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Mark Paisley Lawn Mowing & Landscape Maintenance

Member of Independent Lawn Mowing Contractors Of Australia

 

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ONE BLACK DAY

Most lawnmowing contractors would agree that mowing lawns for a living is a relatively safe occupation.  I'd like to tell a story that may help some contractors to think a little more about safety and how you go about your daily jobs.

One of my customers owns a large property that I mow weekly with a 20hp Walker mower.  Anyone who has used a Walker will tell you what great mowers they are.

The property overlooks the beach from the top of a hill and I'm lucky enough to be able to dump all my clippings down an embankment at the rear of the property.  I just back up and lift the catcher - it's all too easy - or so I thought.

One fine day last December, I was mowing this property and was glad that I was going to spend the day on the Walker instead of a walk behind mower.

Back in The Saddle After That DayThe "catcher full" signal went off and I headed off down the back to dump the first load of the day.  I backed up as I've done so many times before but on this day, I backed up just a fraction too far.  As soon as I stopped the mower, and before I could do anything, it started to roll backwards.  My first thought was "this is not good" - then the mower flipped backwards sending me about 10 metres down the side of the embankment.  I looked up to see the mower rolling down the embankment sideways and coming straight for me.  I thought, "I'm going to die".  I covered my head with my arms but the impact was enormous - I've never been hit so hard by anything ever before.  It rolled over me and landed right way up and still running about 5 metres down from where I was lying.  I dragged myself over the mower and turned it off and climbed out of there.  How lucky I thought, to be able to even walk.  I think what saved me was that I landed on old grass clippings and this cushioned the impact.  If I was lying on hard ground, it would have been a different story written no doubt by someone else.

I spent the rest of that day in hospital and came away with two broken ribs, a cut face and some A1 bruises.  The mower had to be winched out but it was ok.

I lost a couple of weeks work which was a bit stressful in the middle of summer but it could have been worse.

So to all contractors, watch out for those hidden dangers, stay alert and keep safe

* Any statements made in this article in regard to equipment and other, are the opinion of the writer.


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