Wendy Only!

Risk

Who is at Risk

Measures in Place

Manure from animal

Contamination of Microbial which is a potential pathogen

Coordinators and volunteers

If working with manures, wear gloves. Wash hands thoroughly in tap water after completing the task

Wasps, bees and Insects

They Sting

Coordinators and volunteers

They inhabit the garden naturally and they are not risky unless provoked. Team leader ha to identify anyone who has an allergy for any insects. Seek first aid if stung. Volunteers to be on the look out for nesting creatures. If a nest is discovered it should be reported to the team leader.

Chemicals that are used in the garden

Inhalation, eye contact or the

Coordinators and volunteers and passers-by

Adopting an approach that is environmentally sensitive for the garden i.e. using no chemicals on the garden. If used, the chemicals should be handled by an experienced adult and in appropriate manner. It should be used and safely stored according to the legislation of health and safety.

Climbing

Falling

Volunteers and Children

Supervision needs to be adequate and instructions for not climbing objects while in the garden should be put in place, unless there is permission from their parent or guardian

Composting

Flies

Airborne particles

Lifting/ Turning

Vermin

Coordinators and volunteers

Turning of compost heaps should be avoided when people are around. Keeping of cold heaps should be consider. The heaps should be turned by adults only when others are not present, the are supposed to put on gloves and face mask while doing this.

Avoid putting cooked food into compost heaps

Fire

Dangers from fire, heat and smoke

Coordinators and volunteers

Alternative evacuation procedures are supposed to be enforced and well understood by all the participants. Exits for emergency should be set aside always. The assembly point should be identified and made known to all the participants.

Bonfires should have a team leader in charge of them at all times. A water source and buckets or hose should be to hand in case the fire gets out of hand. The fire must be out and thoroughly doused with water at the end of the day.

Infection

Various

Coordinators, volunteer helpers

Everyone should clean their hands after touching plants or compost and before handling any food and drink. Cuts should be covered or abrasions before any garden sessions or ensure gloves are worn.

Stout footwear to be worn. All members should have up to date Tetanus immunisation. Be aware of Tetanus and Leptospirosis symptoms and dangers, there is a sheet explaining these attached.

If sharp objects such as needles are found volunteers told not to handle but to alert team leaded.

Lifting

Injury, strain.

Coordinators and volunteers

People should avoid lifting heavy objects or overfilling wheelbarrows when in use.

Mulching

Fungi

Airborne particles

Turning

Coordinators and volunteers

Buying of mulch materials that are organic in bags from a trustworthy source or using weed suppressant, for instance, mypex. Alternatively, using paper that is shredded, cardboard layers or home-made compost.

Reducing the risk of air borne particles through wetting the loose mulch materials before application.

Plant supports

Damaging the eyes

Coordinators and volunteers

People should be made aware of a risk and should be advised to take care when they lean over beds. Cane toppers to be used where cane height less than 1.8m high.

Plants

Allergic reactions, ingestion, poisonous, flicking branches

Coordinators and volunteers

Some plans could be irritating to skin, therefore, gloves have to be worn, or contain parts which are harmful when eaten, or have been sprayed with chemicals.

Volunteers should use dust masks if they are allergic to plants.

Volunteers need to put on eye protectors if possible when working in bushes, otherwise be aware of flicking branches.

Venue supervisor to make volunteers aware of any poisonous, stinging and thorny plants and fungi.

Volunteers to be made aware where there is the possibility of falling debris from trees and shrubs.

Running children

Trips, slips and falls

Children

Children should be supervised adequately and given instructions on not to run or play games that involve running in the garden.

Traffic

Injury from vehicles

Children

If there is open access to roads, small children to be constantly supervised and kept away from roads.

Soil

Tetanus

Skin Irritation

Toxoplasmosis

Soil blowing into eyes

Coordinators and volunteers

Checking whether or not people have been immunization against tetanus before the sessions start.

Hands should be washed thoroughly after each session and especially before eating food/ drinking.

Checking the garden before any session and removing any animal mess while wearing gloves. Dispose of mess away from the garden and wash trowel and hands afterwards.

Gloves to be worn when working with the soil.

Proprietary compost e.g. for seed sowing, can be handled without gloves but hands must be washed after the session.

Tools

Injury, trips and falls. Cuts and getting hit.

Coordinators and volunteers

Tools should be maintained correctly to be safe for use. Children should only use the tools when permitted to do so. At the start of each session, the tool safety should be embedded. Training should be provided for all the sharp tools that are used e.g. loppers, secateurs etc. The garden forks and spades should be used with care, specifically avoiding the user’s feet and those around. If swinging tools, no gloves should be worn unless other hazards are greater. This type of work requires a distance of 20 meters between people. Great care should be taken when using swinging tools in the wet and their use may need to be suspended.

Volunteers should take care when filling, pushing and tipping wheelbarrows. These should not be too heavily laden for the user to manage easily. When left full they should be well balanced so they do not easily tip over.

Water

Trips, slips, falls

Coordinators and volunteers

The children should be trained on how to water the plants correctly for the purpose of avoiding soaking the pathways. The hose pipes need to be rolled up after being used and not leaving it to lye out where they can trip someone. Working procedures should be designed to keep water spillages and run off to a minimum

Water Butts, Hoses and ponds/water courses

Drinking

Water borne bugs/ infections

Washing Hands

Drowning

Coordinators and volunteers

Water butts should have lids that are locked, child proof, and should be secured firmly on a stable surface.

Children should avoid washing their hands or wash produce from the garden to eat with water from the butts.

When water from the butts is being used for watering plants, people should wash their hands after.

If there are ponds or water courses, small children must be supervised closely at all times and older children.

Weather

Sunburn,

hypothermia,

dehydration,

Slipping in wet weather

Coordinators and volunteers

Appropriate clothes should be worn for the weather conditions.

Sufficient fluids should be drunk when it is hot and work activities need to be planned in areas with shade where possible.

Sun-cream should be applied by everyone and wear hats. Sunscreen should be made available for the people who have forgotten it.

In wet weather make the garden surfaces to become slippery Paths that are too slippery should be closed to minimize slipping. For children, running should not be allowed, from and within the area. Wear appropriate footwear.