• Do not drink the water from the tanks or standpipes
  • Wear gloves whenever handling soil, compost, fertiliser or pesticides. Thin latex (or latex-free for allergy sufferers) gloves can be worn for delicate work
  • Do not open bags of compost or potting media with your head right over it
  • Fold over the top of compost bags when not in use
  • Avoid potting-up in confined spaces
  • Moisten dry potting media before use. Also dampen down dry compost heaps before turning or use
  • Consider wearing a dust mask when turning compost heaps and handling potting media or other dusty materials
  • Avoiding storing potting media in greenhouses as these will heat up and may encourage Legionella
  • Empty the water out of garden hoses after use and do not leave full hoses in the sun after use
  • Avoid splashing water around when watering pots
  • Wear gloves and keep arms covered when pruning plants that can cause irritations; e.g. ivy (Hedera), Fremontodendron, Euphorbia or rue (Ruta)
  • Only shred woody prunings in an open, well-ventilated area
  • Ensure tetanus jabs are up to date. Otherwise, see your local GP for a tetanus vaccination if you have cut yourself on a plant or got soil or manure in an open wound
  • Discourage rats by securing rubbish in bins and not putting cooked food on the compost heap
  • Rat-proof compost bins with wire mesh if necessary. To reduce the risks from salmonella avoid using rat-infested compost on edible crops, especially those not cooked before consumption
  • Protect from water-borne diseases such as Weil’s disease by wearing waterproof gloves, clothing and boots when clearing out ponds
  • Always wash your hands after gardening and especially before eating
  • Keep a hand sterilising gel down in the potting shed if clean water is not available
  • Children should always be accompanied by an adult and supervised on site