Landscaping Safety Rules

Use Appropriate Safety Equipment

• One of the most basic aspects of staying safe while landscaping is to wear protective clothing and equipment. Wear closed-toed shoes to protect your feet from falling objects like dropped tools and falling branches. Wear steel-toed boots when performing tasks that may result in heavy impacts to the feet such as hammering and cutting trees. Wear safety goggles whenever you perform tasks that introduce the possibility of flying debris, such as hammering and sawing. Wear work gloves while working with hand tools, power tools and woody plants to prevent nicks, cuts and abrasions.

Read User Manuals

• Landscaping often involves the use of power tools and heavy equipment like tillers, lawn mowers and other work vehicles. Read the user manual of any tool or piece of equipment you plan to operate before using it to ensure that you understand how it is designed to be used and that you know the proper precautions. It is important to follow the maintenance directions for tools carefully. Poorly maintained tools may not perform well, increasing the chances of accidents.

Inspect Tools Before Use

• Thoroughly inspect tools and equipment before using them to ensure that they are in proper working condition. Cutters, saws and blades should be sharp so that a minimal amount of physical exertion is necessary to complete tasks. Do not use a tool or piece of heavy equipment that is damaged or not property maintained.

General Work Safety Guidelines

• Landscaping can be strenuous, especially when carried out for long periods in hot or cold weather conditions. Take regular breaks from work to reduce fatigue and avoiding performing tasks that require too much physical exertion. When lifting objects, keep the spine straight and bend at the knees, keeping the elbows close to the body and using the strength of the legs to lift. Avoid lifting large objects by yourself; ether break up large objects into smaller pieces or lift the object with one or more other people.

Considerations

• If you are not sure whether you can perform a certain landscaping task safely, hire a professional. Professional landscapers will have the appropriate tools and safety equipment to complete tasks and the expertise to complete them safely.