Health and Safety
Health and Safety 5 September 2019
This page deals with infections and serious illness that can result from the lack of safety procedures in handling potting mix or garden soils. A lot of people do potting in glasshouses or warm areas, which can be ideal conditions for diseases to be active. The Information Sheet put out by Oderings Nurseries I view as a minimum standard to follow. The links below are to pages from the Ministry of Health and WorkSafe, and are essential reading for people with health issues, and recommended for all.
From Oderings Nurseries Information Sheet
Preventing Legionnaires Disease – Advice for gardeners You may have heard of Legionnaires Disease, but you may not realise how serious this disease can be. Legionnaires Disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by bacteria called Legionella. If you handle soil in bags or are a gardener there are some risks you should be aware of.
Who is at risk? Most healthy people do not get Legionnaires Disease after being exposed to Legionella. However, the most at risk are people 50 years or older, or people with certain risk factors. These are
• Being a current or former smoker
• A heavy drinker
• Having a chronic lung disease, or people with respiratory issues
• Having a weakened immune system from disease or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer or kidney failure
• People taking medication that weakens your immune system
How is it contracted? The most common way people are infected is by breathing in bacteria-contaminated dust or liquid. Legionella is an environmental organism that lives in moist conditions, but it breeds in temperatures between 20-40 degrees. Don’t be complacent, simple safety procedures should be used to reduce exposure. What can you do to avoid contracting Legionnaires Disease? What many don’t realise is that gardeners contract Legionnaires Disease from the garden as well as brought potting mix/compost. Here are some top tips to reduce your chance of infection.
• Read all warnings on bags of soil before use.
• Only purchase what potting mix/compost you need; this is to avoid the soil drying out and the possibility of breathing dust particles when eventually opening the bag.
• If storing bags of soil, keep them out of direct sunlight.
• To avoid dust particles wear a dust mask when opening bags of soil, repotting plants or gardening. If you are using a reusable mask, this must always be stored between use in a sealed bag and removed with clean hands.
• Wear gloves when handling any soil, both bagged or garden soil.
• When opening bags of soil, always open bags outside, never in a garage or in an enclosed space.
• Open bags of soil slowly, directing the opening away from the face to avoid inhaling the mix.
• If soil in the bag or the garden is dry, water it gently before use to avoid dust particles.
• When potting plants, planting or cultivating gardens, ensure soil is wet to reduce dust.
• Water gardens and compost gently, using a low-pressure hose. • Always wash hands after handling soil and before eating, drinking, smoking or placing hands near the face.
When working in a greenhouse, potting shed or indoors with soil, make sure your space is well ventilated. Symptoms The time between exposure and getting sick is usually between 5-6 days, however people can get sick as early as 2 days, and up to 10 days after exposure. Signs and symptoms of Legionnaires Disease can include
• Cough • Shortness of breath • Muscle aches • Headache • Fever
If you develop a flu-like illness that is worsening, see your doctor immediately. Antibiotics are very effective against Legionnaires Disease if given early.
Websites
Ministry of Health
Work Safe