RoSPA Press Office : Press Release
May 24, 2001
BANK HOLIDAY WARNING- MOWERS TOP GARDEN DANGER CHART
Mowing the lawn will mean a short cut to hospital for thousands of gardeners this summer.
The lawnmower tops the RoSPA list of 10 most dangerous gardening tools – and is likely to lead to a bumper crop of accidents this Bank Holiday weekend.
About 1,000 people a month injure themselves with mowers during the summer – and the recent wet spell followed by sunshine has led to ideal grass growing conditions.
The increased popularity of gardening has seen a steady rise in mower accidents – with some leading to deaths or serious injuries.
RoSPA’s Top Ten of dangerous garden equipment shows mowers in Number One spot, resulting in more than 7,100 UK accidents according to latest figures.
The other rankings are: 2, Hedgetrimmers (5,000 accidents); 3, Secateurs (4,400); 4, Flower pots (4,300); 5, Spades 3,700; 6, Flower tubs (2,600); 7, Forks (2,400); 8, Shears (2,000); 9, Wheelbarrows (1,900); 10, Hoes (1,800).
David Jenkins, RoSPA Product Safety Adviser, said: "This weekend is likely to be one of the busiest of the year for gardeners. It’s worth remembering that around 400,000 people are injured in their gardens each year and 50 killed. Gardens are great places to relax, but when you are using garden tools you need to stay alert.
"Electric mowers and other power tools must always be used with an RCD – residual current device – which will cut off the power quickly in the event of an accident. Maintenance must never be carried out while the mower is plugged in. Whatever type of mower you are using, great care is needed because they have sharp blades and can be heavy or topple over.
"It’s best not to have small children around when mowing the lawn. Wearing gloves and stout shoes with rubber soles could prevent many injuries."
Children also need to be supervised closely at barbecues. Make sure the barbecue is on a level surface and never pour petrol or meths onto it. About 1,000 people a year have barbecue injuries during a hot summer – some suffer serious burns.
