Ways to keep yourself safe when using our allotments:
- don't drink the water from the tanks or standpipes
- wear gloves whenever handling:
- soil
- compost
- fertiliser or
- pesticides
- thin latex or latex-free gloves can be worn for delicate work
- don't open bags of compost or potting media with your head right over it
- fold over the top of compost bags when not in use
- avoid potting-up in confined spaces
- moisten dry potting media before use
- dampen down dry compost heaps before turning or use
- consider wearing a dust mask when turning compost heaps and handling potting media or other dusty materials
- avoid storing potting media in greenhouses as these will heat up and may encourage Legionella
- empty the water out of garden hoses after use
- do not leave full hoses in the sun after use
- avoid splashing water around when watering pots
- Wear gloves and keep arms covered when pruning plants that can cause irritations, such as:
- ivy (Hedera)
- Fremontodendron
- Euphorbia or
- rue (Ruta)
- only shred woody prunings in an open, well-ventilated area
- ensure tetanus jabs are up to date
- see your local GP for a tetanus vaccination if you have cut yourself on a plant or got soil or manure in an open wound
- discourage rats by securing rubbish in bins and not putting cooked food on the compost heap
- rat-proof compost bins with wire mesh if necessary.
- to reduce the risks from salmonella, avoid using rat-infested compost on edible crops, especially those eaten raw
- protect from water-borne diseases such as Weil’s disease by wearing waterproofs when clearing out ponds
- always wash your hands after gardening and especially before eating
- keep a hand sterilising gel down in the potting shed if clean water is not available
- children should always be accompanied by an adult and supervised on site