3rd
Edition
R3
Safety Guide
Safety
卤
Summary
Groundskeeping involves a wide range of tasks. Many
of these tasks can cause bodily injuries or illnesses. You
can prevent such injuries and illnesses by following safe
work practices and by using proper protective equipment.
Examples of some injuries and illnesses are:
T cuts, amputations from the use of chain saws, tillers,
and gardening tools
T bruises and abrasions from plants and trees
T burns from hot engines or motors of powered equipment
and vehicles
T electric shock or electrocution from contact with live
electrical parts or electric powerlines
T slips and falls from working in wet and/or cluttered areas
T soreness and pain in hands, wrists, shoulders or back as
a result of doing repetitive work, working in an awkward
posture, applying too much force over and over again,
operating vibrating equipment or lifting heavy loads
improperly
T itching, swelling, redness of the skin as a result of
exposure to very hot or very cold weather, contact with
chemicals such as cleaning solutions, fertilizers, pesticides,
or contact with plants and animals
T illness as a result of prolonged exposure to chemicals
and pesticides, or contact with objects contaminated
with infectious materials such as needles and biological
waste, dead animals and animal droppings
T infectious diseases as a result of contact with objects
contaminated with infectious materials such as needles
and biological waste, dead animals and animal droppings
T allergies as a result of inhalation of dusts, contact with
plants and animals, insect bites and stings
This Guide provides safe work methods to prevent these
injuries and illnesses.
Table of Contents
Section I Basic Rules of Safety
1. The Law Says . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Elements of On-The-Job Safety . . . . . . . . . . 2
3. Safety Tips for New Employees . . . . . . . . . . 3
4. Safety Tips for Supervisors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section II Maintaining a High Standard of Safety
1. OSH Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2. Safety Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
3. Accident Investigation and Reporting . . . . 10
4. First Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section III Landscaping
1. General Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2. Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3. Shovelling and Digging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4. Manual Materials Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
5. Garden Tractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
6. Power Lawn Mowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
7. Riding Lawn Mowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
8. Grass Trimmers and Brush Cutters . . . . . . 28
9. Compact Loaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
10. Snow Throwers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
11. Machinery Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
12. Tree Trimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
13. Pesticides鈥擯recautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
14. Pesticides鈥擯ersonal Protective Equipment . . 41
15. Truck Start-Up鈥?"The Circle Check" . . . . 44
16. Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
17. Infectious Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Section IV Personal Protective Equipment
1. PPE Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
2. Safety Glasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
3. Safety Footwear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4. Hard Hats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
5. Hearing Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Section V Electrical Safety
1. Basic Electrical Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
2. Electric Power Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Section VI Chain Saws
1. Safe Use of Chain Saws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
2. Kickback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
3. Basic Chain Saw Operations . . . . . . . . . . . 70
4. Maintenance and Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
5. Handling, Transportation and Storage . . . . 74
6. Personal Protective Equipment . . . . . . . . . 75
Section VII Safety Guidelines for the Work Environment
1. Chemical Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
2. Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
3. Fire Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4. Substances from Trees and Plants . . . . . . . 80
5. Vibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
6. Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
7. Working in Hot Environments . . . . . . . . . . 84
8. Bites and Stings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
9. Hantavirus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
10. Mites, Chiggers and Ticks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
11. Working in Cold Environments . . . . . . . . . 91
Section VIII Health and Safety Legislation
1. Canadian OH&S Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . 94
2. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information
System (WHMIS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
3. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) . . . 105
4. US Occupational Safety and Health
Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Section IX Information Sources
1. Canadian Government Departments with
Responsibility for Occupational Health
and Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
2. US Federal Safety and Health Agencies . 117
3. State Occupational Safety and Health Plans . 121
4. First Aid
First aid regulations require that employers provide first
aid facilities, equipment, and trained personnel in all
workplaces. People who hold valid first aid certificates
should make sure that the contents of first aid boxes are
regularly checked and maintained.
For information regarding first aid kits and first aid
training, please contact the local branch of the St. John
Ambulance Association or the Canadian Red Cross
Society or any other approved organizations.
In case of injury:
1. Promptly obtain first aid.
2. Notify your supervisor/employer.
3. Ask your supervisor for a treatment memorandum
to take to a doctor or hospital.
4. Complete and promptly return all forms received
from the Workers' Compensation Board.
5. Your supervisor should decide on the need for an
accident investigation.
Your employer should post the names and workplace
telephone numbers of the people who have agreed to
provide first aid at the workplace.
DO NOT MOVE an injured WAIT for a qualified person to
person. administer first aid.
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DO NOT USE loader without approved Roll-Over
Protection (ROP) and Falling Object Protection
(FOP) cab.
DO NOT EXCEED rated operating capacity.
DO NOT CARRY passengers.
DO NOT TRAVEL or turn with lift arms up.
DO NOT LEAVE loader with engine running or with
lift arms up.
DO NOT GO across a slope.
DO NOT APPROACH overhead wires.
Going Up and Down a Slope with Bucket Full
KEEP HEAVY END UP
Going Up and Down a Slope with Bucket Empty
KEEP HEAVY END UP
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Proper Care of Safety Glasses
Safety glasses require regular maintenance.
CLEAN your safety glasses daily. Follow the
manufacturer鈥檚 instructions. Avoid rough handling
which can scratch lenses. Scratches impair vision and
can weaken glass lenses.
STORE your safety glasses in a clean, dry place where
they cannot fall or be stepped on. Keep them in a case
when they are not being worn.
REPLACE scratched, pitted, broken, bent or illfitting
glasses. Damaged glasses interfere with vision and do
not provide adequate protection.
COMPARISON OF LENS MATERIALS
Advantages
Material Disadvantages
鈥? Scratch resistant
Glass 鈥? General-grade impact
鈥? Superior visual resistance
transmission 鈥? Pits weaken impact
鈥? Superior infrared/ resistance
ultraviolet filter 鈥? Heavier than
鈥? Greatest number of polycarbonate or
special-purpose lenses plastic
available
鈥? Strongest material
Polycarbonate 鈥? Scratches more easily
for impact resistance than glass
鈥? Lightweight鈥?37% lighter 鈥? Limited choice in tints
than glass
鈥? More flexible than glass;
lenses easier to change
鈥? High visual transmission
(91%)
鈥? Stronger than glass
Plastic 鈥? Scratches more easily
鈥? More choice of tints than than polycarbonate
polycarbonate 鈥? Weaker on impact than
鈥? Lightweight鈥?40% lighter polycarbonate
than glass
鈥? Sheds metal splash and
spatter the best
Note: Polycarbonate and plastic are the only two lenses which are CSA certified.
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UV Description Sun Protection Actions
Index
鈥? Minimal sun protection required for normal activity
0-2 Low 鈥? Wear sunglasses on bright days. If outside for more than
one hour, cover up and use sunscreen
鈥? Reflection off snow can nearly double UV strength.
鈥? Wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen
鈥? Take precautions - cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses and
3-5 Moderate sunscreen especially if you will be outside for 30 minutes
or more
鈥? Look for shade near midday when the sun is strongest
鈥? Protection required - UV radiation damages the skin and
6-7 High can cause sunburn
鈥? Reduce time in the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and
take full precautions - seek shade, cover up, wear a hat,
sunglasses and sunscreen
鈥? Extra precautions required - unprotected skin will be damaged
8 - 10 Very High and can burn quickly
鈥? Avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and take full
precautions - seek shade, cover up, wear a hat,
sunglasses and sunscreen
鈥? Values of 11 or more are very rare in Canada. However,
the UV Index can reach 14 or more in the tropics and
southern U.S.
11+ Extreme 鈥? Take full precautions. Unprotected skin will be damaged
and can burn in minutes. Avoid the sun between 11 a.m.
and 4 p.m., cover up, wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
鈥? White sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV radiation
and increase UV exposure
Sources: UV Index Program, Environment Canada
http://www.msc-smc.ec.gc.ca/topics/uv/index_e.html
The following practices are recommended to minimize
UV exposure during outdoor work:
T Avoid midday sun (11 am鈥?4 pm in summer months).
T Wear clothing that is tightly woven to block sunlight.
T Wear a broad-brimmed hat that will shade your face,
neck and ears.
T Apply on exposed skin a waterproof sunscreen with a
sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher and which
has both UVA and UVB protection.
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