Garden Safety

It's Your Health

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The Issue

More Canadians are discovering the pleasures and rewards of gardening, but the activities involved in creating and maintaining a garden are not without some health hazards.

Gardening

Gardening has become an increasingly popular activity in Canada in recent years. Gardening offers many benefits, including:

Although the benefits of gardening outweigh the risks, gardeners still need to be careful when using power tools and equipment and when handling fertilizers and other chemicals, especially when there are small children around.

The Health Risks of Gardening

There are various health risks related to gardening, ranging from physical overexertion and sunburn to serious injuries from the improper use or maintenance of power equipment.

Power Tools and Equipment

Overexertion

Sun

Other Unintentional injuries

Safety Tips

To minimize your risk from gardening, follow these tips.

Power Tools and Equipment

Overexertion

Chemicals and Soil Amendments

Sun

Unintentional Injuries

Government of Canada's Role

Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada work in several ways to protect Canadians from hazards associated with gardening. The Product Safety Programme regulates consumer products and promotes awareness of potential product-related hazards. It also assesses and works to reduce health risks from environmental factors like sun radiation and noise from powered equipment.

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for regulating pesticides in Canada under the Pest Control Products Act. Health Canada conducts a rigorous scientific review of all pesticides before they enter the Canadian market to make sure they meet our high standards for human health and environmental protection. Health Canada also develops pest management policies and guidelines, and promotes sustainable pest management practices.

For more information

Related Resources

Or call the Pest Management Information Service at 1-800-267-6315 (toll free in Canada) e-mail: pmra_infoserv@hc-sc.gc.ca

You can also call Health Canada toll free at 1-866-225-0709 or TTY at 1-800-465-7735*

Updated: June 2011
Original: May 2006
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Health, 2011

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