Planting and Mulching Safety

Planting and mulching are key landscaping activities on construction sites, involving manual handling and outdoor exposure.
Lifting and carrying trees, shrubs, root balls, and bags of mulch causes back, shoulder, and knee injuries.
Soil-borne bacteria including tetanus and Clostridium can enter the body through cuts and scratches while planting.
Handling bark mulch, compost, and soil exposes workers to Aspergillus fungal spores causing respiratory illness.
Manual digging with spades, forks, and mattocks creates blisters, strain injuries, and buried service strike risks.
Larger specimen trees require mechanical handling with excavators, telehandlers, or mini cranes for planting.
Pesticides, herbicides, and fertilisers used in conjunction with planting require COSHH assessments.
Working in all weather conditions during planting seasons exposes workers to heat, cold, rain, and UV radiation.
Mulch deliveries by tipper truck require traffic management and safe tipping procedures on landscaped areas.
Knee pads and ergonomic tools reduce the impact of prolonged kneeling and repetitive digging tasks.

Prevent musculoskeletal injury	Repetitive digging, lifting root balls, and carrying mulch bags cause chronic back and joint injuries.
Infection risk	Soil bacteria enter through cuts causing tetanus and Aspergillus spores in mulch cause respiratory infection.
Chemical exposure	Pesticides and fertilisers used alongside planting require proper handling to prevent poisoning and skin irritation.

Do

Don't

Use mechanical handling for trees, large shrubs, and heavy root balls wherever practicable
Wear gloves to protect hands from thorns, cuts, and soil-borne bacteria during planting
Cover all cuts and wounds with waterproof dressings before handling soil or mulch
Wear RPE when handling dry bark mulch to protect against Aspergillus fungal spores
Complete a COSHH assessment before using any pesticide, herbicide, or fertiliser product
Use knee pads for prolonged kneeling tasks during planting and ground preparation
Rotate tasks between digging, planting, and mulching to reduce repetitive strain
Check for buried services before digging planting holes in areas near buildings or roads
Apply sunscreen and wear a hat during prolonged outdoor planting in sunny conditions
Ensure tipper trucks delivering mulch have banksman control and safe tipping areas

DON'T manually lift heavy root balls or specimen trees without mechanical aids or team lifts
DON'T handle soil or mulch with open cuts or wounds — cover them with waterproof dressings
DON'T breathe in dust from dry bark mulch — wear RPE to prevent Aspergillus infection
DON'T use pesticides or herbicides without completing a COSHH assessment and wearing PPE
DON'T kneel for prolonged periods without knee pads — it causes permanent joint damage
DON'T dig planting holes near buildings or roads without checking for buried services first
DON'T ignore back or joint pain from repetitive digging — report symptoms early
DON'T work in direct sun for extended periods without sunscreen, hat, and water breaks
DON'T allow tip deliveries without banksman control and clear pedestrian exclusion zones
DON'T forget your tetanus vaccination status — check with your GP if you work with soil

See also: Landscaping Safety Awareness | Manual Handling Awareness

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