Among various jobs in the maintenance industry, gardening is probably the most fun. Not only can you work outdoors, you also get the chance to be in touch with nature. If you think about it, gardening can be one relaxing job.
But you can barely relax when you’re faced with hazards like heat stress, blindness, amputation and falls. That’s right. Apparently, the most fun maintenance job can be the most threatening too That is, unless you learn to protect yourself from the hazards you’re exposed to.
One basic way to do this is to wear proper gardening PPE (personal protective equipment). Whether you’re clipping hedges, manicuring lawns or trimming trees, you might want to wear the following protective clothing/equipment for they can actually save your life:
1. Face shields or safety goggles/safety glasses
- indispensable when using high-powered tools and equipment like chain saws and lawn mowers to protect you from flying debris
Bonus gardening tip: Face shields also act as additional protection against the harsh rays of the sun.
2. Long-sleeved clothing
- useful as protection against UV rays and flying debris
Bonus gardening tip: Long-sleeved shirt and pants should always be snug to prevent entanglement with hedges, bushes and power equipment
3. Safety gloves
- must be worn when operating a walk-behind mower, hedge clippers and other garden tools or equipment that expose you to finger or hand injuries like scratches, blisters and cuts.
Bonus gardening tip: Safety gloves help you get a firmer grip of tools and equipment
4. Hat or cap
- helps protect you from direct sunlight
5. Helmet or hard hat
- required when using a ride-on mower, trimming branches of trees or going to great heights
6. Steel-toed boots and shin guards
- necessary when operating a push mower, chain saw and other power equipment that may injure your toes or feet
Bonus gardening tip: Whatever gardening tasks you have, always wear non-slip boots/shoes with no lace to prevent entanglement with equipment, bushes and hedges.
7. Hearing protection like earmuffs and earplugs
- necessary when operating high-powered tools and equipment
8. Chainsaw jackets
- may only be worn after assessing the risk of developing heat stress
9. Fall protection
- required when you have to work aloft in a tree or other high areas
- usually consists of safety belt, safety strap, saddle belt and rope saddle
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