FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN

By Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A.
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

GOVERNMENT LAX IN SETTING RIDING MOWER SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

Question: I remember reading a few years ago that new safety requirements were placed on riding lawn mowers after there were a number of news reports of children being maimed or killed by accidents with these machines. I think I also remember stories of dogs and cats being run over. Can you tell me what these standards are and how effective they’ve been?

Answer: With spring here and the summer fast approaching, many of us are getting back into that mowing routine. Your question is, therefore, a good and very timely one.

The scenario that you have described of backing over a pet or loved one with a riding lawn mower is, unfortunately, very common. In fact, one lawn mower safety advocacy group estimates that on the average, a young child is backed over by a riding mower once a day in the U.S. Tragically, the child is often badly mutilated, crippled or killed. Adding to the family heartbreak, the driver is usually a parent, grandparent or sibling.

There is one safety feature that can greatly reduce, if not eliminate, these types of accidents with riding mowers. It’s called NMIR technology. This stands for “no mowing in reverse,” and the concept –- if not the implementation –- is as simple as it sounds. The mower is equipped with mechanical linkage that disengages the drive shaft that turns the blade whenever the rider places the mower in reverse. Unfortunately, you are incorrect about this standard being required by the government. It’s still just an option for manufacturers.

To date, three responsible manufacturers have opted to put these devices on their riding mowers. One is John Deere. Another is MTD Products, makers of mowers with the following brand names: MTD Pro, Yard Machine, Yard Man, White Outdoor and Cub Cadet. And, just last year, Snapper was added to this short list of manufacturers who care enough about the lives of young children to take the initiative to add NMIR technology on their own.

What you may be remembering is that the federal government did impose new rules about a dozen years ago to make push-type power mowers safer. New mowers are required to automatically stop the blade when the handle is released. There are also regulations that make it more difficult for the blade to strike an object and throw it back at the operator. These changes have reduced the risk of injury from thrown objects and the risk of being mangled by a moving mower blade. I think it’s now past time for the government to add NMIR technology as a mandate for riding mowers.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Council on Child and Adolescent Health have made some recommendations about power mowers that I think are very important for every family with children to observe. In summary, they recommended that children should not be allowed to:
· play in areas adjacent to where mowers are being used.
· ride with the mower operator or ride in carts or trailers being towed behind the mower.
· play on or around the mower, even with adult supervision.
· operate a mower until they are at least 14 years old and have received proper training in the operation of the mower and its safety features.

They also recommend that young children, particularly those under 5, not be allowed outdoors at all while mowing is being done.

Please pass this information on to anyone you know with children. Also, I’d urge you to write your U.S. representative and the U.S. senators from your state asking for legislation to mandate NMIR technology on new riding mowers.


Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, Ohio 45701. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnosis and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at http://www.FamilyMedicineNews.org.