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Powered Lawnmowers
Self-Inspection Checklist

Guidelines: This checklist covers regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under the general industry standard 29 CFR 1910.243(e). It applies to walk-behind and riding rotary mowers. Selected design specifications required in 29 CFR 1910.243(e) have not been included as part of this checklist. Please consult the OSHA regulations for additional details in this area. The regulations cited apply only to private employers and their employees, unless adopted by a State agency and applied to other groups such as public employees. A yes answer to a question indicates that this portion of the inspection complies with the OSHA or EPA standard, or with a nonregulatory recommendation.
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General Requirements
  1. Are all power-driven chains, belts, and gears

    2. positioned or otherwise guarded to prevent contact
    during starting, mounting, and operation?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(1)(ii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Is a shutoff device provided to stop

    2. operation of a motor or engine?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(1)(iii)]

    Note: This device must require manual reactivation
    to restart the motor or engine.
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(1)(iii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Are all positions of the operating controls clearly

    2. identified?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(1)(iv)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Are the words Caution: be sure the operating

    2. control(s) is in neutral before starting the engine
    (or similar wording) clearly visible at an
    engine-starting control point on self-propelled mowers?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(1)(v)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
Walk-Behind and Riding Rotary Mowers
  1. Is the mower blade enclosed except on the bottom,

    2. and the enclosure extended to or below the lowest
    cutting point of the blade in the lowest blade position?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(2)(i)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. If guards must be removed to install a catcher

    2. assembly, is a warning affixed to the mower near
    the opening stating that the mower must not be used
    without either the catcher assembly or the guard in place?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(2)(ii)(a)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Are openings in the blade enclosure that are intended

    2. for discharge of grass limited to a maximum vertical
    angle of the 30-degree opening measured from the
    lowest blade position?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(2)(iii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Is the word Caution (or stronger wording) placed on

    2. the mower at or near the discharge opening?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(2)(v)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. After declutching or shutting off the power, do the

    2. blades stop rotating from the manufacturer's maximum
    speed within 15 seconds?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(2)(vii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
Walk-Behind Rotary Mowers
  1. Is the horizontal angle of the opening(s) in the

    2. blade enclosure intended for the discharge of grass
    directed so it does not contact the operator?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(i)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Is one of the following found at all openings

    2. in the blade enclosure intended for the
    discharge of grass?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(ii)]
     
    1. A minimum unobstructed horizontal distance of

      2. 3 inches from the end of the discharge chute to
      the blade tip circle
      [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(ii)(a)]
       
    2. A rigid bar fastened across the discharge opening,

      3. secured to prevent removal without the use of tools.
      The bottom of the bar shall be no higher than the
      bottom edge of the blade enclosure.
      [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(ii)(b)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Is the highest point on the blade enclosure front

    2. (except discharge openings) 1-1/4 inches or less
    above the lowest cutting point of the blade in the
    lowest blade position?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(iii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Is the mower handle fastened to the mower to

    2. prevent loss of control by uncoupling?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(iv)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Is a positive upstop or latch provided for the mower

    2. handle in the normal operating position?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(v)]

    Note: The upstop shall not be disengaged during
    normal operation of the mower.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Do wheel-drive disengaging controls, except deadman

    2. controls, move opposite to the direction of the vehicle
    motion to disengage the drive?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(3)(vii)]

    Note: Deadman controls shall automatically interrupt the
    power to a drive when the operator's activating force is
    removed, and may operate in any direction to disengage
    the drive.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
Riding Rotary Mowers
  1. Are openings placed so that grass or debris will not

    2. discharge directly toward any part of the operator's seat
    in the normal operating position?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(ii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Is one of the following present at all openings in the

    2. blade enclosures intended for grass discharge?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(iii)]
     
    1. A minimum unobstructed horizontal distance of

      2. 6 inches from the end of the discharge chute to
      the blade tip circle
      [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(iii)(a)]
       
    2. A rigid bar fastened across the discharge opening,

      3. secured to prevent removal without the use of tools.
      The bottom of the bar shall be no higher than the
      bottom edge of the blade enclosure.
      [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(iii)(b)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Are mowers provided with stops to prevent

    2. jackknifing or locking of the steering mechanisms?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(iv)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Are vehicle-stopping means provided?

    2. [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(v)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Do hand-operated wheel-drive disengaging controls

    2. move opposite to the direction of the vehicle motion
    to disengage the drive?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(vi)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Do foot-operated, wheel-drive disengaging controls

    2. disengage the drive when depressed?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(vi)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Do deadman controls (both hand- and foot-operated)

    2. automatically interrupt power to the drive when the
    mower's actuating force is removed, and operate in
    any direction to disengage the drive?
    [29 CFR 1910.243(e)(4)(vi)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health