1. Gardening is a
Full-Contact Sport
Ergonomics and Safety
Dale Hildebrandt
Master Gardener
ISA Certified Arborist
Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator

2. Dog-
ernomics
Bridger insists that
even dogs be
included in ergonomic
and safety
considerations

3. Overview of Presentation
Basic definitions
Ergonomics
Physical health and mobility
Time
Proper use of tools and body mechanics
Ergonomically designed tools
Making your existing tools user friendly
Safety
General health concerns
How to avoid injuries

4. Basic Definitions
Ergonomics (Webster’s Definition)
The applied science of
equipment design intended
to maximize productivity
by reducing operator
fatigue and discomfort.
Ergonomic gardening
Dale’s Definition
 Gardeningactivities that provide
maximum enjoyment with
minimum aches, pains and
injuries.

5. Basic Definitions
Safety (Webster’s Definition)
The condition of being
safe. Freedom from
danger, injury or damage.
Safety in gardening
Dale’s Definition
 Gardeningwithout ending up in
the emergency room.

6. What is Your
Overall
Health NOW?

7. Personal Assessment
Things you need to assess when
looking at your own ergonomic
needs.
Physical abilities and limitation.
Mobility and range of motion.
Lifting, carrying and weight issues.
 Nothow much you weigh . . .
 How much you can pick up and safely carry.
Safeguarding vulnerable body
parts.
 Dealing with old injuries
 “I have a bad . . . .”

8. Physical Health Considerations
Considerations for the future.
“Darn it I’m getting older.”
“Oh, my back, I don’t
remember those bags
weighing as much.”
Keeping gardening enjoyable.
Adjusting techniques as our
bodies change.

9. Time as an Ergonomic Factor
Your time --
How much time do you
realistically have
available for
gardening?
 Usingthe proper tools for
the job.
• Doing the job once.
• Doing the job once . . .
correctly.
 Avoidbecoming a slave to
your garden.

10. Body Mechanics
It’s more than just how you do
something –
Body position
Repetition
Leverage and force
Basic do’s and don’ts

11. Good Posture
Stand up straight. If you have to
bend, try to do so at the knees,
not at the waist. If you can't
squat, find a way to sit.
Add adjustable handles to long-
handled tools so you don’t have to
bend as much.
Bad Posture
Stooping (bending over at the
waist), rather than squatting.

12. Good Grip
Grip strength is at its maximum
when the wrist is in a relaxed or
"neutral" position like this –
Bad Grip
People lose up to 25% of their grip
strength when their wrist is bent.
The bent posture, called an ulnar
deviation, is the most potentially
dangerous. The tendons
responsible for flexing the fingers
are easily irritated by exertions
made while in this posture.

13. Tools 101
Considerations --
What are you trying to do???
How much time do you have to do
it???
 There are certain garden activities that we
really enjoy and are willing to spend time
doing – i.e. planting, pruning, weeding . . .
 There are certain garden activities that we
want to just get done – i.e. weeding,
weeding, weeding.

14. Tools 101
Selecting tools that work with you
(instead of against you).
Right tool for the job – no
improvising.
Size of the tool – it’s time for
audience participation 
 Too small for the job or the body
 Too big for the job or the body
Protecting against straining some
other part of your body.
 It
doesn’t do any good to use one part of
your body correctly and then hurt another
part.

15. Well Designed Grips
Oversized "Molded" grips are easy
to grasp and hold, reducing hand
fatigue because the wrist remains
in a neutral position during use.
See examples below --

16. Poorly Designed Grips
"Form-fitting" grooves only fit one
size hand perfectly.
 People with larger hands will find that their
fingers overlap the ridges, causing pain,
soreness, and calluses.
 Those with smaller hands will have to spread
their fingers to match the grooves.
 Strength testing has shown that this
spreading of the fingers significantly reduces
grip strength, requiring more pressure to
maintain control of the tool.

17. Tools 101
Show and tell -- yup, more
audience participation 
 Tool size and weight
• Lightweight options
• Smaller blades and tool heads
 Tool motion
• Longer / shorter handles
 Tool grip
• Adjust grips to fit your body
 Tool balance
 Tool vibration
 Tool maintenance
• Clean, repaired and sharp

18. Buying Ergonomic Garden Tools
Hoes and Rakes

19. Buying Ergonomic Garden Tools
Trowels, etc.

20. Raised Garden Beds
Provides many adaptive alternatives for
the gardener.
Adjustable height, width and length.

22. Raised Bed Gardening
Adjustable height
18” if you plan to build a ledge to
sit on.
24” if you plan to be seated in a
chair.
30” is considered the best height
for average standing gardener.
Adjustable width
Considerations –
 Will you be able to reach into the bed from
both sides?
 Sit parallel to a table and measure how far
you can reach towards the center. Double

23. Miscellaneous Garden Tools

24. Tool Conversions
No, this isn’t the hoe that really
wanted to be a shovel 
In many cases your existing tools
can be altered to be more ergonomic
friendly.
Show and tell – YUP, even more
audience participation 
You can recycle existing materials
into useful items for the garden.
Or you can spend lots and lots of
money in catalogs.

26. Safety 101
Key to safety is prevention.
When it comes to chemicals –
Know what are you using and why.
READ THE LABEL, READ THE LABEL,
READ THE LABEL, READ THE LABEL.
Protecting your body --
Skin
 Protective clothing
• Critical when using chemicals
 Sunscreen
• Apply frequently

27. Safety 101
Hands
 Gloves
• Critical when using chemicals
Head
 Hat (soft or hard)
Feet
 Appropriate foot wear.
Eyes and ears
 Safety glasses / goggles
• Critical when dealing with chemicals
 Ear Plugs
• Critical when using power equipment

28. Common Health Concerns
Heat cramps
Muscle cramping often associated
with dehydration.
Heat exhaustion / dehydration
Pale, clammy skin, heavy
perspiration, weakness, fatigue,
headache, dizziness, nausea and /
or vomiting.
Heat stroke
High body temperature, skin is
hot, red and dry, rapid pulse.

29. Common Health Concerns
Stroke
Key is to recognize the signs –
 Ask the person to smile – assesses facial
weakness.
 Ask person to raise both arms – assesses
muscle weaknesses.
 Ask the person to speak a simple sentence,
coherently – “it’s sunny out today” –
assesses speech problems.
Injuries from power equipment –
mowers, trimmers, chain saws, etc.

30. Web Sites for Ergonomic Tools
www.activeforever.com
www.arthritissupplies.com
www.cleanairgardening.com
www.comfycountrycreations.com
www.floriantools.com
www.gripworks.com
www.handhelpers.com
www.lifewithease.com
www.workglovesdepot.com

31. Dog-ernomics Patrol
Remember the
Dog-ernomics
Patrol is
watching you.
The best
gardening tool
you have is the
one between
your ears