String Trimmer Safety Tips
Using a weedeater for lawn maintenance creates a finished look to property. It can be used by professional landscape maintenance crews or the homeowner. Both residential and commercial properties need to be mowed and kept up on a regular basis. Using a string trimmer either before or after the lawn mower work helps give the lawn a clean professional look. Using proper safety precautions and wearing protective clothing will help the users of string trimmers be safe and comfortable both during and after the job.
Clothing
When using a weedeater, the person should wear long pants with no cuffs. They should be made of fairly heavy material for the best skin protection. While using the string trimmer, also called a weedwacker, grass, rocks and debris will fly up in the air. The legs are a likely target for cuts and bruises if left unprotected. Long-sleeved shirts are also helpful, although less critical.
Shoes
Steel-toed boots are imperative. String trimmers can cut through sneakers and cause serious injury. The user should take care to keep the equipment far enough away from the feet.
Gloves
Wearing work gloves or gardening gloves is very important when using a weedwacker. They protect the hands from blisters, calluses and chafing. They should be waterproof and durable. Poisonous vegetation is another hazard encountered when doing landscape maintenance. Poison ivy, vines with thorns, insects and flying debris can all damage the hands.
Safety Glasses
Eye protection from flying rocks, airborne dirt and grass is important when running a string trimmer. Either goggles or glasses are appropriate, and are usually a matter of personal preference. Designer models and tinted styles are available on the market today.
Rain
While running a weedwacker in the rain is possible, it is not recommended. Not only does it sling wet grass on concrete and create a mess that is very hard to clean up, it also sticks to clothing, embeds in hair and fuses onto anything in its path.
Movement
String trimmer heads rotate counter-clockwise. The user should walk with it to the right. This prevents debris from blowing or piling up in its path. The weedeater should swing back and forth about a foot wise to take down grass and weeds. A weed is any type of vegetation that is where it is not supposed to be. Avoid hitting plant material. It will damage woody ornamentals and flowers. It can damage bark, tear foliage, shear leaves and can kill plants.
Clothing
When using a weedeater, the person should wear long pants with no cuffs. They should be made of fairly heavy material for the best skin protection. While using the string trimmer, also called a weedwacker, grass, rocks and debris will fly up in the air. The legs are a likely target for cuts and bruises if left unprotected. Long-sleeved shirts are also helpful, although less critical.
Shoes
Steel-toed boots are imperative. String trimmers can cut through sneakers and cause serious injury. The user should take care to keep the equipment far enough away from the feet.
Gloves
Wearing work gloves or gardening gloves is very important when using a weedwacker. They protect the hands from blisters, calluses and chafing. They should be waterproof and durable. Poisonous vegetation is another hazard encountered when doing landscape maintenance. Poison ivy, vines with thorns, insects and flying debris can all damage the hands.
Safety Glasses
Eye protection from flying rocks, airborne dirt and grass is important when running a string trimmer. Either goggles or glasses are appropriate, and are usually a matter of personal preference. Designer models and tinted styles are available on the market today.
Rain
While running a weedwacker in the rain is possible, it is not recommended. Not only does it sling wet grass on concrete and create a mess that is very hard to clean up, it also sticks to clothing, embeds in hair and fuses onto anything in its path.
Movement
String trimmer heads rotate counter-clockwise. The user should walk with it to the right. This prevents debris from blowing or piling up in its path. The weedeater should swing back and forth about a foot wise to take down grass and weeds. A weed is any type of vegetation that is where it is not supposed to be. Avoid hitting plant material. It will damage woody ornamentals and flowers. It can damage bark, tear foliage, shear leaves and can kill plants.
Source...