Garden centres are beautiful places to work. You’ll spend your day outside, see new plants every day and probably have a great team to work with. However, there are also downsides to working at a garden centre. Working at a garden centre involves hard manual labour and you’ll be on your feet for most of the day. You’ll also be handling plants, soil and pesticides on a regular basis. Most importantly, you need to be aware of potential hazards at all times when working at a garden centre. The risk of injury is high in this type of environment because it involves physical activity and working with heavy materials such as soil and plants. There are many potential injuries that can occur while working at a garden centre including sprains and strains, lacerations, fractures, cuts from broken glass or animal bites. In this blog post we will look at the different hazards you need to be aware of when working at a garden centre as well as how to stay safe should you choose to do so anyway!
Staying Safe at a Garden Centre
Before even stepping foot inside a garden centre, there are some simple ways you can make sure you stay safe. Wear appropriate footwear while working at a garden centre. This means closed-toe shoes with a sturdy grip. Avoid wearing sandals if you’re going to be working in soil. As with all manual labour, you need to take breaks when lifting heavy objects. The maximum you should lift is around 40% of your body weight. If you’re pregnant, you should never lift above 10% of your body weight. If you must lift something heavy, use your leg muscles instead of your back muscles. As you shop for plants, choose those that are free of pesticides. Wear gloves when handling any chemicals, and always wash your hands afterward. Cherry lane garden centre
Heavy Lifting
As we’ve already mentioned, lifting heavy objects is a risk for injury when working at a garden centre. However, it’s essential for many tasks such as planting trees or transporting large pots of plants and pots of soil. Lifting injuries can occur when the load is too heavy, when the wrong posture and movement is used, or when other workers or pieces of equipment are used instead of the person lifting the item. If you’re lifting any heavy object, ask yourself the following questions to stay safe. – What is the weight of the object? – Am I lifting the object correctly? – Am I lifting with the right muscles? – Is there someone who can help me lift the object if necessary? If the answer to any of these questions is no, you’re lifting too heavy of an object.
Manual labour
Gardening is great exercise, but working in a garden centre can put your body under a lot of stress. There are a number of hazards associated with working in a garden centre such as soil, broken glass and pesticides. You can greatly reduce your risk of injury by wearing the correct protective equipment, such as gloves and goggles when necessary. When working with soil, make sure you’re wearing appropriate clothing and are careful not to get it on your face or in your mouth. Be careful around broken glass; wear shoes with a good grip and clean your work area regularly to remove any potential hazards.
Equipment Hazards
Garden equipment has the potential to cause injuries due to improper use, malfunctioning parts or poor design. You should always ask equipment maintenance staff if any equipment appears to be faulty, and don’t use it if it is. Always be careful when using lawn mowers and rotary mowers. Make sure you are properly trained on the correct operation of these pieces of equipment. When using handheld gardening tools, such as rakes and hoes, make sure you’re holding them correctly and use the correct posture. There are also hazards associated with transporting garden equipment. Make sure you are transporting your equipment carefully and safely. Avoid carrying heavy items on one side of your body. Use wheelbarrows or carts to move heavy items if you have to.
Chemical Hazards
Gardeners have a long history of using pesticides and other chemicals to protect their plants. Although these chemicals are designed to kill insects and prevent diseases, they can also be dangerous if they are not used properly. Many pesticides are harmful if they come into contact with your skin or are inhaled as fumes. Make sure you wear the correct protective equipment when using pesticides. This includes gloves, goggles and a respirator. Spraying pesticides is usually done in the evening or at night when temperatures are cooler. This is to reduce the risk of exposure to people and animals. Avoid being in the area where pesticides are being sprayed. Find out if there is a place near the garden centre where you can go to get away from the pesticides.
Animal Bites and Stings
Animals such as insects (e.g. bees, wasps and ants), rodents, birds and reptiles are all potential hazards in a garden centre. While you can’t control most of these animals and insects, there are some things you can do to keep yourself safe from them. When you see bees or wasps in the garden centre, you should get someone else to come and remove them. Stay away from any beehives and wasp nests that might be in the area. If you see rodents, such as rats and mice, stay away from them and report them to the store manager. If you are stung by an insect at work, follow these steps: – Wash the area with soap and water. – Apply ice to the sting to reduce any swelling. – Apply a paste of baking soda and water to neutralize the venom. – Get medical attention as soon as possible if the sting becomes severe.
Conclusion
While gardening is a wonderful, relaxing hobby, working in a garden centre can be quite dangerous, especially when dealing with heavy equipment or chemicals. It is important to follow safety precautions and use proper protective equipment when needed to reduce your risk of injury.
This article is provided by https://www.gardencentreguide.co.uk/cherry-lane-garden-centres
