If you work in the lawn care business, there is no doubt you and your employees work long days and hours to provide clients the best lawn care service you can.

However, as straightforward as the work is, there are hazards associated with the job you need to safeguard against, starting with your personal protective equipment or PPE.

You must take the appropriate precautions to ensure your safety and avoid injury while on the job. Of course, you want to be well trained and knowledgeable of your lawn care service equipment too, but the appropriate PPE will protect you against unforeseen hazards while working. Here are a few items that you should add to your workforce to ensure your safety when servicing your customers’ lawns.

Goggles and Facemask

All models of lawnmowers use sharp blades at a high rate of speed to cut grass. So, therefore appropriate eye and face protection is needed when using any type or model of mower.  

Since the mower’s blades typically cut the grass rotating at this high rate of speed, pebbles, stones, or sticks, could get caught up in the rotation of the blade at any given moment and strike you in the face. Plus, think about all the grass clippings scattered from the mower if a bag is not attached.

Therefore, you need a good eye and face protection. Safety glasses or goggles can provide eye protection. However, the rest of your face is still vulnerable. So, face masks provide near-complete protection against any flying debris. 

Dust Masks and Respirators

Respiratory problems and allergic responses can be caused by inhaling dust or small sand particles. These breathing issues are especially true when mowing grass that has grown in fine, loose soil.

Dust masks should be worn when working on sandy soil or during dry and windy circumstances.

Alternatively, you can also use a respirator to protect your nose and mouth from small particles in the air. Now, if you have asthma or are allergic to freshly cut grass, wearing masks and respirators should be imperative when mowing lawns.

Closed Toe Shoes

When mowing or raking your client’s lawn, you’ll constantly be moving. Because of the dangers associated with the lawn’s surface and the functioning mower, protecting your feet also becomes a priority. Stickers, stones, and sticks are examples of items that could injure your feet if you are not wearing the appropriate protective footwear.

So, it is recommended that you wear a pair of strong, closed-toe, non-slip shoes. Plus, at the small risk of becoming entangled with equipment, hedges, or surface items, non-laced shoes are also highly recommended.

Earmuffs or Earplugs

Because of your schedule of working many hours and days around high-powered lawn equipment, you should protect your ears from the consistent loud noise of the lawn equipment. The standard gasoline-powered lawn mowers generate between 80 and 90 decibels of noise. This number is greater than the accepted medical threshold of 60 decibels, and it is recommended to use hearing protection when constantly around this level of noise. 

Using earmuffs or the popular earplugs will provide adequate protection for your ears by lowering the quantity of noise that you may constantly be around with your work environment.

Gloves

When working on your client’s lawn, your hand is constantly in danger of getting cut, burned, or blistered. Investing in a pair of gloves will go a long way toward preventing injury to your hands.

They act as a barrier between your hand and the elements. Blistering is expected if you are not wearing protective gloves, especially if you use a stand-behind mower that requires regular direction changes and machine vibrations that push and pull.  

There are many styles and types to choose from, but a good pair of leather work gloves should keep your hands well protected from most hazards you might encounter.

An Overall

An overall protects your body from scratches and abrasions that you might get from trimming rough hedges, but it also provides the best dirt protection for your clothes.

An overall helps you to navigate through dense plants and bushes without being cut or bruised.

Conclusion

So, while you are planning next week’s lawn service schedule for those great customers, plan on wearing these personal protective equipment items mentioned to ensure your safety for continued success on the job.