Lawn mowing is one of those tasks that some people love and some people hate. Some people do it afterwork for relaxation and enjoyment. Others get paid to do it for a living. And yet others dread it or pay someone else to do it for them so they don't have to.

Whether you do it for a living or for leisure you must remember, it can be a very dangerous task. Each week stories such as this one are in the local newspaper around the country.

Grand Forks Herald - Grandforksherald.com

VALLEY CITY, N.D. 6/14/2016 - A 51-year-old man was killed Monday, June 13, when the riding lawn mower he was using overturned while he was cutting grass on a hillside.

Police identified the victim of the accident as Todd Mark Heck of Valley City. He was an employee of the Valley City Public School District and was mowing the lawn of Hanna Stadium when the mower flipped. The weight of the mower, 1,300 pounds, is believed to have caused his death, according to a statement from Police Chief Fred Thompson.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was informed, and the investigation into Heck's death continues, Thompson said.

Here are some safety tips to help ensure you aren't the next victim like this man from North Dakota:

• Inspect the hill first to ensure it isn't wet, there are no soft spots, uneven ground or ruts.
• When mowing on a hill with a riding lawn mower, go up and down the hill, not side to side.
• If you can't back up the hill with your riding lawn mower, it is too steep . . . use an alternative push mower and go side to side.
• Remove any attachments from the mower prior to doing a hill as they can add to the instability of the lawn mower.
• Avoid making turns on the slope itself . . . mow past the grade and then turn.
• Go slow and steady.

It's shocking how many people are killed or seriously hurt mowing lawns each year. Take your time, follow the tips and even more importantly . . . teach these tips to your children and/or grandchildren to keep them safe!