[Yonhap]
[Yonhap]

More than eight in 10 people who use grass trimmers wear no proper protective gear at all — no helmet, no face shield. This comes as trimmer use surges ahead of chuseok for grave-cutting and other seasonal chores.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety urged extra caution against trimmer-related accidents on Thursday.

According to the Rural Development Administration's 2025 survey on farmers' work-related injuries, trimmer accidents accounted for 14.3 percent of farm machinery-related injuries, the second-highest share after tillers at 25 percent.

Among survey respondents, 84.3 percent said they "never" wear proper protective gear such as a helmet or face shield while operating a trimmer. Only 6 percent said they "always" wear it.

Cuts and punctures were the most common injuries, at 38.3 percent, followed by being struck by flying or falling debris at 27.6 percent and falls or slips at 17.2 percent. The legs and feet were the most frequently injured body part, accounting for 49 percent of cases.

The ministry advised clearing rocks, branches and debris from the work area before starting, and keeping other people at least 15 meters away during operation. Workers should wear a face shield or safety goggles, knee pads, safety shoes, a helmet and gloves, and dress in long sleeves.

The ministry also recommended avoiding two-bladed trimmer heads, which are prone to kicking back debris such as rocks on impact, in favor of circular blades or nylon line heads.

If debris gets caught in the blade, workers should always cut the power supply first and remove it by hand while wearing gloves.

"As trimmer use rises with grave-cutting season ahead of chuseok, please be thorough about wearing protective gear for every part of the body and, above all, put safety first while working," said Ha Jong-mok, director general for disaster prevention policy at the Ministry of Interior and Safety.


husn7@heraldcorp.com