Sturdy shoes are always a necessity. Leather shoes can reduce the degree of injury if a foot were to slip into the blade. Mowing the lawn while barefoot is a sure invitation to disaster. Long pants may deflect any objects flying out from under the mower deck. Workers, including youngsters, exposed to the strong rays of the sun need to be protected.
Skin cancer is much easier to prevent than to treat or cure.
When starting a mower, be sure to keep your clothing away from rotating parts and your feet from under the mower deck. Be careful to control long hair for the same reason, Maher notes. Many mowers have a place on the deck to place your foot on to hold the mower steady while pulling the starting rope. A mower that is jumping around as you try to start it is dangerous and out of control. Be sure that self-propelled mowers are out of gear before starting the engine.