i nD 76 - Nortm Snore News — Wednesday. July 19, 2000 vingroom IF asked, most people would say their garden is a very safe place to . Statistically, this is rue but with the increase in popularity of gardening, people are nding more time in the garden. The population is also aging and this has the poten- tial to increase the number of injuries that can take place in the garden. Garden safety is ‘largely a matter of being aware of the danger areas and using common sense. Some of the worst acci- dents happen when home owners are using power tools. Most are designed to cut veg- etation and are very unforgiv- ing when it comes to human tissue. Renting power tools that you are iliar with, working until fatigue sets in or being tired when you start the job may contribute to acci- dents. Operating power tools on uneven ground, standing on the edge of rock walls or working from a ladder increas- .es the risk. Steep sloping lawns may "LAWN MOWER SERVICE EXPIRES OCTOBER 15/00 | * Lawnmower ¢ Carbide Blade » Scissor & Hand Saw Shapening * Reelmower Sharpening I ¢ Chainsaws I. Trinumers s Blowers & Knife :. Sharpening | ACCUSHARP _ 45 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE ON THE NORTH SHOR a3 E. ist Street, North Vancouver, r 986-2516 look nice but are a wap for the person who runs the mower down the hill. A slight amount of dew on the grass is enough to make your feet slide out from under you and the automatic response is to pull the mower back on your toes. Wearing leather gloves and the appropriate footwear when using power tools will reduce the risk. Rock walls are normally not more than one metre high. The higher they are, the greater the risk of accidents. It is much safer to stand on one low level wall and work on the next than work on the edge of a two-metre wall. A similar problem exists with stairs, patios and decks where there is no railing or barrier to prevent someone from stepping over the edge even if it ts only a few cen- timetres. Often it is the guest who backs up with drink in hand and finds there is a sud- den drop. Height is not always the problem. Sections of sidewalk that have heaved or sunk can catch the unwary off-guard - and send them for a tumble and a trip to the emergency ward. Any small change in ele- vation that is not a full step should be corrected or marked. Situations such as frost on exposed aggregate or algae on wood can also be extremely hazardous. Garden hoses and tools left lying around can present a problem. You may jump and ing fe your gartien clear the first coil of hose but get caught on the second one. And nething brings you to your senses quicker than step- ping on the tines of a garden rake that has been left leaning inst a wall. The sharp whack on the head from the handle may not cause any seri- ous damage but it will make you acutely aware of the need for tool safety. As ean and pools increase in arity so docs the need for child safety. Well- designed oriamental pools should be at least 60 cm deep and this makes them more dangerous for small children. A temporary fence might be a safety precaution. The use of pesticides is a controversial issue but if they are to be used in a responsible manner then safety is para- mount. First of at know what you are spraying for and how Yangerous the producti is that you are using. Read the direc- tions carefi and wear the proper protective clothing. Keep children and pets out of areas that have been treated with pesticides. Undertaking jobs that are above and beyond the normal routine can often lead to acci- dents and/or injuries. Moving large plants, handling heavy racks and removing trees requires far more exertion than normal. Taking a moment to think the problem through and using your head instead of your back is always -the best approach. The use of the lever, inclined plane and wheel can save your back. No one likes to admit that _ age is slowing them down but as the population ages garden- ers have to admit that some jobs are better left to younger people. Climbing ladders to "NEWS photo Cindy Goodman DANGER can lurk In edenic places: when working in”. . your garden, make sure you take all the necessary ® precautions. shear hedges, prune trees and clean gutters may not be sen- sible in the future. We all look forward to the sunny days of summer but with ozone depletion and increased radiation a wide- ryt brimmied hat and a 15 SPF sunscreen will prevent skin damage and the potential for. skin cancer. : ... .Why not be your own safe-: 7 ty inspector and give yourself and your garden a check-up? 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