Hazards of Landscaping

This report intends to discuss the possible impacts of landscaping activities on the environment and the possible threats that are faced by the people who are exposed to the hazards of the activities involved in the process of landscaping.

Running head: HAZARDS OF LANDSCAPING
Hazards of Landscaping
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive Summary
This report intends to discuss the possible impacts of landscaping activities on the
environment and the possible threats that are faced by the people who are exposed to the
hazards of the activities involved in the process of landscaping. The threats or hazards will be
identified and the measures would be given to counter them. The provisions will also be
discussed that will lead to the retention of the employees and their active participation. The
legal provisions will also be discussed that will help in creating a sense of belief among the
workers.

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Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Hazards in Workplace................................................................................................................4
Principles of Risk Assessment...............................................................................................4
Persons with control...........................................................................................................4
Product Lifecycle...............................................................................................................4
Systematic Risk Management............................................................................................5
Safe Design Knowledge and Capability............................................................................5
Information Transfer..........................................................................................................5
Chemical Hazards..................................................................................................................5
Noise Hazards....................................................................................................................6
Plant Hazards.....................................................................................................................6
Assessment of the Risks.........................................................................................................6
Control Measures...................................................................................................................8
Control Hierarchy...............................................................................................................8
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction
Floral landscaping company that is presently operating in Australia has presently
decided to open a new head office for the operational activities. In the process of creating the
land for the construction of the building there are several issues that have been identified by
the Safety Officer. The activities of land clearance lead to loosening of the topsoil that is the
effect of the clearance of the trees from that particular area. To stop the further growth of the
green cover techniques of chemical spread are also used. Leaving the area that is meant for
the construction of the building, a small area is cut out where the plantation is done by
manual techniques that involves planting of turfs of grass and shrubs. The concrete elements
are used to create the pathways to that are used by the workers as well as the commuters to
carry on their activities. The effects of these activities on that particular area are prolonged
and continue to sustain for a long period. The hazards that are created by these activities are
identified by the Safety Officer and are provided in the discussion.

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Hazards in Workplace
The potential factors that are identified in the workplace that can cause harm to the
individual in the workplace are known as hazards. Hazards are identified as chemicals and
machinery that are used in the workplace for the operations activity. Other factors that are
identified as hazards. They include noise, fatigue and manual handling that contribute as the
part of the workplace hazards that are constantly increasing. There is a possibility that these
may cause harm to the individual. The factors that contribute to the risks are the hours the
individual spends at the workplace, the number of workers involved in the workplace and the
seriousness of the effects of the hazards. The systematic management of the risk posing
factors is necessary to properly manage and assess the effects of hazards in the workplace.
Principles of Risk Assessment
There are five main principles in the process of risk management and assessment.
They are:
Persons with control
The people who make the decisions that are concerned with the designs and detailing
of the products that affects the safety and health of the people involved in the process are
known as the persons with control. The people who make the decisions that involve the
potential risk factors are the base of the safety and security measures.
Product Lifecycle
The concept of product lifecycle is related to the designing of the product that make
the product feasible for the market. The efficiency in the designing of the product helps in the
eliminating the hazards that are related with the product. The construction, installing and
supply of the product is the secondary phase that proceeds after the process of designing.

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Designing ensures that the duration for which the product stays in the market causes
minimum hazards.
Systematic Risk Management
The process of risk management involves identifying the factors that pose as risk. The
process is followed by assessing the risks involved and the ways to eliminate the hazards and
effective designs for the products. The process to control the risks and providing proper
information are the main areas that are covered under the systematic risk management.
Safe Design Knowledge and Capability
The people who are in control of the designs should possess the knowledge of the safe
design that are demonstrated in the product. The knowledge should not be limited only to the
manufacturing and designing of products but they should also be concerned about the safety
measures and the hazards that are created by the use of them.
Information Transfer
There should be clear communication between the people who are control of the
designs and those who are in immediate contact with the products. The influence of the
hazards are likely to be more on those individuals who are in constant contact with them.
Chemical Hazards
Carbon disulphide is the main chemical that causes hazard in the place where the
landscaping is taking place. Airborne chemicals that are in the form of fumes and ashes are
the main hazard that are faced by the individuals in their workplace. The construction of new
buildings involve the use of cements and other building materials that cause air pollution. The
building materials contain harmful chemicals that cause harm to the workers who are
involved in the process of construction. When these chemicals come in contact with human
skin they cause a number of diseases which comprise of allergic reactions and sometimes

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lead to severe irritation for a long period. Irritation is experienced in the eyes of the
individuals and severe reactions like eczema is also experienced. The inhalation of these
substances causes respiratory disorders. The respiratory disorders cause adverse effects on the
health of the individual. It contains chemicals that are carcinogenic which result in cancer and
also lead to the dysfunction of the reproductive system.
Noise Hazards
The unwanted amount of sound that creates uneasiness in daily lives of the
individuals are regarded as noise hazards. It has become a menace in the industrial sector and
is a contributing factor in the loss of hearing in the workers. The use of heavy machinery in
the process of construction and the noise that it produces leads to permanent deafness of the
workers who are exposed to unbearable sounds for a prolonged period.
Plant Hazards
The health and hygiene of the individuals in the workplace are the main concerns of
the individuals who are involved in the process of constructing the building. The people in
control should supervise the process of moving the heavy machinery and the assessment of
the risk factors. Thereafter the involvement of the workers should be done. The workplace
should offer proper facilities to the workers for cooking their food and for relieving
themselves. The process of training and instruction should be clearly given that would reduce
the level of plant hazards.
Assessment of the Risks
The assessment of the factors that lead to potential risks should be carried out on the
materials that are involved in the construction. Health and safety measures of the workers
should be kept in mind. Biological monitoring should done on the products before they are
used. In this way their effects on the workers and those who are in the immediate surrounding

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can be carried out. In this process, the harmful chemicals that are identified in the building
materials can be eliminated. As the chemicals are easily absorbed by the skin there should be
restrictions imposed on the use of chemicals in the manufacturing of building materials. The
levels of noise that is produced in the process of building the office should also be regulated
and the governing bodies should implement the standard rule for the emission of noise.
Workplace Health and Safety involves the process of assessment of the potential risk factors
that pose a threat to the health and welfare of the individual in the workplace. The area of
safety is also concerns the people who visit the workplace as well as the individuals who will
use the place for their activities. There are some legal sanctions that are to be followed while
ensuring the safety of the workplace and the workers. Providing a safe environment for work
comes under the legal requirement of the workplace ethics. This helps in retaining the staff
and increases the productivity of the employees. When the chances of injury and life threats
is reduced it results in employee engagement. The minimal rate of injury reduces the cost of
labor and the economic expenditures that would have resulted from the process of health
hazards. The legal obligations of the owners and the workers should also be met. The people
who are in-charge of the products should follow the legal implementations for the safety of
the workers. Under the legislations of the Australia for the legal reforms for the health and
safety of the workers it is their responsibility to provide safety of their workers. They should
ensure safety of the workers in the premises of the workplace. They should use appropriate
measure to assess the risk factors and control them. The goods that are involved in the
working procedure should be carefully examined and the maintenance their quality is the
responsibility of the owners. The machinery that is involved in the process should be checked
before they are applied in the field this provides safety and assurance to the workers. The
environment in which the individuals work should be loaded with suitable facilities such as
proper washrooms and pantry facilities. These facilities would ensure that the individuals

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would get proper food and sanitation facilities. The companies should provide economic
benefit to their workers and bring all the health hazards the workers are likely to experience
in the workplace under their policies. This will increase the belief of the workers on their
employers.
Control Measures
The control measures that should be adopted for the safety of landscapers. The risks
that they usually experience are the risk of falling from great heights. They have to climb
slopes in order to clear the land for the construction of the building which will serve as the
headquarters of the floral management company. The risk they prominently face is that of
slipping from the slopes and the overturning of the machinery that they use in the process.
The loss of limbs and fingers are involved in the risk factors. Reasonable care should be
taken of the health and safety measures while participating in the process of construction.
Control Hierarchy
To bring under control the threats experienced by the workers comes under the
provision of control hierarchy. In the traditional times, the control of hierarchy involved the
means that were to determine the cost efficient and effective measures for the control of the
risk factors. They were used to provide solutions for the problems rather than controlling
them. It is used to protect the worker and bring about a change in the way they work. It
should work to isolate people from the possible hazards that can be faced by the workers. The
major hazards can be replaced with those that have minimal effects. There should be methods
that can be engineered to provide solution to the problems. After the identification of the
hazard, the control hierarchy should work for the permanent removal of the problem from the
source. The personal protective equipment should be made available with the worker to

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assess the impact of the hazards and there should be proper guidelines that will help the
workers to reduce the threats of the workers and their lives.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be analyzed from the above discussion that the landscapers face many
threats when they are discharging their duties. The threats are sometimes severe to that extent
that they face life risks. The company owners for whom they are working provides them with
effective healthcare facilities that will help them in continuing their job. The economic
benefits that are guaranteed to them provide them the assurance that the company will be
liable for the accidents that can occur to them in the process of working. The safety measures
and the legal legislations helps to establish in them a firm belief on the work structure.
Landscaping is a constantly growing sector that makes it prone to many risks that are
involved in the process of construction. The factors that lead to hazards in work place are
identified and their solution is provided. The risks are increased as the new machinery is
involved but the improvement in the machinery and the modes of production has led to a
decrease in the accidents that used to occur in the earlier times. The decrease in accidents has
proved the fact that the improvement in the policies involved in the landscaping will help in
the growth of the sector and provide security to the workers and establish their belief in their
employers. The monetary assurance is a great factor in motivating them to work in the
landscaping structure.

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References
Archer, R.J., Borthwick, K., Travers, M. and Ruschena, L., 2012. Whs: A Management
Guide. Cengage Learning.