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FACTS
The primary hazards associated with leaf blowers.
- Hearing Damage: Leaf blowers generate significant noise, often exceeding 90 decibels. Prolonged exposure to this noise level can lead to permanent hearing loss.
- Respiratory Issues: Leaf blowers stir up dust, pollen, and other particulate matter, which can be inhaled by the operator and bystanders.
- Musculoskeletal Injuries: Operating a leaf blower for extended periods can result in strains and sprains.
- Impact Injuries: Debris, stones, and small objects can become airborne and hit the operator or bystanders.
- Vibration-Related Injuries: Continuous exposure to the vibrations from a leaf blower can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), which affects blood circulation and nerve function.
- Heat-Related Illnesses: Using leaf blowers in hot weather can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Slip and Fall Hazards: The use of leaf blowers can create slippery surfaces by blowing wet leaves or debris onto pathways.
STATS
- Leaf blowers and other equipment cause a significant number of injuries in the United States:
- Over the past 10 years, emergency rooms reported nearly 3.2 million lawn and garden injuries, or more than 26,000 injuries per month.
- 73% of these injuries (2,325,857) were caused by gear such as garden hoses, lawn edgers, leaf blowers, pruning shears, wheelbarrows and chainsaws.
- Specifically for leaf blowers:
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s estimated there were nearly 4,000 reported cases of injuries caused by leaf blowers, mulches, and grinders that were treated in U.S. hospitals.
- In 2024, DR Power Equipment recalled about 57,200 leaf blowers and vacuums in the U.S. and 956 in Canada due to a laceration hazard where pieces can come loose and be ejected.
- Although specific injury statistics for leaf blowers in Canada are limited, data indicates substantial risks associated with their use. In 2021, the landscaping and groundskeeping sector reported numerous injuries involving power tools, including leaf blowers.
- The cost of injuries related to power tools, including leaf blowers, is substantial. For instance, injuries involving lacerations, punctures, and ruptures can cost on average around $33,348 per incident.
- A broader analysis indicated that 73% of lawn and garden injuries from 2010 to 2019 were attributed to equipment like leaf blowers, pruning shears, and other non-mower tools, resulting in over 2.3 million injuries during that period.
