Garden Topics
Gardening Safety
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Safety Quotes
"Accidents hurt - safety doesn"t. _
"Be alert! Accidents hurt. _
"Better a thousand times careful than once dead. _
"Better dead sure than sure dead. _
"Chance takers are accident makers. _
"Don't learn safety by accident. _
"Hearing protection is a sound investment. _
"Luck runs out but safety is good for life. _
"Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety. _
"Personal protective equipment is self-defence. _
"Precaution is better than cure. _
"Prepare and prevent, don't repair and repent. _
"Safety doesn't happen by accident. _
""Safety First" is "Safety Always.""
"Safety is a cheap and effective insurance policy. _
"Safety is as simple as ABC - Always Be Careful. _
"Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands _
Gardening Safety
For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind.
Appropriate Clothing for the Job
The best way to manage health and safety is to eliminate any risks by finding safer methods or even avoiding the need for the activity in the first place. However, there are some risks that we cannot avoid and therefore, we should be suitably dressed to safeguard ourselves.
- Strong waterproof shoes or boots are very important. Trying to garden in flimsy footwear is simply inviting serious accidents. Similarly, most of the time you need to protect your hands with a sturdy pair of gardening gloves.
- Wear gloves when handling chemicals and if you are spraying, then wear a face mask and protection for your eyes.
- If you are using machinery such as a lawn mower, you also need to wear clothing that will protect you against missiles such as stones that are picked up and thrown out by the mower.
- Much gardening is done on your knees and therefore you should protect them, either with strap on kneepads or with some form of substantial kneeling cushion.
- Some items of garden equipment, such as chain saws, are notoriously dangerous, particularly in the hands of the inexperienced gardener. You would be well advised to seek our proper instruction on how to use such equipment safely. In addition, you need addition protection for hands, arms, legs and eyes.
- In some cases you may also need to protect your hearing from prolonged use of particularly noisy equipment. Use, either earmuffs or other form of protection that is designed for the purpose.
- The sun can also pose a threat to health and safety. Use sun screen, sunglasses and preferably wear clothing and a hat to protect you from the direct rays of the sun.
- It is generally good practice to tuck trouser bottoms into your socks to guard against the possibility of being bitten by mosquitoes or ticks.
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Further Reading
Gardening Tips for Working Safely
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Assessing Risks Simple 5-step approach to assessing risks to health and safety in any situation (Advice from the HSE) |
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Pesticides Guidance on pesticides and how to use them safely (Advice from the HSE) |
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Ladder and Stepladder Safety Basic tips for safe use of ladders and stepladders (Advice from the HSE) |
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Pressure Washers Advice on how to avoid injury when using a high pressure water washer (Advice from the HSE) |
