Spring into action with yard cleanup

Spring yard work safety tips

Blue skies, chirping birds, 气温变暖——四月是装修房屋的黄金时间, yards and gardens back into shape. A home maintenance routine can help your house operate more efficiently. 在你开始你的户外任务清单之前，考虑一下这些草坪护理安全预防措施.

Dress for yard cleaning

• Wear protective footwear. 穿鞋子或靴子，不要穿凉鞋，以保护你的脚趾.
• Wear properly fitting gloves. 这可以提高你对工具的把握，也有助于保护皮肤免受水泡、晒伤、 bug bites, poisonous plants and chemicals.
• Wear hearing protection when using loud equipment.
• Wear safety glasses to keep flying objects out of your eyes.
• Apply bug spray to keep pests away. 使用后淋浴，以清除皮肤上的化学物质. 当你这么做的时候，花一分钟寻找蜱虫. 如果你找到一个，用镊子轻轻地把它拔出来.
• Apply sunscreen or skin products with SPF to any exposed skin to help prevent sunburn. Don't be fooled by cloudy days; you can still get a sunburn.

Work smart

• Stretch your body. 在开始工作之前，花点时间做伸展运动和热身. Weeding, trimming and raking are repetitive motions -每隔几分钟改变你的姿势或立场，每30分钟换一次活动.
• Lift things carefully and safely. 适当地弯曲膝盖和臀部，使用腿部力量，而不是弯曲腰部，把压力放在背部. 用手推车或独轮手推车代替沉重或笨重的货物.
• Drink water and take breaks in the shade. 即使天气不热不潮湿，院子里的工作也是一种锻炼，保持水分是很重要的 heat related illness.
• Don't use power tools under the influence. 适用于车辆的规则同样适用于电动工具，包括割草机. 对分心和任何可能影响判断的事情说不.
• 操作燃气设备或工具时，请谨慎操作. To help prevent carbon monoxide buildup 并吸入有害化学物质，请勿在密闭空间使用此类设备. 确保你工作的地方通风良好，空气新鲜.

Ready the tools

• Inspect equipment. Check for and replace any damaged parts.
• Familiarize yourself with power tools and how they work. 阅读用户手册(很多都可以在网上找到)，了解各种开关, modes and required maintenance.
• Check cords on tools and extension cords. 寻找割伤，裂缝和磨损的电线，如果损坏，不要使用它们. 还要检查标签，确保你没有在室外使用室内延长线.
• Make sure tools are in the "off" position before plugging them in or unplugging.
• Use ladders safely. Set ladders on a firm, level surface; do not stand on any of the top three rungs; and use a utility belt to hold tools so you can properly climb facing the ladder.
• Call 811 before you dig. 这会通知当地公用事业公司在您种树之前检查您的财产, dig a trench or set fence posts.

Protect loved ones

• Watch out for children and pets. See that children and pets 当你工作的时候，你是在室内(或者外出时有人监督)吗.
• Securely store tools and equipment. Store sharp tools, weed killer, 肥料和其他危险物品放在上锁的柜子里，不要让好奇的手和嘴接触到.
• Educate and supervise kids with equipment. Before allowing any child to operate a mower, sound judgment, strength, coordination and maturity are necessary. Healthychildren.org from the American Academy of Pediatrics, 建议儿童应该具备这些特征，并且在操作任何类型的割草机之前至少要年满12岁-并且至少要年满16岁才能操作骑式割草机.