When starting work in the garden, we usually focus on a number of tasks that we have to perform. Unfortunately, we rarely remember about our own safety on this occasion. We perform most of the activities without thinking that something may endanger us, and there are really many accidents in gardening. Learnhe alth and safety rules in the gardenand learn how to improve safety during gardening.
He alth and safety in the garden - it is easy to trip over accidentally left tools, so always put your tools in the designated place
Below are some rulessafe work in the garden , if we manage to remember at least a part of it, it will be for the benefit of us and our surroundings. There are not too many comments on the safe use of fertilizers and plant protection products, as they are included in every instruction attached to such a product and described on other pages of our Guide. Most of the rules relate to topics that we do not think about or notice them on a daily basis, but it is worth remembering them as our own rulesHe alth and safety in the garden
He alth and safety in the garden when cutting plants
Threats:
- eye damage from branches, falling chips and other cutting debris
- damage to the scalp due to protruding or falling branches
- cuts with tools
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- safety glasses, plastic goggles (inexpensive, available at any garden store or supermarket)
- head protection, with a thicker cap, and if we do a lot of work, even a helmet is recommended (as a last resort, a bicycle helmet is better than none)
- cut with thick gloves, efficient, oiled and well-sharpened tools (secateurs or saws)
He alth and safety when using a ladder in the garden
Threats:
- falling from a ladder
- ladder tipping over
- rung crack
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- the ladder should always be placed so that it is stable and rests firmly on the ground and any vertical surface. We assemble it according to the instructions and additionally check all connections
- we also check that the steps are not loose and that they are not rotten in the wooden ladders. In addition, pay attention to whether any slippery substance has been spilled on them, e.g. oil
- when working at height, e.g. on the roof, use appropriate ropes or a harness
He alth and safety during work in the garden soil
Threats:
- damage to the skin by catching sharp objects protruding from the ground, such as stones or roots
- the possibility of penetration of pathogens of various origins through damaged skin (e.g. toxoplasmosis, unvaccinated people are still exposed to tetanus)
- allergies, conjunctivitis caused by rubbing a dirty hand around the sensitive area (eyes, mouth)
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- let's use gloves. The best for gardening, cloth-rubber or farmyard, made of thick rubber. Thin gloves, the so-called surgical, because they are easily damaged
- a cotton band or a headscarf on the forehead will absorb sweat and prevent the need to rub your eyes and forehead while working
- after finishing work, remember to wash your hands thoroughly
- people not vaccinated against tetanus, unless there are contraindications, should think about this treatment
He alth and safety when using mechanical tools in the garden
Threats:
- injury related to catching a metal spade sticking out of the ground, hitting with the handle of a misaligned rake, injury caused by forks
- body injuries caused by elements of damaged tools (broken handles, loose metals, axes)
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- after finishing work, put the tools back in their place (otherwise we can forget where we left them, and others may not know about it and unconsciously step on them or fall over them)
- check the tools before use (fixing all elements, possible cracks in wooden parts). If necessary, oil them
He alth and safety when using electric tools in the garden
Threats:
- drawing the body (e.g. a finger) into the cutting elements
- electric shock
- injury from loose parts that may come off during operation
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- to work in the garden, it is worth wearing clothes without protruding elements (too loose sleeves, protruding trouser legs and pockets, shoelaces, hanging straps, strings and others), they can easily get caught on something or be pulled into the interior of the working machine. The same also applies to long, untied hair. Also, be careful with the jewelry you wear. All rings, earrings or chains get hooked easily and can, for example, be damaged.dislocating a finger or tearing an ear
- If the equipment is connected to the socket with an electric cable, let's check if the cable has been damaged somewhere. When operating the electric lawn mower, be very careful not to cut the cable together with the grass
- before work, let's check the fastening of various moving parts (tightening, oiling)
- on electric tools, all repair, cleaning or maintenance activities should be performed only when the device is NOT CONNECTED to POWER !!!
- if we use electrical equipment in wet weather or when dew occurs, check the manual to see if and under what conditions we can do it
He alth and safety when working with garden plants
Threats:
- allergies, internal poisoning or skin damage with toxic substances secreted by the plant (touching the mouth or eyes after contact with the juice or other part of the poisonous plant)
- asthma caused by pollination
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- let's recognize poisonous garden plants, and work on them, e.g. splitting the roots or plucking leaves, should always be done with gloves. It is also worth protecting the skin and eyes (poisonous juice may gush out of the plant, e.g. when a shoot is broken)
- avoid poisonous species if a child plays in the garden or there are animals
- when carrying out work related to dusting (e.g. removing dove herb), put on a face mask
He alth and safety in the garden and weather conditions
Threats:
- sunburn and sunstroke
- colds
- fall from a ladder or other height (e.g. roof) in wind or rain
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- adjust the outfit to the weather
- when weeding or mowing on sunny days, cover your head (e.g. with a straw hat, scarf, cap) and body (e.g. with a long-sleeved T-shirt)
- avoid working at height in wet and windy weather or do it with another person
Other he alth and safety rules in the garden
Threats:
- start a fire (burning leftovers, smoking, grill)
- head injuries while bending down
- a number of serious he alth hazards related to improper use of chemicals and fertilizers (food poisoning, asthma, burns, eye and skin damage and many other threats, even fatal) and environmental hazards (water contamination, poisoning bees, pets )
- risk to life and he alth by falling into a sewage system, well or water reservoir
- injuries due to falls
Recommended he alth and safety rules in the garden:
- when burning the fire, take all precautions, including access to water. Throw away cigarette butts only in designated places
- when bending down for something, make sure that you do not catch your head on anything, neither when bending down nor when rising
- all chemicals should be used in accordance with the instructions, absolutely protect them against animals and bystanders, including children, use protective gloves and masks. Also, the dressing of seeds and bulbs should be carried out strictly according to manufacturer's recommendations preparation
- remember not to spill the remnants of preparations into empty beverage bottles (someone may be tragically mistaken, including ourselves), unless we remove the labels, replace containers with a thorough description, and the preparation that we put in it will not damage the packaging ( e.g.will not dissolve the plastic).-all openings in the ground (e.g. sewage) should be securely secured so that there is no risk of loosening or displacement of the flap. Let's also protect the edges of ponds or ponds (landslides, slippery shore)
- remove moss and leaves from pavements and terraces. They can cause a fall and thus bodily injury (e.g. fractures)
- every gardener should have rubber boots to protect their feet during various works and unfavorable weather
Even while observing the abovehe alth and safety rules in the garden , try to ensure that when performing work with a higher risk, e.g. cutting branches from a ladder, there is another person present who will provide usfirst aid in the event of an accident
Of course, ifchildren play in our garden , it is absolutely necessary to check that they are safe . The little ones have an incredible imagination, so we have to try to predict what they may be trying to do.You should then remove all gardening tools from the range of reach, absolutely secure means of protection and fertilizers, check the tightness of any sewage wells, secure the possibility of children getting to electricity or water sources (ponds, ponds), prevent them from getting to mechanical or electrical equipment and machines. . And of course, if possible, be playing in the garden with your child.
When we try to ensure the safety of ourselves and our loved ones, observing the basiche alth and safety rules in the garden , our rest surrounded by greenery will be much more pleasant.
Katarzyna Józefowicz
