Riding lawn mowers, chain saws, edger equipment, trimmers and saws are but a few of the types of power equipment available today. Using power equipment saves time and energy. However, power equipment safety must be kept in mind when using it. Significance Prevention of injuries from power equipment accidents is the number one reason to learn safety with this type of equipment. According to CPSC, 10 percent of all electrocutions resulted from using power equipment at home. The majority of these deaths were preventable with proper power equipment safety. Safety Clothing Always wear protective eye glasses when operating any type of power equipment. You might even need to wear a full face goggle, depending on the type of equipment you're operating. Closed-toe shoes with socks should be worn at all times when operating power equipment. Appropriate safety gloves or at a minimal gardening gloves should be worn. Long pants without flared bottoms should be worn to protect legs and ankles. Tuck in shirts to prevent catching in power equipment. Read the Operator's Manual Regardless of your experience with power equipment or the type you use, always read the operator's manual first. Review the manual periodically. Follow any special instructions provided. Debris Removal Scan the area for debris, rocks, sticks and other items. Make certain the work area is clean if using the power equipment indoors. Removing loose items will prevent injuries from items catching in the power equipment and being thrown at you. Check Equipment Examine the power equipment to assure that there are no frayed cords, rusted blades or parts that need repair or replacement. Operating damaged power equipment is dangerous and should be avoided. Maintain, repair or replace power equipment prior to each use. Power Cords and Blade Changing Check the operator's manual for the approved voltage for each piece of power equipment and only use appropriate electrical sources. Never cross over power cords while operating power equipment. Turn off the equipment prior to plugging in or unplugging the cords from the outlets. Many types of power equipment have blades. Make certain the equipment is turned off and unplugged prior to changing blades. Wear safety gloves and use caution during blade changes. Walk Behind Equipment Walk behind power equipment such as trimmers, cutters and mowers. Use both hands to securely hold onto the equipment. Never leave unsupervised equipment running. Avoid walking up to someone in the process of using these types of power equipment. Source: eHow.com
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