Choosing the Right Mower - Safety

What safety features & equipment do I need for my lawn mower?  

Every lawnmower is a machine with blades spinning at high speed and can be dangerous if not used correctly.  Obvious, right?

Some mowers are going to be intrinsically safer than others because of the safety tech built-in.

Blade brake / RotoStop / Engine Braking

Most Honda mowers have either Engine Brake or Blade bake Technology.

While engine braking completely kills the engine and stops the mower, Honda’s MowSafe technology features a blade brake system called RotoStop – this stops the blade within 3 seconds while the engine keeps running – enabling you to easily and safely drive the mower over paths, emptying the catcher, or just taking a quick break.

Mainly though, the onus for safety is on you, the operator.

What personal safety gear should I use for a lawn mower?            

It’s a smart idea to invest in some quality personal safety gear and use it every time you’re working with a mower.

Non-slip shoes

Make sure you always wear a sturdy pair of shoes or boots – ideally with a non-slip sole. ( Don’t even think about mowing in bare feet or jandals.)

Eye and ear protection

Always wear some sort of eye protection. Most sunglasses probably aren’t up to standard –  your Honda Outdoors dealer will be able to sort you out with some good safety glasses.

If you’re using a petrol mower, you should also be using some ear protection. (The lower noise levels of most electric mowers means ear protection isn’t necessary.)

Safety first and last                           

Make sure you’re comfortable with your mower and how it works before starting any work, especially before tackling anything especially challenging.

If you’re doing any maintenance underneath the mower, like changing blades, or giving it a clean – always remove the battery, unplug it, or disconnect the spark plug in petrol mowers. Just in case.