LND/Hard Landscaping/TBT-LND-006
Landscaping Safety Awareness Overview
Landscaping & External Works › Hard Landscaping › Landscaping Safety Awareness Overview
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Landscaping Safety Awareness Overview
Landscaping and external works on construction sites include fencing, paving, planting, turfing, retaining wall construction, and the use of powered equipment such as chainsaws, strimmers, and ride-on mowers. These tasks are often carried out alongside live construction activities and near buried services, open excavations, and moving plant. Workers may also be exposed to biological hazards including Lyme disease from ticks, Weil's disease from contaminated water, and toxic plants.
Key Hazards
Contact injuries from chainsaws, strimmers, and powered cutting equipment
Manual handling injuries from heavy paving slabs, kerbs, and fencing materials
Exposure to biological hazards including ticks, Weil's disease, and toxic plants
Struck by moving plant operating in shared landscaping and construction areas
Control Measures
- Ensure all powered equipment operators hold the required competency certificates for the tools used.
- Use mechanical aids such as vacuum lifters and pallet trucks for heavy paving and kerb materials.
- Wear appropriate PPE including chainsaw protective clothing, gloves, and eye protection.
- Check for buried services before installing fence posts, tree pits, or any below-ground features.
- Inspect all powered tools before use and ensure guards and safety features are correctly fitted.
- Brief workers on biological hazards including tick bite prevention and Weil's disease awareness.
- Segregate landscaping activities from live plant and construction operations with barriers and signage.
- Plan manual handling tasks to minimise carrying distances and use team lifts for heavy items.
- Report any contact with toxic plants such as giant hogweed to your supervisor immediately.
Remember
- Chainsaws and powered tools require formal training and competency certification before use.
- Heavy paving materials cause many manual handling injuries — use mechanical aids wherever possible.
- Tick bites can transmit Lyme disease — wear long sleeves, check skin daily, and remove ticks promptly.
- Always scan for buried services before digging post holes, tree pits, or any ground penetration.
- Giant hogweed sap causes severe burns in sunlight — do not touch and report any sightings.
- Landscaping work areas must be segregated from active construction traffic and plant operations.
Applicable Legislation: PUWER 1998 · Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 · CDM Regulations 2015 · Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
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