In the landscape industry there are about 190 deaths and 18,500 injuries a year; and the do-it-yourself homeowner statistics are even worse.
You can avoid this fate by reading and following the owners manuals and purchasing and using the proper safety gear.
Can you go back to work on Monday? Being a weekend warrior means putting on proper safety equipment before you pick up the chainsaw.
Here are some sobering facts before you start your weekend project:
- 36,000 people are injured by chainsaws annually. Hey guys, 95% are men.
- The average chainsaw injury requires 110 stitches and the average medical cost is $12,000. And guess what? You’ll be missing work!
- In 2011, 3,780 kids, 14 years old or under were among 83,291 people treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for lawn mower injuries.
- Another 13,000 children went to clinics or doctors offices for lawnmower injuries in that time period.
- Many children are injured when riding on the mower with an adult…what does the owner manual say about that?
- About 6,000 people a year go to the emergency room for injuries caused by the common pressure washer.
Throw away the red nozzle for your pressure washer. The red 0 (zero) degree nozzle is the one that accounts for most pressure washer injuries. The injury occurs when water and chemicals are injected through the skin and into the muscle. Injection injuries can be lethal, long-lasting and permanent. The “0” (zero) degree nozzle is also the one that damages wood, paint and other surfaces that you are trying to clean.