Lawn Mowing
Protect yourself and your family from mower injuries.
About Lawn Mowing
According to farmers, mowing grass is one of the first jobs that youth are hired to do, and is particularly common while working on family farms. Annually, there are about 10,000 child/youth lawn mower injuries and approximately 5% of these injuries result in amputations. Injuries occur to bystanders and extra riders (often younger children) as well as youth operating lawn mowers.
The lawn mowing campaign is the latest campaign developed by CASN. Other campaigns and resources available include ATV/UTV safety, Keep Kids Away from Tractors, and Media Guidelines. Resources were developed for both youth operating lawn mowers and for those who supervise these youth.
Current campaign materials include resources for traditional (gas/diesel) mowers. Resources on electric mowers are being finalized, and will be released soon. In addition to the CASN campaign materials, this page includes links to CASN member resources, academic resources (e.g. journal articles), and other resources such as gas can safety materials.
Posters (PDFs)
Note: The print versions are CMYK-formatted and contain cut marks. Available as 8.5″ x 11″ and 11″ x 17″ layouts for your printing convenience.
Youth Mowing Poster
8.5″ x 11″ (Digital Format)
8.5″ x 11″ (Print Format)
11″ x 17″ (Digital Format)
11″ x 17″ (Print Format)
Supervisor Mowing Poster
8.5″ x 11″ (Digital Format)
8.5″ x 11″ (Print Format)
11″ x 17″ (Digital Format)
11″ x 17″ (Print Format)
CASN Member Resources
Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines
These guidelines are available in English, Spanish and French and customizable in skin tone and equipment color.
Safety Guides and Additional Documents
The resources below are PDFs created by various institutes as part of lawn mower safety awareness and training activities.
- Kansas State University: Mowing and Trimming Safety Booklet
- Southwest Ohio Family Farm Safety: Lawn Mower & Small Engine Safety Topics
- SAY National Clearinghouse: Creating a Culture of Safety
The Legacy of Christopher Allsup
This educational video describes the circumstances around the death of 10-year-old Christopher Allsup following burns received from a vapor cloud while using a gasoline can. A fire expert and a farmer describe and demonstrate proper choice of fuel containers, and use and storage of fuels. Engineering controls are discussed. This video is intended for use in agricultural and non-agricultural safety trainings. The video was created by the Legacy of Christopher Allsup Foundation using Pilot Grant Funding from the Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health.
Additional Resources
Lawn Mower Safety Websites
- Tate’s Army — Tate Manahl was just three when he was run over by a lawnmower. His injuries were severe and life-threatening from the stomach down. He was airlifted to The University of Iowa Stead Family and Children’s Hospital, where doctors would fight to save his life and his legs.
- Prevent Child Injury: Lawn Mower Safety — Lawn mowers send thousands of children to the emergency department every year with serious cuts, burns, and amputations. Keep young children away from lawn mowers, preferably inside the home with an adult, to protect them from lawn mower-related injuries.
- OrthoInfo: Lawn Mower Safety — In 2017, more than 253,000 people were treated for lawn mower-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Children under age 19 accounted for more than 10,000 of these injuries.
- National Ag Safety Database (NASD): Mowing and Trimming Safety — This booklet teaches important safety practices to follow when mowing using a wide range of equipment.
- Shine 365: Three Safety Tips for Mowing Your Lawn — Many people perceive mowing as a safe activity, especially for children and teens, but certain situations can put you in serious danger.
- Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital: Lawn Mower Safety Tips — Strategies and guidance on how to keep kids safe when mowing the lawn.
- Iowa Farmer Today: Lawn Mowers Put Young Children at Risk — According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 9,000 children are seen in emergency departments each year for lawn mower-related injuries.
- BIS: Lawn Mower Operator Safety Training (OSHA) — This is an OSHA-Compliant Training Class Online for Lawn Mower Safety. I-CAB Recognized. This class covers the principles of safe operations as they pertain to the following push mowers, riding lawn mowers, zero-turn mowers, and various mower attachments (boom mower).
- Hard Hat: Lawn Mower Safety Online Training — Lawn Mower safety online training, designed by trainers with 15+ years of onsite training experience. The estimated time for this training is 120 – 150 min.
