May 31, 2018
With the coming of summer sun and warm weather, residents across Chester County, PA find themselves heading outside to work on lawns and gardens. Whether you love or hate working outside, it is important to consider these recommendations to help minimize your risk for outdoor injuries.
Dress to Protect:
- When using a lawnmower, wear safety goggles, sturdy shoes and long pants
- Protect your hearing; if you have to raise your voice to be heard talking to someone close to you, the noise can be harmful to you
- Wear gloves to protect your hands
- Use insect repellant
- Protect yourself from the sun with sunscreen, long sleeve shirts, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats
Put Safety First:
1. Exercise caution when using machinery and sharp hand tools. There is an estimated 400,000 garden tool-related injuries/year.
- Avoid use of machinery if you are taking medication that can make you drowsy or impair your judgment and/or reaction time. Unplug/disconnect spark plugs prior to making adjustments or clearing jams from moving parts
- Never use electrical power tools in wet/damp condition
- Make sure extension cords are in good condition, rated for outdoor use, and of the proper gauge for the current capacity of the power tools
- Avoid tools with form-fitted handles as these can lead to overuse injuries (handles are not one size fits all...)
- Watch for children both in and around where you are working. Never assume they are going to stay in the same place and away from your location. Use extra caution when going backwards, turning corners, etc.
- Clear the area of debris where you will be working
2. Be safe with fire and chemicals:
- Follow instructions with use of chemicals.
- Don't smoke around flammable materials.
3. Watch for heat-related illnesses:
- Stay hydrated
- Avoid alcohol or sugary drinks
- Eat healthy foods
- Take frequent breaks; seek shade
- Signs of heat-related illnesses include: rapid pulse, dizziness, nausea, confusion
- People more at risk for heat-related illnesses:
- Children under the age of 4
- People over the age of 65
- People on medication for depression, insomnia, poor circulation
4. Use proper body mechanics with lifting:
- Lift with your legs and keep your back straight
- If something is too heavy, seek help with lifting
- Avoid repetitive motions to avoid overuse injuries
- Avoid prolonged postures, especially with bending over; kneel on a soft pad/knee pads
5. Know your limits:
- Listen to your body, begin with light activity and increase to your tolerance
By following these simple recommendations, your gardening and lawn care experience can be pain-free and enjoyable.
Lawn and Garden Resources:
- Gardening Health and Safety Tips. http://www.cdc.gov
- Hand Surgeons Urge Safety in the Garden. American Society for Surgery of Hand 2009
- Garden Safety Tips. North Haven Gardens
- Lawn and Garden Safety Tips. US Consumer Product Safety Commission.