Master
Gardener
Safety
Training
EH&S Office
Agriculture & Natural Resources
March 2012
Reasons for Safety Program
Prevent Injuries and Illnesses
 Meet UC Policy Requirements
 Meet Master Gardener Administrative
Handbook Requirements
 Respond to Master Gardener Safety
Survey
 Reduce Incidents and Claims for
Injury/Damage

2
Policies
The University of California (UC) is committed to achieving
excellence in providing a healthy and safe working environment,
and to supporting environmentally sound practices in the conduct
of UC activities. It is UC policy to comply with all applicable health,
safety, and environmental protection laws, regulations and
requirements.
To meet this standard of excellence, UC implements management
initiatives and best practices to systematically integrate health, safety,
and environmental considerations and sustainable use of natural
resources into all activities. All UC activities are to be conducted in
a manner that ensures the protection of students, faculty, staff,
visitors, the public, property, and the environment.
UC’s goal is to prevent all workplace injuries and illnesses,
environmental incidents, and property losses or damage. Achieving
this goal is the responsibility of every member of the UC
community. Supervisors have particular responsibility
for the activities of those people who report to them.
3
Policies
Master Gardener Program, Administrative
Handbook (Chapter Five, Section XV)



Every employee or volunteer has the responsibility
to follow safety rules and procedures and to help
identify and correct potentially hazardous
conditions.
Consider the potentially hazardous conditions and
steps to take to prevent injury or illness.
Proper training and equipment to perform the task
safely.
4
Master Gardener Safety Survey

Survey of MG Advisors or Program Reps.
Activities
 Frequency
 Number of Participants


Results
Most frequent activities are relatively low risk
 Higher-risk equipment is used rarely by only a
few MG volunteers

5
Master Gardener Safety Survey
Top Ten Activities
Activity
Participants
Frequency
Using hand cultivator/trowel
840
weekly
Continuous sitting/standing
650
monthly
Working in hot/cold conditions
599
quarterly
Walking uneven ground
592
weekly
Using rake/shovel/digging fork
379
quarterly
Using hand pruning shear/saw
375
weekly
Stooping
284
weekly
Using lopper/hand hedge trimmer
273
quarterly
Driving
260
weekly
Lifting more than 30 pounds
247
monthly
6
Master Gardener Incidents

Since 2006

Four trip/fall cases


Two auto incidents


No Claims
One with damage and minor claim paid
One property damage

Claim denied
7
Safety Responsibilities
Before an Activity:
 Identify potential hazards or injury risks to
volunteers and participants
 Establish control measures
Training/Instruction
 Modify activities
 Personal protective equipment

Evaluate and modify controls
 Have a plan to respond to emergencies

8
Safety Resources
MG Safety Manual
 MG Thinking Safe & Green Notes
 ANR EH&S

Additional Training materials
 Videos
 http://safety/ucanr.edu

9
Training
Use your knowledge & experience
 Consult operator manuals
 Written materials

Thinking Safe & Green Notes
 Pest Notes

Safety videos
 Other expertise

10
Pesticide Safety
Definition Of A Pesticide:
A pesticide is any material (natural,
organic, or synthetic) used to control,
prevent, kill, suppress, or repel pests.
 Pesticides are designed to be toxic to
the pests they target such as insects
and weeds.
 Pesticides can be harmful to humans if
used incorrectly and/or not using
proper Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE).
11
Pesticide Safety

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Long-sleeved shirts and long pants
 Eye protection
 Chemical-resistant gloves
 Closed-toed shoes
 Other as directed by label


Environmental Considerations
Avoid runoff to storm drains
 Do not apply when windy or rain forecast
 For indoor applications, avoid food
preparation or storage areas, sinks or
drains or areas that will be mopped with
water.

12
Pesticide Safety

Personal Hygiene
Always wash with soap and water after
handling pesticides
 Do not eat, drink, smoke, or put your fingers to
the mouth when using pesticides
 Wash contaminated clothes and gloves in loads
separate from other clothes


Restricted Entry Intervals
Most home use products do not have a
restricted entry requirement
 Posting and entry restrictions apply to materials
that require professional application by a
Qualified Applicator

13
Pesticide Safety

Use and Storage
Keep products capped, and place in a locked
cabinet
 Keep pesticides in their original containers
with label attached
 Maintain an inventory of pesticide products –
review annually to dispose of unwanted or
expired materials
 Be aware of emergency procedures
 No posting is required for products labeled
“Caution”, however products labeled
“Warning” or “Danger” require posting with the
following:

14
Pesticide Storage
This sign must be visible from 25 feet in each direction of possible approach.
15
Pesticide Safety

Pesticide Disposal
Apply excess diluted or mixed pesticides to
plants or sites as listed on the label
 Empty containers may be disposed in regular
trash or recycled
 Empty spray tanks should be triple rinsed and
rinseate used on site in accordance with label
 Leftover diluted or concentrated pesticides
may be disposed as Household Hazardous
Waste


See your local landfill or County Environmental
Health Department for information
16
Insurance Coverage
•
•
•
UC insurance program provides secondary
automobile liability coverage. Volunteer’s
insurance provides primary coverage.
Minimum vehicle insurance coverage shall be
$50,000/$100,000/$50,000:
o For personal injury to death of one person.
o For personal injury to death of two or more
persons.
o Property damage.
UC has arranged for limited accident
coverage through The Hartford insurance
company for incidents that occur when taking
part in MG activities.
17
Exercise

Split into four groups
General Physical Hazards
 Power and Hand Tools
 Ergonomics
 Planning for Safety/Emergency Response

Develop 5 minute safety briefing on an activity
common for Master Gardeners
 Use Thinking Safe & Green Notes and your
knowledge/experience to outline:

Potential hazards
 Mitigation measures
 Response procedures

18
Exercise

General Physical Hazards


Power and Hand Tools


Use Notes: 2, 5, 6, 13, 14
Ergonomics


Use Notes: 3, 7, 8, 18, 15, 17, 18
Use Notes: 9, 19, 20, 21
Planning for Safety/Emergency Response

Use Notes: 1, 16, 22, 23
19
For More Information
ANR EH&S Website:
http://ucanr.edu/mgsafety
 Submit a question:
http://ucanr.edu/askehs
 Contact us:
Mark Barros: mjbarros@ucdavis.edu
or 530-750-1262
Brian Oatman: baoatman@ucanr.edu
or 530-750-1264

20