Yard Work Injuries

Yard work and gardening are satisfying activities. Thousands of cases of injuries resulting from yard work, however, are reported each year. And some of these injuries are serious. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year about 400,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for injuries from lawn and garden tools alone.

Misuse of, and improper maintenance of, tools and equipment are major contributors to yard work related injuries. Another significant factor that contributes to such personal injuries, however, is the fact that such often-strenuous activities are undertaken in the spring, after months of physically idle time in which muscles have been underused. Inadequately supervised children are also often hapless victims of yard work related injuries.

Following are some important safety tips to consider when, and prior to, working in the yard or garden:

• Warm up first by taking a walk and/or stretching.
• Wear protective clothing to prevent cuts, scratches, and sunburn. Avoid baggy clothes that could get caught in motorized equipment. Wear eye protection and proper shoe wear when indicated.
• Remember to bend at the knees rather than at the waist or back when lifting objects or accessing areas near the ground. Use your legs when lifting heavier loads without reaching at an awkward angle.
• Follow directions and observe all safety precautions when working with motorized equipment and other dangerous tools.
• Inspect power chords and use a ground fault circuit interrupter to prevent electric shock.
• Keep children away from sharp tools, power tools, and lawn equipment. Keep chemicals where children cannot access them.
• Do not consume alcoholic beverages, drugs, or medications that can impair judgment or reaction time.
• Take breaks when tired. Do not overwork yourself - stop and finish another day.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as the result of working in the yard or garden, you or your loved one may not be at fault, or at lest not entirely. Defective tools or lawn equipment, for instance, may have contributed to the injuries. In some cases, inaccurate or poorly written directions have contributed to yard work injuries.

Contact a qualified personal injury or defective consumer product attorney for an evaluation of your case. You may be entitled to compensation.

See also:
Defective lawnmower injury
Leaf blower injury
Defective weed trimmer injury
Defective consumer products
Farm accident injury