For a lot of us, gardening is our favourite way to spend our Sunday afternoon – it’s a relaxing and enjoyable hobby. Some of us are extremely proud of our gardens and do everything to keep them in a good condition, even in the most miserable weather. Season’s such as winter make looking after our garden that little bit harder; when leaves fall off the trees in the Autumn, extra work is required to keep the garden tidy.
Although gardening is an enjoyable hobby, those doing so perhaps have a need to carry out their own risk assessments to make sure that they aren’t putting themselves at the risk of being injured. According to data from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), about 300,000 people are hurt in their gardens each year.
There are lots of different types of accidents that can take place in the garden, which include:
- Falls
- Cuts
- Electric shocks from using electrical equipment in unsuitable weather conditions, or from faulty equipment
- Animal cuts, stings, bites
- DIY accidents
Data from the RoSPA show that the most common accident in a garden is a fall, whilst the biggest threat of injury to gardeners is a cut. The RoSPA warn gardeners to be extremely careful when in the garden, and have created a list of the top ten most dangerous tools. These include:
- Lawnmowers: responsible for 6,500 accidents in the U.K each year
- Flowerpots
- Secateurs and pruners
- Spades
- Electric hedge trimmers
- Plant tubs and troughs
- Shears
- Garden forks
- Hoses and sprinklers
- Garden canes and sticks
It is important that no tools are left around in the garden when children are playing as they can be extremely dangerous. If tools are left in the garden when children are playing, they should be supervised at all times.
When carrying out garden work in your own garden it is your responsibility to assess the risks when using your equipment. However, if you become injured in an accident due to the use of some faulty gardening equipment, you may be able to make an injury compensation claim. For more information on making a claim contact the Injury Lawyers.
