Dangers of Lawn Tractors & Riding Mowers

June 9, 2011 - PRLog -- Contact
Jan Lee, Edward M. Ricci, P.A.
(561) 842-2820
Kim Sailer, BARD Marketing/PR
ksailer@bardmarketing.com

Dangers of Lawn Tractors & Riding Mowers

West Palm Beach, Fla. - As warm weather and summer approaches many individuals are dusting off their lawn mowers and riding tractors to begin their weekly ritual of mowing the lawn. Attorney Edward M. Ricci wants to warn consumers of a serious, often unknown danger when it comes to using riding mowers and lawn tractors.

While much focus is on keeping children safe around lawn mowers (in 2010 almost 17,000 kids under the age of 19 were injured in lawn-mower related accidents according to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission {CPSC - http://www.cpsc.gov}), there are many others who are also at great risk of injury and even death.

Riding lawnmower operators (landscapers and homeowners) across America are dying needlessly while providing lawn care and property maintenance services at condominium developments, golf courses, parks, farms and behind and private homes due to rollovers and a lack of rollover protective structures (ROPS).

Rollovers claim approximately 100 lives per year and account for the majority of tractor and riding mower related fatalities. This number is potentially higher because some incidents go unreported. According to a 2009 CPSC report, more than 247,000 people are injured while mowing.

Roll-over Protective Structures consist of either a cab or frame / bars that provide a safe zone for the tractor / mower operator in a rollover. ROPS must meet standards set forth by the OSHA (http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_t...) for agricultural tractors (CFR 1928.51(a)) or industrial tractors (CFR 1926.1002(j)(2)). While ROPS improve safety, these tractors must also be equipped with seatbelts. Without seatbelts, operators are not confined to the protective zone.

“Unfortunately manufacturers of riding tractors (“mowers”) have known for more than 30 years that without Roll-over Protection Structure (ROPS), it is virtually impossible to save the life of the operator if the tractor flips over, especially when the mower rolls over into shallow water,” said product liability attorney Edward M. Ricci. “The National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) {http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/} has also determined that use of ROPS and seat belts is estimated to be 99 percent effective in preventing death or serious injury in an overturn.”

Of the 4.8 million tractors in the U.S., more than half are not retrofitted. If your lawn tractor or riding mower is not retrofitted contact a retailer or manufacturer about a retrofit. The one time retrofit will protect the operator for the life of the tractor. If you are purchasing a new riding mower or lawn tractor make sure it has the latest safety features including rollover protection structures.

Attorney Edward M. Ricci of Edward M. Ricci, P.A. has handling products liability claims for over 35 years throughout Florida and the U.S. The firm handles riding mower and tractor rollover cases including third party rollover cases, which involve drownings. The firm is headquartered in West Palm Beach at 303 Banyan Boulevard, Suite 400. Mr. Ricci can be contacted at (561) 842-2820. Additional information about Edward M. Ricci, P.A. may be obtained from the firm’s website at http://www.edriccilaw.com. For a copy of our Lawn Mower & Lawn Tractor Safety Brochure visit: http://www.edriccilaw.com/page/lawn-mower-and-tractor-accidents.

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