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Quick Lawn Mower Safety Tips
June 14, 2017
Every time you mow the lawn, you’re operating a machine with sharp blades spinning at 160 miles per hour, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The most common types of serious accidents with lawn mowers are rollovers and being caught in moving parts. Fortunately, these accidents are preventable.
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Follow these quick tips to avoid being caught in moving parts:
- Wear protective clothing like safety glasses, long pants and closed-toe, non-slip shoes. Loose-fitting clothes and jewelry are a no-no.
- Check over the area to be mowed. A quick check can alert you to objects in your path that could potentially get stuck in the mower.
- Keep your hands and feet away from the blade.
- If you need to work under the mower, make sure to take precautions to keep the engine from starting. You can disconnect the spark plug wire to do this.
Follow these quick tips to avoid rollover accidents:
- Don’t mow near drop offs, ditches, embankments or steep slopes.
- Avoid making sudden moves.
- Take turns slowly and make wide, gradual turns, especially on slopes.
- For riding lawn mowers, mow up and down slopes. Do not mow across the slope. Also keep the heavy end uphill to avoid a rollover. For walk behind mowers, mow across slopes, not up and down. This will keep you from sliding underneath the mower.
Injuries from lawn mowing accidents often result in bodily injury and property damage. Speak with your local insurance agent to make sure you’re covered just in case.
Resources
http://www.jhsph.edu/news/stories/2011/healthy-monday-2011/06132011_mowing.html
https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-19503-09/mowing-trimming_safety_manual.pdf
This blog entry is created for informational purposes only. Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company. The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.
4 Steps for Protecting your Valentine's Day Purchase
February 09, 2018
Whether you’re shopping for a loved one or treating yourself, you may find you're buying a new piece of jewelry this Valentine’s Day. According to the National Retail Federation, 55% of the U.S. population is expected to celebrate the holiday. Those consumers are expected to spend an average $143.56 on Valentine’s Day.
And what do consumers spend the most money on for Valentine’s Day gifts? Jewelry!
But with jewelry losses among the most frequent of all content-related home insurance claims, be sure to take precautions. Follow these four steps, recommended by the Insurance Information Institute, to protect your new purchase:
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- Contact your insurance professional immediately. You will need to determine if your current coverage is adequate to protect your new purchase. Many standard homeowners and renters policies cover personal belongings, including jewelry, but often these policies limit the dollar amount for theft of high-value belongings. You may find that you need additional coverage to protect your jewelry in the event of a theft, and you can often purchase the necessary coverage through an endorsement to your homeowners or renters policy.
- Obtain a copy of the store receipt. Make sure you get a copy for your home inventory records and for your insurance company’s records. The receipt should show the current retail value of the item and a detailed description. Higher valued items may require a copy of the appraised value as well.
- Heirloom pieces should be appraised. If you inherit antique jewelry, have the jewelry appraised for the dollar value. Your insurance professional may be able to recommend an appraiser.
- Add the item to your home inventory. You should keep an up-to-date inventory of your personal belongings, adding to it as you make purchases. This home inventory can help ensure you have adequate insurance and speed up the claims process in the event of a loss.
If you have any questions about how a new purchase will affect your insurance needs, call your local insurance agent.
Resources
This blog entry is created for informational purposes only. Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company. The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.
How to Prevent, Diagnose, and Thaw Frozen Pipes
January 11, 2017
It’s January, and freezing temperatures are a reality for many across the U.S. This is the time of year for hot chocolate, sledding…and frozen pipes. Don’t let this cold weather situation ruin your winter fun; follow these tips for preventing, diagnosing, and thawing frozen pipes.
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Prevention
It is important to prevent your pipes from freezing. Water expands when it freezes, putting tremendous pressure on your pipes. This could result in bulging or even rupturing of pipes. The American Red Cross provides suggestions for preventing this during cold weather:
- Keep garage doors closed if water supply lines are located in the garage.
- Open kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors, allowing warmer air to circulate around plumbing.
- Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and at night.
- During especially cold weather, allow cold water to drip from faucets served by exposed pipes.
- Leave the heat on in your home if you are going away, keeping the temperature no lower than 55° F.
- If you’re going away overnight, turn off the water supply as well.
Additionally, prevent a large property payment by calling your insurance agent for proper coverage.
Diagnosis
You’ve taken action against your pipes freezing, but how do you know when your pipes actually freeze?
- No water comes out of the faucet, or only a small amount of water is getting through.
- The pipe has frost accumulated on the outside.
- The pipe is bulging.
Thawing
If you determine that your pipes are frozen, act quickly but safely. The American Red Cross advises using the following method:
- Keep the faucet open. Running water through the pipe while it thaws will help melt ice in the pipe.
- Apply heat to the section of pipe that is frozen. Use an electric heating pad to wrap the pipe. Other recommended sources of heat are an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or towels soaked in hot water.
- Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane heater, charcoal stove, or other open flame device!
- Keep applying heat until full water pressure is restored.
- Check all other faucets in your home. One frozen pipe could indicate more within the building.
If you cannot locate the frozen pipe or it is not accessible, call a licensed plumber for assistance.
Resources
This blog entry is created for informational purposes only. Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company. The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.