Gardening accidents are more common than you might think. Even experienced gardeners sometimes forget the importance of safety as they work, and accidents can be catastrophic. Keeping your safety in mind is vital even for the smallest garden tasks.
Lawnmowers and power tools are usually behind the worst accidents, but there are many reasons an accident could happen in the garden, including:
- Rushing or taking shortcuts
- Ignorance of risks and hazards
- Lack of skill or training in a particular tool or task
- No time spent planning and preparing
- Simple bad luck
Here are the top three tips to help you can mitigate gardening risks and enjoy the time outside safely:
1. Invest in the right gardening PPE
The right protective clothing and gardening PPE goes a long way to providing the safety you need in the garden. Safety goggles can protect both against the glare of the sun and flying debris. Similarly, if you regularly use power tools or woodcutting equipment, then ear defenders can help ensure you don’t damage your hearing. All gardeners know the importance of a hardy pair of gardening gloves for protection against scratches, spikes and cuts. They also help to limit any contaminants getting under nails or into the skin.
2. Use tools safely
Using power tools is essential for most garden maintenance. However, you should never use any machine without adequate practice and confidence in using the tool in question. Learning to use tools properly is vital to minimise the risk of accident and injury. Making sure you unplug tools after use and ensure cords are safely wound and not a trip hazard are also essentials for anyone who regularly uses power tools.
3. Avoid repetitive motions and unnecessary strain
Repetitive strain injuries and similar are quite common for regular gardeners. A lot of the activities involved in gardening are quite repetitive so it is important to pace yourself to minimise the risk of strains and injuries. Prolonged repetitive motions such as digging, raking and planting can cause tendon and nerve damage so it’s important to switch between tasks every few minutes. Try not to spend more than 15 minutes on any single activity before moving onto the next.
Gardening may be something you love or something you simply have to do to keep your yard looking fantastic. Keeping safety in mind at all times is vital to ensure accidents are kept to a minimum. We stock a wide range of gardening PPE to ensure you’re safe and able to carry out any task easily.