RoSPA Logo

RoSPA's mission is to save lives and reduce injuries

Electricity Safety and You

Garden electric safety

Keep the flex behind you. One way is to trail it over your shoulder. Alternatively you can hold a short loop of flex in one hand, resting it on the handle while cutting the grass.

Sensible steps

  • If the flex of your mower or your hedge-trimmer becomes caught up in the blades, do not touch the equipment. Remove the plug from the mains socket
  • Have your equipment as well as your mains wiring regularly checked and serviced (preferably every 2-3 years) by a qualified electrician
  • If for any reason your electrical gardening equipment should fail during operation - before you examine it, switch off immediately and remove the plug from the mains socket
  • Never do any cleaning, adjusting, checking or lifting while the equipment is connected to the supply. Don't ever clear grass from a mower without first switching off and removing the plug from the socket
  • Never wash equipment with water; wipe over with a dry cloth.

If you cut the flex, always remove the plug from the mains socket before touching the flex - even when an RCD is fitted.

Produced in association with Northern Ireland Electricity.

Produced in association with Northern Ireland Electricity - www.nie.co.uk

*RoSPA cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or completeness of any pages on linked websites.

Share this page: