May 2018 By Brett Wardle Yard Work Safety Editor: Emily Hanson , T: Don't let yard work become a pain in the neck. Whether you're an avid gardener or you dread mowing the grass, you are susceptible to an outdoor inju ry, including: o Back injuries from heavy lifting . Strained muscles from planting or raking o Rotator cuff tendonitis from pruning hedges with heavy sheers o Lower back pain from weeding Here are few tips to ensure yard work does not become a health hazard. L. Prevent overuse injury. You may engage muscles during yard work that you don't use on a daily basis. Take a few minutes to stretch and warm up before you grab the pruning shears or rake. As you work, try to change tasks every 30 minutes or so to avoid a repetitive-use injury. 2. Lift properly. When lifting anything, bend from the hips and knees, not the back. If you are moving material from one place to another, use a cart or wheelbarrow to avoid straining your back. 3. Dress properly for yard work. Wear substantial shoes, long pants, close-fitting clothes, ear protection, safety glasses, and gloves when needed. Gloves will improve your grip on tools and equipment. They will also provide protection from splinters, debris, thorns, ?nd obnoxious weeds. 4. Stay hyd rated. When it is warm outside, it is easy to become dehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids before and during yard work. Take a break and sit in the shade if you start to feel lightheaded. Many people spend hours working in the yard without taking a break to refuel. This can lead to lightheadedness and dehydration, which should be taken seriously. No one wants to end up in a doctor's office for something that could have been easily avoided. 5. Wear sunscreen. Don't be deceived by a cloudy day. UV rays come through the clouds the same as when it is suntry, so sunscreen is vital when you spend prolonged time outdoors. Make sure to apply SPF to the neck area. This area is usually neglected. Wearing a wide- brimmed hat can also help protect the neck and face. 5. Nix pesky bug bites. Mosquitos thrive in damp areas, so empty anything in your yard that contains standing water such as gutters, pet water dishes, planters, buckets, pool covers, old tires, or birdbaths. Protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases, like West Nile Virus, by wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves, pdnts, socks, and an insect repellant that contains DEET when you're working outdoors. 7. Know how to operate the equipment that you are going to use before you use it. Read the operator's manual and follow all safety instructions. Yard work is a great form of exercise. lt is something people of all ages can participate in and can even be a fun family activity. Don't let yard work injuries get in the way.

Yard Work Safety - IPSC...Here are few tips to ensure yard work does not become a health hazard. L. Prevent overuse injury. You may engage muscles during yard work that you don't use

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Page 1: Yard Work Safety - IPSC...Here are few tips to ensure yard work does not become a health hazard. L. Prevent overuse injury. You may engage muscles during yard work that you don't use

May 2018

By Brett Wardle

Yard Work Safety

Editor: Emily Hanson , T:

Don't let yard work become a pain in the neck.

Whether you're an avid gardener or you dreadmowing the grass, you are susceptible to an outdoorinju ry, including:

o Back injuries from heavy lifting. Strained muscles from planting or rakingo Rotator cuff tendonitis from pruning hedges with

heavy sheerso Lower back pain from weeding

Here are few tips to ensure yard work does notbecome a health hazard.

L. Prevent overuse injury.You may engage muscles during yard work that you

don't use on a daily basis. Take a few minutes tostretch and warm up before you grab the pruningshears or rake. As you work, try to change tasks every30 minutes or so to avoid a repetitive-use injury.

2. Lift properly.When lifting anything, bend from the hips and knees,

not the back. If you are moving material from oneplace to another, use a cart or wheelbarrow to avoidstraining your back.

3. Dress properly for yard work.Wear substantial shoes, long pants, close-fittingclothes, ear protection, safety glasses, and gloves

when needed. Gloves will improve your grip on toolsand equipment. They will also provide protectionfrom splinters, debris, thorns, ?nd obnoxious weeds.

4. Stay hyd rated.When it is warm outside, it is easy to becomedehydrated. Drink plenty of fluids before and duringyard work. Take a break and sit in the shade if you

start to feel lightheaded. Many people spend hoursworking in the yard without taking a break to refuel.This can lead to lightheadedness and dehydration,which should be taken seriously. No one wants to end

up in a doctor's office for something that could have

been easily avoided.

5. Wear sunscreen.

Don't be deceived by a cloudy day. UV rays comethrough the clouds the same as when it is suntry,

so sunscreen is vital when you spend prolonged timeoutdoors. Make sure to apply SPF to the neck area.

This area is usually neglected. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat can also help protect the neck and face.

5. Nix pesky bug bites.Mosquitos thrive in damp areas, so empty anything inyour yard that contains standing water such as

gutters, pet water dishes, planters, buckets, pool

covers, old tires, or birdbaths.

Protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases, like

West Nile Virus, by wearing light-colored clothing,long sleeves, pdnts, socks, and an insect repellant thatcontains DEET when you're working outdoors.

7. Know how to operate the equipment that you aregoing to use before you use it. Read the operator'smanual and follow all safety instructions.

Yard work is a great form of exercise. lt is somethingpeople of all ages can participate in and can even be afun family activity. Don't let yard work injuries get inthe way.