HEALTH and SAFETY - have they gone mad?
See also SECURITY - allotment security, theft and vandalism
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"ALL YOU NEED IS A BIT OF ORDINARY COMMON SENSE!"
If you read the safety instructions on things and think 'no-one could be that stupid', then take a look at the Darwin Awards. If you've seen it on a cartoon, then someone has done it in real life. Never take anything for granted! Sadly, common sense isn't all that common, as anyone working in A&E will tell you . . . This section will pick up a few things you might want to know, but will, I'm sure you'll be glad to hear, draw the line at telling you not to stab yourself in the foot with your fork or eat the slug pellets. Accidents do happen, however, and people do have heart attacks while gardening. Would you know what to do? A knowledge of First Aid could save someone's life. Click here to find local first aid training courses for the general public |
What happens when 'healthy and safety gone mad' meets 'political correctness gone mad'? All signs in the gaelic-speaking west of Ireland have to be in Gaelic. So this sign, on a special scenic route used by thousands of non-Gaelic-speaking tourists and half a dozen locals means . . . "Danger, High Cliffs". So the only people who can read it, are the ones who already know about the sheer 400ft drop round the next corner . . .
Click on the pic for a virtual visit to scenic Achill Island, with the highest cliffs in Europe. Follow the breath-taking coast road with 'Google man', with no risk of driving off a cliff.
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Really sensible health and safety for allotments
Any kind of DIY, including gardening, involves a little bit of risk. We're not going to worry about the occasional pulled muscle or cut finger. However . . .
If you've just started a new allotment, do be wary of your back! Using unaccustomed muscles can lead to a back injury which needs a long period of rest, not just a hot soak in the bath. That would be a real nuisance, wouldn't it? To avoid back injuries, take sensible care when lifting or shifting, do light work until your muscles have warmed up - especially on cold winter days - and use smaller tools, not giant spades and forks, while you get your technique sorted and build up your strength.
If you find the thought flashing through your mind "maybe this isn't a good idea?" - STOP straight away (not in 5 seconds time when you've HAD the accident), and rethink your approach. Those people on the Darwin Awards website never listened to that thought.
The commonest injuries in gardening, whether on your allotment or in your garden, involve the following:
BACK INJURIES (as above)
STICKING A CANE IN YOUR EYE - be careful when bending over somewhere you've previously staked stuff! You may want to put something on the top of a cane which is hidden in foliage. Best, too, to wear gloves when pushing canes in (bamboo splinters, anyone?) and make sure you're not leaning over a cane in a position where it'll stab you if you slip.
CUTTING YOUR HAND WITH SECATEURS OR PRUNING SAW (we've all done it so many times). This happens most when your hands are cold, or you're getting impatient. It's a very good idea to wear a glove on your left hand (or your right hand if you're lefthanded) even if what you're doing is too fiddly to wear both gloves.
Which brings us to your TETANUS JAB! Tetanus is a very nasty disease, sometimes fatal (always in years gone by, when it was known as 'lockjaw'). Tetanus is carried in soil; any soil. If you do gardening, you should definitely have up-to-date tetanus immunisation.
Ask your GP to check your records to make sure you are fully covered.
If you've just started a new allotment, do be wary of your back! Using unaccustomed muscles can lead to a back injury which needs a long period of rest, not just a hot soak in the bath. That would be a real nuisance, wouldn't it? To avoid back injuries, take sensible care when lifting or shifting, do light work until your muscles have warmed up - especially on cold winter days - and use smaller tools, not giant spades and forks, while you get your technique sorted and build up your strength.
If you find the thought flashing through your mind "maybe this isn't a good idea?" - STOP straight away (not in 5 seconds time when you've HAD the accident), and rethink your approach. Those people on the Darwin Awards website never listened to that thought.
The commonest injuries in gardening, whether on your allotment or in your garden, involve the following:
BACK INJURIES (as above)
STICKING A CANE IN YOUR EYE - be careful when bending over somewhere you've previously staked stuff! You may want to put something on the top of a cane which is hidden in foliage. Best, too, to wear gloves when pushing canes in (bamboo splinters, anyone?) and make sure you're not leaning over a cane in a position where it'll stab you if you slip.
CUTTING YOUR HAND WITH SECATEURS OR PRUNING SAW (we've all done it so many times). This happens most when your hands are cold, or you're getting impatient. It's a very good idea to wear a glove on your left hand (or your right hand if you're lefthanded) even if what you're doing is too fiddly to wear both gloves.
Which brings us to your TETANUS JAB! Tetanus is a very nasty disease, sometimes fatal (always in years gone by, when it was known as 'lockjaw'). Tetanus is carried in soil; any soil. If you do gardening, you should definitely have up-to-date tetanus immunisation.
Ask your GP to check your records to make sure you are fully covered.
The more obscure stuff . . .
ALL THESE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED ELSEWHERE,
SO WE MENTION THEM HERE IN CASE ANYONE IS WORRIED!
SO WE MENTION THEM HERE IN CASE ANYONE IS WORRIED!
Can you catch E.coli from manure? E.coli is more usually associated with cow manure, not horse. We haven't heard of any cases resulting from horse manure, but we will do more research. General advice we've found is to compost manure before using, or spread out on bare soil to break down for at least 4 months before planting or harvesting, which fits in well with normal gardening practice. E.coli bacteria are killed by sunlight.
What is Weil's Disease, and should I be concerned about it? Short answer, yes. Weil's disease is a serious illness like jaundice, which can occasionally be fatal. It is carried in rats' urine, and can survive in water or on wet surfaces. It isn't common, but is significant enough that all drainage and water board staff take precautions. There are always rats around, so take especial care when handling compost heaps or clearing ditches. If you smoke, wash your hands before lighting up. The germs can't survive drying out, so only wet stuff is a risk.
What about poisonous plants? While there are a few poisonous ornamental plants, the opportunities to poison yourself on the allotment are few and far between. Four weeds, none of them common, can cause serious poisoning. Click on each for identification info
Henbane
Thornapple
Deadly Nightshade and its cousin
Woody Nightshade
The garden flower Aconitum, or 'Monkshood', is also very toxic indeed. It has a sinister history even though it has medicinal uses (in expert hands only).
For lots about poisonous plants, visit The Poison Garden
You might also want to be aware that the green fruit produced by potatoes (They look like dark green tomatoes) are very poisonous. Also, raw runner beans - delicious if you crunch just one - can make you rather unwell if you get carried away and eat several. Both pods and seeds contain a toxic chemical. The main risk of poisoning with gardening is still, of course, garden chemicals, so don't put that mixed up weedkiller in that old Coke bottle, eh?
Henbane
Thornapple
Deadly Nightshade and its cousin
Woody Nightshade
The garden flower Aconitum, or 'Monkshood', is also very toxic indeed. It has a sinister history even though it has medicinal uses (in expert hands only).
For lots about poisonous plants, visit The Poison Garden
You might also want to be aware that the green fruit produced by potatoes (They look like dark green tomatoes) are very poisonous. Also, raw runner beans - delicious if you crunch just one - can make you rather unwell if you get carried away and eat several. Both pods and seeds contain a toxic chemical. The main risk of poisoning with gardening is still, of course, garden chemicals, so don't put that mixed up weedkiller in that old Coke bottle, eh?
