Please help with mower safety PSA

[Surgeon]

We have had four heartbreaking but preventable garden tractor / lawnmower accidents to children here in one week with some pretty devastating injuries. As one of the surgeons involved I have been drafted into doing radio and TV public service announcements / interviews but getting the data together is harder than I thought. I know the medical data (the statistics on the injuries sustained by children from mowers and cutters, the injury types, the long term consequences of the injuries, etc) but I cannot find the mechanical information. How fast does a lawn mower blade turn? How much energy is involved? How long does a mower blade spin after you turn of off (assuming no blade brake or even with a blade brake)? How does that energy compare to a bullet? an ax? a propeller? a _______?.... I want a comparison that will really drive home the forces involved and the dangers involved. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions on where to look for data, thoughts on what they would include or suggestions for comparisons. What am I missing? All input is welcome. The knowledge base on TBN never ceases to amaze me. Thank you in advance! -Rob

 

[Surgeon]

Ron, Thanks. That is a great help. I am trying to be overprepared. I have never done radio much less television. I am happy in my own little medical world but this is one of those issues that I have to crawl out of my shell and suck it up. I will ask them on Monday if they will let me run something over for the camera. -Rob

 

[AlanB]

The most graphic, (and sticks in my mind the absolute most) safety message I have ever seen is the one that the US Army has that says take off the ring, not the finger.

Shows the 98% severed finger, ring in the middle, end of finger off to the side.

Not sure that you would want to put something like that out, but I can tell you THAT PICTURE is why I do not wear a wedding ring.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Surgeon,

Stop trying to be nice to people, statistics and laws of physics will not change the safety habits of people who think that accidents only happen to others and that it will not happen to them because they know better.

You have what you need, show them the blood and gore, let them shake hands with a handless person or see a mutilated child, if this makes them sick so much the more memorable.

Sorry to be so blunt but as you have observed people are casual about safety until it's too late.

Good luck & go get them!

 

[Soundguy]

Check most mower sales websites.. blade tip speed is listed for most of them..

Soundguy

 

[AlanB]

My memory may be faulty, or there are two of these out there.

Anyway, page 9 here.

https://crc.army.mil/MULTIMEDIA/magazines/countermeasure/2000_issues/cmmar00.pdf

I guess you have to know your audience, and what may be appropriate to one, is not to the others.

I know for me, you telling me blade tip speed of my mowers is pointless.

My buddy telling me he had a nightmare about his daughter tugging around the mower and putting her hands under it (NOTE, this did not happen, he had a dream about it) turns my stomach, and makes me thing a bit.

I think blade tip speed is OSHA regulated by the way, and should be able to find in the CFR.

 

[DrainPondDesign]

Surgeon,

Information of a more practical and socially acceptable nature.

In industry our workman's compensation insurance company often provides safety information, inspections and/or training as part of the policy cost.

You might try any large insurance company's public relations department.

Other common sources of public safety information are the police and fire departments but I've never heard of them presenting a mower hazard demonstration.

There are industrial safety training videos available for any hazard but these are copyrighted and not inexpensive.

Your idea of running a mower over a generic flesh simulant should provide an image disturbing enough for people to remember when they operate a mower with children present.

Welcome to the frustrating world of safety compliance where friends and fellow employees resist your every effort to keep them safe. Should you continue in this effort let me bestow upon you a title you are sure to be addressed by “Doctor No".

 

[AlanB]

Toro / Exmark put out a safety training film as well, I think I have a copy somewhere............... But the point being more, have you contacted the mower manufacturer "Consumer safety" departments and asked for help?

It is a tough and unpopular place to be the "safety guy"

 

[Surgeon]

Thanks for everyone’s help. The spot went well today. The television studio was an interesting experience (but one that I hope to avoid in the future). Given the morning audience I was nixed on any demos. (I was considering mowing a cucumber.) The numbers for these injuries are appalling. Last year alone there were 16,500 mower injuries to children and 220,000 to adults with 75 fatalities 1/5th of which were children. Radio spots next week. I will call Deere and Toro and see what they have to say.

Ron: the interviewer seemed impressed with the tip speed data.

 

[BTDT]

I applaud your efforts, but where does it end. Are you going to do a spot for gunshot victims, knifing victims, children hurt due to improper/no seatbelt use. Like some said, the more graphic the more lasting the impression, but how much good is it really going to do.

 

[AlanB]

Glad it worked out well.

What actually were the accidents? How, what, why in these instances?

At some point, life is a risk, and we weigh out the benifits vs. the gains and we all come to different answers.

MJNCAD, did you really call DHS on a guy because he was riding a kid on his mower? I guess on that to steal a line from BTDT, where do you draw the line? If it was my kid, I would just wonder why I was there, when I could have been running something else.

 

[mjarrels]

I'll NEVER forget the time a Second Class Aviation Machinest Mate got sucked into an Navy S-3A aircraft intake... UGLY.

mark

 

[AlanB]

Just for reference, here is my 11 year old this evening.

Personally, I am a lot more comfortable with him there then a lot of the guys I know, and some I work with.

Guess that makes me an idiot in your book, and yes, there are dangers involved, just like other actions in life, I personally feel the benefits outweigh the risks, but would have to wonder if a neighbor called DHS on me for allowing him to operate equipment.

 

[Defective]

Alan,

I'd go right along with mjncads assessment of his situation. I'll also go right along with YOUR assessment of YOUR situation.

These two situations are very different. Your 11 year old is apparently trained to operate that machine and trustworthy. The other situation is wrong any way you look at it. That lawn tractor is a SINGLE seat machine. A passenger of any age impairs safe operation and puts the passenger at risk.

BTW: My son learned to operate a ROPS & seatbelt equipped 8N at 9 years of age. He quickly became a better operator than his dad.

 

[mjncad]

Just for reference, here is my 11 year old this evening.

Personally, I am a lot more comfortable with him there then a lot of the guys I know, and some I work with.

Guess that makes me an idiot in your book, and yes, there are dangers involved, just like other actions in life, I personally feel the benefits outweigh the risks, but would have to wonder if a neighbor called DHS on me for allowing him to operate equipment.

As long as you've instructed your 11-year old properly on the operation of the tractor, then I don't see a problem. However, I don't see your son riding on the hood, fenders or other parts of the tractor that aren't meant for people. He is where the operator is supposed to be.

Some kids are mature and physically capable to operate machinery. Others aren't regardless of age.

 

[mjncad]

Alan,

I'd go right along with mjncads assessment of his situation. I'll also go right along with YOUR assessment of YOUR situation.

These two situations are very different. Your 11 year old is apparently trained to operate that machine and trustworthy. The other situation is wrong any way you look at it. That lawn tractor is a SINGLE seat machine. A passenger of any age impairs safe operation and puts the passenger at risk.

BTW: My son learned to operate a ROPS & seatbelt equipped 8N at 9 years of age. He quickly became a better operator than his dad.

Well put Defective, and thank you for understanding what I was trying to convey with my original post.