Course handoutGarden planning
Gardening safety awareness
An introduction to what official Victorian guidance says about safety in the garden.
Theory and discussion only · Community education, not accredited training
Key takeaways
- 01The guidance covers sun, equipment, pacing, hands, potting mix, children and older people.
- 02Sun protection, gloves and regular breaks come up again and again.
- 03In an emergency call triple zero (000); for other concerns, see your GP.
In this course
01Sun and heat in the garden
- Sunscreen 20 minutes before going outside, reapplied regularly
- Wraparound sunglasses that meet the Australian Standard
- Skip the middle of the day — roughly 10 am–2 pm, or 11 am–3 pm in daylight saving
- Choose cooler times: early morning, or later in the afternoon
- Take regular breaks in the shade, with water to drink
02Garden equipment
- Safety goggles when using line trimmers
- Earmuffs or earplugs with noisy equipment
- Enclosed shoes and long, heavy trousers when mowing
- Take care not to cut through electrical leads
- Keep off a ladder’s top rungs
03Pacing yourself
- Keep gardening sessions short
- Warm up with slow, sustained stretches
- Rotate tasks to vary your movements
- Lift with bent knees, and don’t force a heavy load
- Get help if something is too heavy
04Hands, soil and potting mix
- Open potting mix bags slowly, away from your face, somewhere ventilated
- Dampen the mix lightly to reduce airborne particles
- Water gently and avoid breathing in drips from hanging baskets
- Before handling chemicals, make sure rubber gloves have no holes or tears
05Children and older people in the garden
- Secure fences and gates
- Shade, sunhats, sunscreen and plenty of water for children
- Don’t leave power tools plugged in and unattended
- Protective shoes, gloves, a hat and light covering clothes for older gardeners
06Where to get help
- Emergency: triple zero (000)
- Your GP (doctor)
- Garden supply centres
- Gardening equipment manufacturers
Talk it over
- Which parts of the guidance were new to you?
- Why do you think the guidance pays special attention to children and older people?
- How could a community garden group share this guidance with its members?
- Where would you look first if you had a safety question about a garden tool?
Reflect
Which piece of safety guidance feels most important for you or your household?
Who could you share the Better Health Channel page with, and why?
Further reading
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health) — Gardening safetyhttps://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/gardening-safety
Official guidance can change — always check the source.