PREVENTING ACCIDENT IN THE GARDEN
PREVENTING ACCIDENTS
Gardening is a fun and generally safe and sedate pastime but there are dangers to our health and well-being that we do need to watch out for. The fact people feel relaxed in their own garden and often not so alert to danger could explain why some accidents happen. Most of those mentioned below seem almost obvious but it is always worth just being reminded of them so we can be more mindful when out on our plots. I have lost concentration in the past while handling a corded hedge trimmer. I had always been so careful about keeping the cord out of the way but in a mindless moment I cut through the cord! Fortunately, I didn't touch anything and I immediately took the plug out before handling the cord but it shows how easily accidents happen.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) says about 300,000 people are injured in their gardens each year. There have also been statistics (below) collated by the Department ofTrade and Industry's
