Top Tips for Safe Strimmer Use & Maintenance
At SGS Engineering, we know that a strimmer is an essential tool for maintaining a pristine garden. However, whether you are tackling overgrown weeds or neatening up lawn edges, safety must always be your first priority.
While a strimmer is incredibly versatile, it is also a powerful piece of machinery with high-speed rotating parts. This guide provides an in-depth look at how to protect yourself, your family, and the local wildlife while you work. As the weather warms up, the garden becomes a hub of activity. While it’s a place for family relaxation, it is also a flourishing habitat for birds, mice, frogs, and hedgehogs. Strimmers use high-speed rotating lines that can easily kick up stones or cause serious harm to living things hidden in long grass. Taking a few moments to prepare can prevent life-changing injuries to yourself or the local ecosystem.Why is Safety Important?
Personal Protection: Keeping Yourself Safe
Operating garden machinery requires the right gear and the right mindset. Follow these steps for maximum personal safety:
- Wear the Correct Clothing: Use thick trousers and sturdy shoes (ideally steel-toe boots) to protect your legs from flying debris. Wear vibration-limiting gloves, ear defenders, and safety goggles to prevent projectiles from damaging your eyes.
- Check Your Fitness: Only operate a strimmer if you are feeling 100% fit. Fatigue or illness can reduce your reaction times and control.
- Read Your User Manual: Before you begin, ensure you have a full understanding of your specific model. Your manual will cover extra safety aspects unique to that machine.
- Fully Assess the Area: Check for potholes, large stones, or hidden debris that might damage your strimmer or flick up and injure you.
- Adjust Your Harness: If your strimmer has a harness, adjust it so the head is a few inches from the ground and the unit feels balanced. This prevents back strain and control issues.
- Take Regular Breaks: It’s important not to overdo it. Breaking your tasks into manageable chunks provides respite from petrol fumes and the vibrations that can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
- Maintain Good Posture: Keep a wide, stable stance and a straight back to avoid muscle strain. Never over-reach; stay within your limitations.
Protecting Others and Your Surroundings
A safe workspace extends far beyond the handle of the tool.
- Stay Within Limitations: Do not use a strimmer to cut at heights above 6 inches (such as trying to trim a hedge) as this significantly increases the risk of debris hitting your face.
- The 15-Metre Rule: If you are working with others, they must wear PPE too. Keep bystanders and colleagues at least 15 metres (50 feet) away at all times.
- Family and Pets: Keep children and pets safely indoors until the work is finished and the machine has cooled down.
- Be a Good Neighbour: Be courteous to your neighbours. Carry out your strimming at appropriate times during the day; daylight conditions provide the best visibility for safety anyway.
Protecting Wildlife and Plants
Gardens are shared spaces. Here is how to keep the "residents" of your garden safe:
- Check Your Work Areas: Carelessness is a major cause of injury to garden wildlife. Check long grass for hedgehogs, frogs, or ground-nesting birds before you start.
- Use the Guard Effectively: To protect delicate flowers, use the guard as a physical barrier between the line and your plants. This takes a steady hand and a bit of practice.
- Allow Cooling Time: After use, allow the engine to cool before letting inquisitive pets or children near the equipment.
Strimmer Maintenance Checklist
A well-maintained strimmer is a safe strimmer. Use this checklist to keep your machine in top condition:
- Inspect the Guard: Ensure the safety guard is firmly attached and free from cracks. Never operate a strimmer without it.
- Check the Line/Blade: Ensure the nylon line is at the correct length or that the metal blade is securely tightened and free from chips.
- Clean After Use: Once cooled, clean off grass clippings. This keeps cooling vents clear and prevents the engine from overheating.
- Check Air Filters (Petrol): A clogged filter causes the engine to run poorly. Clean or replace it regularly.
- Drain Fuel for Storage: If storing for more than 30 days, drain the fuel to prevent the carburettor from gumming up.
Troubleshooting FAQ
- Q: Why won't my petrol strimmer start?
- A: Check for stale fuel (older than 30 days) or a fouled spark plug. If you’ve pulled the cord many times with the choke on, the engine may be flooded; turn the choke off and pull the cord several times to clear it.
- Q: Why is the cutting line not feeding out?
- A: The line may be tangled inside the spool or melted together due to heat. Alternatively, the spool may simply be empty or jammed with grit.
- Q: Why is the engine stalling when I try to cut?
- A: This is often due to a clogged air filter or grass wrapped around the drive shaft behind the head. Ensure the head can spin freely before starting.
- Q: Why is my strimmer vibrating excessively?
- A: Check if the nylon lines are of unequal length, as this unbalances the head. If using a blade, check for bends or damage. Stop use immediately if vibrations feel abnormal.
Final Safety Reminder
Before performing any maintenance or troubleshooting, always ensure the power source is disconnected.
- Petrol: Disconnect the spark plug lead.
- Battery: Remove the battery pack.
- Electric: Unplug from the mains.