OAR 437-004-2240
Power Lawnmowers

(1)

General requirements.

(a)

Powered walk-behind, riding-rotary and reel lawnmowers designed for sale to the general public must meet the design specifications in “American National Standard Safety Specifications for Power Lawnmowers” ANSI/OPEI B71.1-1996. These specifications do not apply to a walk-behind mower converted to a riding mower by the addition of a sulky. Also, these specifications do not apply to flail mowers, sickle bar mowers or mowers designed for commercial use.

(b)

Guard or place all power-driven chains, belts and gears to prevent accidental contact with the operator, during normal starting, mounting and operation of the machine.

(c)

There must be a shutoff device to stop the motor or engine. It must require manual and intentional reactivation to restart the motor or engine.

(d)

Clearly mark all positions of the operating controls.

(e)

The phrase, “Caution. Be sure the operating control(s) is in neutral before starting the engine,” or similar wording must be clearly visible at an engine starting control point on self-propelled mowers.

(2)

Walk-behind and riding rotary mowers.

(a)

Enclose the mower blade except on the bottom. The enclosure must extend to or below the lowest cutting point of the blade in the lowest blade position.

(b)

There must be instructions near the opening warning not to use the mower without either the catcher assembly or the guard in place. This does not apply to side discharge mowers or those with a mulching plug in place.

(c)

Properly and completely installed catcher assemblies must not create a hazard.

(d)

The word “Caution,” or stronger wording, must be on the mower at or near each discharge opening.

(e)

Blade(s) must stop from the manufacturer’s specified maximum speed within 15 seconds after declutching or shutting off power.

(3)

Walk-behind rotary mowers.

(a)

The horizontal angle of the grass discharge opening(s) in the blade enclosure, must not direct discharge toward the operator area.

(b)

There must be one of the following at all openings in the blade enclosure intended for the discharge of grass:

(A)

A minimum unobstructed horizontal distance of 3 inches from the end of the discharge chute to the blade tip circle.

(B)

A rigid bar fastened across the discharge opening, secured to prevent removal without the use of tools. The bottom of the bar must be no higher than the bottom edge of the blade enclosure.

(c)

Keep the handle attached to the mower to prevent loss of control by unintentional uncoupling while the engine is running.

(d)

There must be a positive upstop or latch for the handle in the normal operating position(s). The upstop must not be subject to unintentional disengagement when using the mower. The upstop or latch must not allow the center or the handle grips to come closer than 17 inches horizontally behind the closest path of the mower blade(s) unless manually disengaged.

(e)

A swing-over handle, that complies with the above requirements, is acceptable.

(f)

Wheel drive disengaging controls, except deadman controls, must move opposite to the direction of the vehicle motion in order to disengage the drive. Deadman controls must automatically interrupt power to a drive when the operator lets go and may operate in any direction to disengage the drive.

(4)

Riding rotary mowers.

(a)

Opening(s) must not allow grass or debris to discharge directly toward any part of an operator seated in a normal operator position.

(b)

One of the following must be at all grass discharge openings in the blade enclosure:

(A)

A minimum unobstructed horizontal distance of 6 inches from the end of the discharge chute to the blade tip circle.

(B)

A rigid bar fastened across the discharge opening, secured to prevent removal without the use of tools. The bottom of the bar must be no higher than the bottom edge of the blade enclosure.

(c)

Mowers must have stops to prevent jackknifing or locking of the steering.

(d)

Mowers must have working brakes or a manufacturer designed system for stopping.

(e)

Hand-operated wheel drive disengaging controls must move opposite to the direction of vehicle motion to disengage the drive. Foot-operated wheel drive disengaging controls must be depressed to disengage the drive. Deadman controls, both hand and foot operated, must automatically interrupt power to a drive when the operator removes the actuating force and may operate in any direction to disengage the drive.
[Publications: Publications referenced are available from the agency.]

Source: Rule 437-004-2240 — Power Lawnmowers, https://secure.­sos.­state.­or.­us/oard/view.­action?ruleNumber=437-004-2240.

437–004–0001
Application 437–004–0002
Scope 437–004–0003
Exclusive Coverage 437–004–0005
Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records 437–004–0099
General Standards 437–004–0100
Universal Definitions 437–004–0150
Standards Organizations 437–004–0240
Safety Orientation for Seasonal Workers 437–004–0251
Safety Committees and Safety Meetings 437–004–0310
Working Surfaces 437–004–0320
Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes 437–004–0330
Fixed Industrial Stairs 437–004–0340
Portable Ladders 437–004–0350
Orchard Ladders 437–004–0360
Fixed Ladders 437–004–0370
Scaffolding 437–004–0380
Manually Propelled Mobile Ladder Stands and Scaffolds (Towers) 437–004–0390
Other Working Surfaces 437–004–0405
Exits and Emergency Action Plan 437–004–0450
Emergency Action Plan 437–004–0570
Manlifts 437–004–0610
Ventilation 437–004–0630
Noise Exposure 437–004–0650
Ionizing Radiation 437–004–0710
Compressed Gases 437–004–0715
Acetylene 437–004–0716
Oxygen 437–004–0717
Hydrogen 437–004–0720
Flammable and Combustible Liquids 437–004–0725
Spray Finishing 437–004–0770
Explosives and Blasting Agents 437–004–0780
Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases 437–004–0790
Use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas or Natural Gas in Fields and Orchards 437–004–0800
Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia 437–004–0950
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) 437–004–1005
General Requirements for Protective Equipment 437–004–1020
Personal Fall Protection 437–004–1030
Work Clothing 437–004–1035
Eye and Face Protection 437–004–1041
Respiratory Protection 437–004–1050
Head Protection 437–004–1060
Hand, Foot, and Extremity Protection 437–004–1070
Working Underway on Water 437–004–1075
Working Over or In Water 437–004–1105
Sanitation 437–004–1110
Field Sanitation for Hand Labor Work 437–004–1115
COVID-19 Workplace Requirements for Employer-Provided Labor Housing 437–004–1120
Agricultural Labor Housing and Related Facilities 437–004–1140
Lighting 437–004–1150
Safety Colors for Marking Physical Hazards 437–004–1180
Accident Prevention Signs 437–004–1250
Confined and Hazardous Spaces 437–004–1260
Manure Lagoons, Storage Ponds, Vats, Pits and Separators 437–004–1275
The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout) 437–004–1305
Medical Services and First Aid 437–004–1430
Sources of Fire 437–004–1440
Required Postings 437–004–1450
Extinguishers 437–004–1460
Fire Prevention Plan 437–004–1470
Employee Equipment and Training 437–004–1505
Air Receivers and Pressure Systems 437–004–1525
Boilers and Steam Systems 437–004–1610
General Requirements 437–004–1630
Conveyors 437–004–1670
Automotive Hoists 437–004–1680
Storage of Hazardous Chemicals 437–004–1700
Forklifts and Other Powered Industrial Trucks 437–004–1750
Helicopters 437–004–1805
Rope, Chain, Rigging, and Hoists 437–004–1825
Tackle and Hoisting Equipment 437–004–1910
General Equipment Guarding 437–004–1940
Farm Field Equipment 437–004–1970
Farmstead Equipment 437–004–2000
Powered Saws 437–004–2100
Grinders 437–004–2220
General Requirements — Small Tools 437–004–2230
Guarding and Operation of Portable Powered Tools 437–004–2240
Power Lawnmowers 437–004–2260
Other Portable Tools and Equipment 437–004–2310
General Requirements 437–004–2350
Oxygen-Fuel Gas Welding and Cutting 437–004–2400
Arc Welding and Cutting 437–004–2810
General Requirements 437–004–2850
Temporary Lighting and Wiring 437–004–2860
Flexible Cable and Extension Cords 437–004–2870
Attachment Plugs and Receptacles 437–004–2880
Cord and Plug-Connected Equipment 437–004–2900
Grounding and Bonding 437–004–2950
Switches and Circuit Breakers 437–004–3000
Identification and Load Ratings 437–004–3050
Work Near Overhead Lines 437–004–3075
Agricultural Buildings with Special Hazards 437–004–3100
Excavation 437–004–3410
Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Vehicles 437–004–3420
Working from Vehicles and Vehicle Loads 437–004–3430
Training for Agriculture Tractor Operators 437–004–3460
Industrial Vehicles 437–004–3480
Bridges, Roads and Ramps 437–004–3550
Servicing Multi Piece and Single Piece Rim Wheels 437–004–3600
Roll-Over Protective Structures (ROPS) for Tractors in Agriculture 437–004–3650
Roll-Over Protective Structures — Industrial Vehicles 437–004–3660
Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms 437–004–6000
Adoption by Reference of Federal Standard 437–004–6001
Expiration and Implementation Dates 437–004–6401
Effective dates for worker training programs in Oregon 437–004–6405
Restrictions Associated With Outdoor Production Pesticide Applications 437–004–6406
Pesticide Spray Drift and Innovative Methods 437–004–6501
Handler training programs in Oregon 437–004–6502
Oregon requirements for Worker Protection Standard trainers of handlers who qualify using train-the-trainer programs 437–004–6508
Respiratory Protection 437–004–6509
Emergency eye-washes and eye flushing supplies 437–004–9000
Oregon Rules for Air Contaminants 437–004–9010
Fumigated Areas. 437–004–9050
Asbestos 437–004–9090
13 Carcinogens 437–004–9600
Lead 437–004–9620
Cadmium 437–004–9626
Chromium (VI) 437–004–9640
Benzene 437–004–9650
Bloodborne Pathogens 437–004–9710
Acrylonitrile 437–004–9720
Thiram 437–004–9740
Ethylene Oxide 437–004–9760
Formaldehyde 437–004–9780
Methylendianiline 437–004–9800
Hazard Communication Standard for Agricultural Employers 437–004–9830
Retention of Department of Transportation (DOT) Markings, Placards and Labels 437–004–9850
Pipe Labelling 437–004–9860
Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories
Last Updated

Jun. 8, 2021

Rule 437-004-2240’s source at or​.us