Vote For Safety Standard for Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mowers

To prevent some 60,000 injuries per year, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted today to issue a mandatory safety standard to reduce the blade contact hazard of walk-behind power lawn mowers. The standard is aimed at reducing 75 percent of the 77,000 current blade contact injuries annually associated with these mowers.

The safety standard will go into effect December 31, 1981, which would give manufacturers time to make any production changes that may be required by the standard. The Commission noted that mower technology to meet the standard is presently available.

Although the Commission voted to issue the mandatory standard now, it promised its strong and continued cooperation in the mower industry's effort to develop alternate ways to provide the consumer with safer movers. The Commission has committed staff time to this ongoing effort, and shares the industry's interest in providing as many feasible approaches as possible. The Commission noted that it would give priority consideration to any alternative safety solutions as possible amendments to the standard. Serious attention would also be given to an extension of the December 1981 effective date if necessary for full consideration of alternate approaches that appear promising and effective.

The safety standard reflects a determination to deal with the most serious and frequent injuries caused by walk-behind movers -- namely, those associated with blade contact. About 50 percent of all lawn mower injuries and 64 percent of walk-behind mower injuries occur as a result of contact with the moving blade.

The standard would eliminate the vast majority of these injuries, saving injury costs of $211 million annually (not including pain and suffering). The standard would add $35 to the price of a typical lawnmower.

The standard covers walk-behind rotary movers intended for consumer use. The two must important provisions are:

*Foot probe test. This requirement addresses injuries to feet that occur while the operator is in the mowing position. The rear and discharge chute areas of mower would be tested for accessibility of the blade using a probe that approximates a human foot. In effect, this would man designing the mower to shield the blade from the operator.

*Blade control system. This requirement addresses injuries that occur when the operator leaves the mowing position. Walk-behind rotary power mowers would have a blade control system that will:

1.  prevent the blade from operating unless the operator actuates the control;

2.  require continuous contact with the control for continued operation of the blade; and

3.  cause the blade to stop within three seconds after the control is released.

Unless the mower has a power restart capability, the control would have to stop the blade without stopping the engine.

There are two presently known ways to achieve the three-second stop time. The first is by stopping the engine; this approach would require use of a power restart feature. The second is by using a brake-clutch system that would disengage the blade from the drive train while the engine continues to run. Any other approach that would stop the blade in the time required would also be acceptable.

Other requirements of the mandatory standard concern shield strength, movable shields, the location of controls, and the mower's ability to pass over depressions and obstructions safely. The standard also requires a warning label to alert consumers to the hazards of the blade.

Except for the warning label provision, the standard would not apply to reel-type mowers. The standard would not cover riding mowers, lawn or garden tractors, hedgers, or trimmers. It also would not apply to movers with a non-rigid blade, such as monofilament line mowers, or to larger mowers not generally used by consumers. Other risks of injury, including those involving thrown objects, are not addressed by the standard but maybe considered by the Commission in the future.

The Commission was petitioned in 1973 by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute to adopt a mandatory safety standard for power mowers. The final standard is based on a standard that was developed by Consumers Union through committees consisting of both industry and consumer representatives.

The mandatory safety standard will be published soon in the Federal Register. The Commission specified that the safety standard, which it will formally vote upon once the final draft is prepared, will be promulgated 10 days after it is published in the Federal Register.