Gardening is a hobby loved by thousands of people across the country
Seeing the greenery around you is incredibly good for the mind and body
But there are some dangers as well if not done correctly. For example, planting fruits, veggies, and plants might appear to be harmless, but if specific cautions are not taken, there are injuries which can occur through repetition (RSI).
This post is to tell you about the precautionary steps that you need to take and ensure your safety and better health while doing gardening. So, let’s get started…
Remove the need for bending
Avoid Bending
This hobby involves many repetitive tasks like trimming, cutting, digging and raking.
All these tasks require you to be as close to the earth as possible. If you do these tasks with a bent posture, it will have harmful consequences for your back.
You can either kneel to work more efficiently or use suitable tools for doing chores in a straight-standing position.
The standing plant remover tool is an efficient and practical example of such gadgets. Use this tool to remove undesired roots from your garden without putting any strain on your back.
Avoid Prolonged Sun Exposure
Sunlight has the most amount of UV rays in it, which can be harmful to your skin.
Getting the increased amount of exposure to harsh sun rays is an uncomfortable experience and must be avoided at all costs.
You should apply sunscreen on your face while spending your time in the open, doing gardening tasks like watering the plants. Put on your wide, round hat and wear full sleeve clothes to protect yourself from getting sunburn.
The Sun’s rays are time-sensitive, so you need to be careful of the time too. 10 am to 4 pm is considered the most hazardous period of exposure to UV rays, so work in the early hours of the morning or later in the evening.
Wear long sleeves and a hat when in the sun
Wearing Gloves
Working with plants and soil requires you to wear gloves at all times for two reasons; keeping the hands clean and safe. Safe from what?
Tiny but sharp thorns on the plants can cut your skin and be the reason for not only a cut but also the risk of infection. To prevent yourself from getting injured from sharp tools, wearing gloves is the best option.
Also, there are many bugs and worms present in the soil that you want to avoid touching. Gloves are an easy and inexpensive way to do this. They also prevent blisters for extended use of tools.
Always wear gloves to keep yourself safe
Use the Correct Lifting Technique
No matter what task you are involved in, lifting properly is crucial. We often lift things by using the strength of our back which is dangerous for the spine. Instead, you should pick heavy stuff up by engaging your legs more than the back.
Holding heavy objects closer to your body is an effective way of reducing the strain and making the task a bit easier.
If you have to lift something heavy, divide it into smaller portions to make it a more convenient job or simply use a transporting cart like a wheelbarrow for the task.
Use your legs for lifting any kind of load
Prevention From Chemicals
Your garden is a place that may require the use of additional chemicals to help grow crops and to produce a luscious lawn of your dreams. These chemicals are added in the form of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. But if they get in contact with your skin and eyes, these can be dangerous.
Related: Check out the GTech Lawn Mower Review
Overexposure to these chemicals can cause pesticide poisoning with symptoms like headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps, and even diarrhea in severe cases.
To prevent yourself from such problems, ensure you use eye safety goggles, a face mask, and gloves. This Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will not only keep you safe but also increase your efficiency in doing your work.
Always wear appropriate PPE when gardening
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is the key to working in the heat of the sun for long hours. If you spend a lot of time doing gardening chores in hot weather, you will likely get dizzy and may even feel faint if not hydrated properly.
Ensure proper water intake to replace the body’s fluids lost in sweating due to working in hot conditions. It will help in making you cool and enabling you to work for more time. Your tissue health and blood circulation will also improve when the body is optimally hydrated.
Staying hydrated in the hot weather is important
Keep Your Tools out of Children’s Reach
Doing garden work can be a messy task and requires many tools to clear the overgrown garden and maintain its natural beauty. These tools can be sharp and dangerous if children play with them.
So, while you make sure that you are safe from any potential harm, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of people around you, too.
You should learn how to use these tools properly and then keep them safe in a closed space where children cannot reach them such as a garden shed.
The Bottom Line
Gardening seems to be an easy and danger free task, but it has some hazards if safety guidelines are not followed properly. From wearing safety protection, to using tools with care and staying hydrated, all of the points mentioned above are crucial to remember while working on your home garden.
