Mow carefully, especially when moving in reverse

Mower and tractor injuries account for an estimated 86,000 emergency-room visits and 100 deaths in the U.S. annually, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of the injuries attributed to tractors and other ride-on mowers backing up, some 85 percent involve children.

Most tractors now have a switch you must engage to mow in reverse, though none force you to look behind. Most zero-turn mowers lack that switch. And unlike the mandatory rules for self-propelled and push mowers, which include a protective rear flap and require the operator to be at the handlebar when the blade spins, standards for tractors and riders are voluntary.

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, believes that tractors and riding mowers of all kinds should have a rear-mounted switch that forces you to look back before reversing and engaging the blades. We also believe all types of tractors and riders should do a better job shielding their blades.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute is mounting a campaign to keep children off riding mowers. Here are some other ways to make your mowing safer:

• Wear long pants and proper footwear, along with ear protection.
• Remove rocks and debris before mowing. And clear the area of people and pets.
• For walk-behind lawn mowers, mow parallel with slopes; for tractors and riding mowers, mow up and down slopes.
• Always look behind you before reversing a tractor, zero-turn mower, or other rider.