PPE and Health & Safety

Why is health and safety important?

Horticulture is practical work, and practical work involves hazards. These can include machinery, sharp tools, chemicals, dust, noise, manual handling, moving vehicles, uneven ground and flying debris.

Health and safety is not about stopping people from doing practical work. It is about identifying what could cause harm and taking sensible steps to control the risk.

A professional horticulturist should develop the habit of asking:

What could hurt me or somebody else?
How likely is it to happen?
What can I do to reduce the risk?
What PPE do I need?

PPE means Personal Protective Equipment. It includes items worn or used to reduce exposure to hazards.

However, PPE should not normally be the first solution. The risk should first be eliminated or reduced through safer equipment, working methods, isolation, guarding, training and supervision. PPE is an additional layer of protection where a risk remains.

The law

Several important pieces of UK health and safety legislation apply to horticultural work.

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

This is the main piece of UK health and safety legislation. Employers have duties to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by their work.

Workers also have responsibilities. They must take reasonable care of themselves and others and cooperate with their employer’s health and safety arrangements.

Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992

These regulations, as amended by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022, cover the provision and use of PPE.

PPE should be:

suitable for the hazard
suitable for the person using it
correctly fitted
maintained in good condition
used correctly
replaced when damaged or no longer suitable

Training and instruction are also important. Providing PPE is not enough if nobody knows how to use it properly.

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

These regulations require employers to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments and put appropriate arrangements in place to control risks.

COSHH Regulations 2002

The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 apply when workers may be exposed to hazardous substances, including some pesticides, fertilisers, cleaning products, dusts and other chemicals.

PPE may form part of the control measures, but safe storage, handling, application and disposal are equally important.

PUWER 1998

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 apply to equipment and machinery used at work.

Equipment must be suitable, maintained and used safely. Workers should receive appropriate information, instruction and training.

PPE for Common Horticultural Tasks

Task	Main hazards	Typical PPE	Other controls to consider
Mowing	Flying stones and debris, noise, moving machinery, grass and dust	Safety footwear; eye protection where appropriate; hearing protection where required; close-fitting clothing	Check mower before use; remove stones and debris; keep people away from the working area; use guards correctly
Strimming	Flying stones, debris, noise, dust, contact with cutting head	Safety boots; eye/face protection; hearing protection; gloves where appropriate; long trousers	Check guard and cutting head; inspect area first; maintain exclusion zone; never remove the guard
Hedge cutting	Sharp blades, flying material, noise, cuts, falling branches	Safety footwear; eye protection; hearing protection; gloves where appropriate	Check equipment; keep both hands on equipment where required; maintain safe working position; beware of hidden objects
Pruning	Cuts, falling branches, thorns, awkward working positions	Safety footwear; gloves; eye protection where appropriate; head protection where there is a falling-object risk	Use the correct tool; inspect the tree or shrub first; keep people outside the drop zone; use safe access equipment
Spraying / chemical application	Chemical exposure through skin, eyes or inhalation	PPE specified by the product label and COSHH assessment; gloves; coveralls; eye/face protection; respiratory protection where required	Read label; complete COSHH assessment; avoid drift; store chemicals securely; wash hands; follow application and disposal instructions
Soil cultivation	Dust, manual handling, sharp tools, flying particles, contact with contaminated soil	Safety footwear; gloves; eye protection where there is a flying-particle risk	Check ground first; use correct tools; maintain good posture; avoid unnecessary cultivation; control dust
Chainsaw work	Severe cuts, falling timber, kickback, noise, flying debris	Chainsaw protective helmet; eye/face protection; hearing protection; chainsaw gloves; chainsaw trousers/leg protection; chainsaw boots	Specific training and competence required; pre-use checks; safe working zone; correct cutting techniques; never use a chainsaw beyond your training

Important: This table is a learning guide, not a substitute for a risk assessment, manufacturer’s instructions, site rules, training or the PPE specified for a particular task or product.

PPE is not a magic shield

It is tempting to think that putting on PPE makes a dangerous task safe. It does not.

Imagine using a strimmer with a damaged guard. Wearing safety boots and goggles does not make the damaged guard acceptable. The first control is to stop and rectify the equipment.

Similarly, when using a chemical, putting on gloves does not replace reading the label or completing the appropriate COSHH assessment.

A good horticulturist therefore thinks about safety in layers:

1. Eliminate the hazard if possible
↓
2. Use safer equipment or a safer method
↓
3. Isolate or guard the hazard
↓
4. Provide information, training and supervision
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5. Use suitable PPE for any remaining risk

Before starting practical work

Use the STOP check:

S — Survey

Look at the area, equipment, weather and surrounding people.

T — Think

What could go wrong? What are the hazards?

O — Organise

Choose the correct equipment, method and PPE.

P — Proceed safely

Carry out the work following the risk assessment, manufacturer’s instructions and site procedures.

Student Check

Before beginning a practical task, you should be able to answer:

What are the main hazards?
Who could be harmed?
What controls are already in place?
What PPE is required?
Does the PPE fit correctly?
Is the equipment safe to use?
Have I received the necessary instruction or training?
What should I do if something goes wrong?
Where are the first-aid facilities?
Do I know who to report an accident or near miss to?

Remember

PPE protects you from a hazard. Good working practice prevents the hazard from becoming an accident.

Professional horticulture is not simply about knowing how to grow plants. It is also about knowing how to work safely around people, tools, machinery, chemicals and the environment.

Key UK legislation and guidance

Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, as amended by the Personal Protective Equipment at Work (Amendment) Regulations 2022
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH)
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) — where relevant to lifting equipment
Work at Height Regulations 2005 — where relevant to ladders, platforms and other work at height

Useful source

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides current guidance on PPE, risk assessment, COSHH, machinery and horticultural safety.