

Well put Defective, and thank you for understanding what I was trying to convey with my original post.