As summer draws to a close and the weather mellows, yard work becomes less intense, but for many of us it does not go away entirely. While the risk of heat stroke, dehydration, and severe sunburn are fading, fall yard work can still result in serious injuries, and some accidents can be fatal. A few safe practices can prevent accidents and injuries while working in the yard this autumn.
Raking Leaves
- Before getting started, take a few minutes to warm up your muscles. It will help prevent injuries and general soreness after the exertion of raking leaves.
- Be mindful of your raking technique. The repetitive motion of raking can cause muscle strain and other injuries, so switch it up a bit by changing hands and your angle of work.
- Choose a rake that is the right size for you and that you feel comfortable using.
- Consider wearing gloves to prevent blisters.
- Do not overfill bags of leaves. You should be able to lift the bag comfortably.
- Remember to bend from the knees, not from the waist, when lifting.
- Do not sling the bag of leaves over your shoulder.
- If you need to move a heavy bag of mulch, use a wheelbarrow.
- Remember to watch for snakes in leaf piles.
Ladders
- Place your ladder on solid, even ground. Do not place the ladder on soft or slippery ground, or on top of leaves.
- Look up first. Make sure that you or your ladder will not make contact with power lines.
- Do not climb to the very top of your ladder.
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