STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE REDUCTION OF MOWER-THROWN-OBJECT ACCIDENTS. FINAL REPORT

There has been a significant number of insurance claims againt the Texas State Department of Highways and Public Transportation involving mower-thrown-object accidents. This report details the efforts made to reduce the number of mower-thrown-object accidents and discusses possible changes in mowing standards, available mowing equipment, and possible design modifications to mowers. Ideas and theories are tested and evaluated experimentally using a Terrain King TK 15-IV bat-wing mower. The experiments were conducted to determine the relative safety of several types of safety devices. The experiments also served the purpose of determining where objects leave the mower. From the experimental results several conclusions were made. Most of the objects exit the rear of the mower and safety devices such as chains and cables improve the safety of the mower. Finally recommendations were made from the experiments and from the observations. The most important of these recommendations is that a canvas guard be added to the rear of the mower and a reduced mass cutting blade be further tested. In addition, the report discusses the background of mower-thrown-object accidents, blade design, possible application of alternative materials for blades, conclusions, and recommendations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Research study title: Mower-Thrown-Object Accidents.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Texas, Austin

  Center for Transportation Research, 3208 Red River Street
  Austin, TX  United States  78705

  Texas State Department of Highways & Public Transportation

  Transportation Planning Division, P.O. Box 5051
  Austin, TX  United States  78763

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Marshek, K M
  • DaSilva, R E
  • Kannapan, S M
• Publication Date: 1986-8

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 164 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Blades (Machinery); Design; Mowers; Recommendations; Reduction (Chemistry); Safety equipment; Testing
• Old TRIS Terms: Canvas guard; Mower-thrown objects; Reduction
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00473178
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/TX-87/64+445-2F, Res Rept 445-2F, CTR 3-20-86-445-2F
• Contract Numbers: Study 3-20-86-445
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 30 1988 12:00AM