Easter finished and with the warmer weather approaching fast our attention now turns to the garden, weeding, digging, treating the soil, then there is cutting the lawn and feeding the grass, all sounds great till you realise that 300,000 people last year were treated in A & E from accidents while gardening.
There are simple safety steps that you can try to make to prevent some accidents from happening, to some people it may sound like common sense but they still end up at their local hospital.
Ignorance, lack of skill or training to use the machinery properly and poor maintenance are all issues that have harmed professional gardeners as well as the keen amateur. Using a lawnmower to some people is simple operation but 5300 people disagree, that’s how many were treated in local A & Es in 2007.
Mowers, strimmers, hedge cutters and chainsaws all must be used by competent people wearing the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This can include gloves, ear defenders and steel-toe caped boots. Always read the manufactures guidance notes.
A good thing to remember is that in many cases this will be the first bit of exercise that you have done all year, so before you start, gently stretch your muscles, and if possible avoid repetitive garden work. Back problems affect people of all ages and can make gardening a painful experience. If you have to lift anything heavy remember to bend your knees and keep your back straight, and if at all possible use a wheelbarrow.
Another danger in the garden is the misuse of ladders, improper use will lead to a visit to your local A & E, read the instructions then read them again, don’t assume that you know how to use them, the top of a ladder is not a storage shelf or a seat. Don’t ever step or sit on the top step, and never use it to store heavy materials. It’s designed to hold nothing much heavier than a tin of paint or a few lightweight tools.
Gardens are meant to be a place for enjoyment and relaxation, but can be as dangerous as any workplace.
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