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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1992-05-13, Page 14WAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13,1992. frfome & Qardzn 1992 Use safety sense when operating lawn equipment Lawn and garden equipment may seem like ‘toys’ compared to mod ern farm equipment. Don't be deceived! Power lawn care machines have inflicted gruesome injuries to operators and bystanders. Dress for the job Steel-toed, safety footwear is mandatory for lawn care work. Full length, close-fitting clothes should be worn. A hat, safety eyewear, hearing protection, and gloves round out the proper apparel for this type of work. Following are pointers for safe operation of the most common lawn care machines. Refer to own er's manuals for complete informa tion. Riding mowers • Be sure the transmission is out of gear and the mower blade clutch disengaged before starting the engine. House, a sound investment continued from page 13 The house has become a valu able advertisement for the practi cality and beauty of reclaimed materials. It's easier for people to judge the beauty of old brick by looking at it in a fireplace rather than just stacked on a skid, Sharon says. "It's probably the best invest ment we ever made," says Dave of the house that is hard evidence of what can be done with the materials he salvages. But they weren't set ting out to do anything so farsight ed. "We were just working with the materials we had and the resources we had to stay on budget." They have turned those practical inten tions into a tribute to the century- old buildings that live on in a spacious modem house. • NEVER TAKE PASSENGERS FOR A RIDE! • Mow up and down slopes to reduce the chance of tipping. • Slow down on slopes and when turning sharply to avoid a rollover. • Always look behind the mower before backing up. (Small children may have strayed into the area.) • Keep feet away from v-belts, shafts, and other moving parts. • Never touch a hot engine or exhaust components. • Stop and inspect blades and shaft if the mower runs into a rock or stump. Damaged blades can cause machine vibration, and may even fall off. • Disengage power to the blades, turn off the motor, and remove the key before leaving the seat. Set the brakes and lock the transmission. Never leave a mower on a slope. Walk-behind power mowers • Mow across slopes so that your feet are less likely to slide under the mower if you slip. Also, the mower can not roll back on you. • Avoid touching hot engine and exhaust parts. • Keep hands away from the blades. Never reach under the machine. Make all adjustments with the motor turned off. Discon nect the spark plug wire before sharpening or replacing the blades and cleaning the inside housing. • Do not leave a machine unat tended with its motor running. Cut the throttle to idle and be sure the mower cannot roll before picking up debris or leaving the machine momentarily. • Be patient when mowing tough grass or weeds. Forcing a mower through can cause clogs and engine stalling. • With an electric mower, be vig ilant to avoid running over the cord. Use properly grounded equip ment - ideally, your mower should be connected to a circuit with ground fault protection. Don't use an electric mower when grass is wet. Disconnect the power cord before servicing the machine. String trimmers • Before mowing, clear the immediate area of loose objects. Gravel, sticks and debris can become hazardous projectiles in the path of a high velocity cutting line. • Inspect the cutting head before start-up. Replace any damaged component(s). • Use the shortest line length and reduce operating speed to mid range if trimming near vulnerable young trees or easily-damaged structures. Never run a trimmer wide open without a load, or ride the clutch just above idling power. Bring the machine to cutting speed before engaging work, then ease off to an idle when not cutting. This pro motes smoother operation, better lubrication, and longer engine life. • Keep a firm grip on the machine with both hands as you work, and make sure the harness is Plants are important Without plants, there could be no life on the earth. The oxygen in the air we breathe comes from plants. Our food comes from plants - or from animals that eat plants. Scientists believe that there are more than 350,000 kinds of plants, but no one knows for sure. Some of the smallest plants called diatoms, can be seen only with a microscope. A drop of water may hold as many as 500 of these tiny, single-cell plants. The largest living things are the giant sequoia trees, found only in California. Plants are also the oldest living things on earth. x Plants play an important part in the cycle of nature. They grow by taking energy from the sun, carbon dioxide from the air, and water and minerals from the ground. During the cycle, plants supply us with food, and give off the oxygen that we breathe. properly adjusted and securely fas tened. • Use extreme caution when operating in rock areas, or near electric wires or fences. Never underestimate the inherent dangers of a power cutting tool! Accidents can be avoided if you take precautions and pay attention to the job at hand. A d '41^7 Q SPRING || • OPEN HOUSE w ■ KEITH'S REPAIR SERVICE Free Coffee and Donuts Saturday May 16 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. New and Renovated Buildings . • Replacement Windows • Decks • Siding • Roofing • Insulation • Garden Sheds • Flooring • Quality Finish Carpentry aymond enovations LTD. 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