Gardeners advised to think about safety

Southern Electric Power Distribution has advised gardeners to “think safety” before gardening. The company’s advice comes as the warmer weather encourages more gardeners to begin preparing their gardens for the summer season.

The company said that many gardeners are not aware of the risks of gardening and that many think that their hobby is harmless.

The latest annual figures showed that many accidents are often caused by gardening tools such as lawnmowers and handheld power tools. In the past year, 500 people were treated for injuries caused by lawnmowers and 3,415 people sustained injuries from powered hand tools and household machinery.

Southern Electric Power Distribution has now provided gardeners and homeowners with a few tips to help reduce the risk of accidents. Amongst the company’s tips were: check electrical equipment carefully; never use damaged equipment; always use residual circuit device to cut off the electricity supply when a fault occurs; never use electricity in wet conditions; and check for overhead power cables before cutting trees and hedges.