• 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