Miss adventures of (some) gardeners

Business has been badly affected by the weather and jobs are beginning to stack up so whilst taking a short break from worrying about cash flow, machinery servicing and the likes I allowed myself twenty minutes to ponder about life in general particularly with all the doom and gloom around at present.Having recently replied to a forum post which touched upon on the delightful subject of the hazards of handling condoms, hypodermic needles/syringes, faeces, vomit etc. – Risk assessment for litter picking if you are wondering, it started me thinking how regulated the landscape maintenance business has become. Whilst I fully agree and support all the sensible ones, particularly H&S it has surely taken some of the fun out of the business.Looking back over the years I recalled the following incidents that perhaps wouldn’t be acceptable in today’s risk-averse society or more importantly how would I write a risk assessment to address them.I must however stress that none of these happened in my businesses and only got to know about the events third hand. Honest!My favourite has to be the young lad getting confused with the correct lever to release to stop the drive on a lawn mower and ending up in a rather grand and deep fish pond. Luckily he wasn’t working alone and both he and the machine were pulled out (eventually). Apparently a number of prized and valuable koi carp were sadly killed.With the advent of the mobile phone and instant video recording, there was an incident where two young gardeners thinking the house was empty decided to strip off and use the clients’ swimming pool. Unfortunately the au pair filmed them and emailed it to her boss! It should of been posted on You Tube but the owner of the business "paid" for the copy of the film as part settlement for damages.Strimming always causes a few problems, once a lad was stimming an overgrown area not realising that the clients’ Yorkshire terrier which was rather old, deaf and slow moving was resting. I believe the dog lived. Similarly the same has happened to tortoises.Racing ride on mowers often popped up in conversation and many the scars to back the story up.Carrying lawn mowers down steps with the blades still turning has to be the most stupid and dangerous one – fortunately the blade was very hot which limited the damage to the guy carrying the front of the mower. But at least they completed the job and invoiced the client before going to A&E.A young lad on a YTS scheme used a ladder to climb a tree, his work mate wasn’t aware of this and took the ladder down. Unable to find his work colleague he packed up and went off to the next job. Poor lad was stuck in the tree for over two hours.There are many more but all this reminds me to check my employee and public liability insurance policies. Maybe we should all employ more females as you never hear of any stories involving them.Perhaps one day I will write a book “it shouldn’t happen to a gardener” surely that’s more fun than risk assessments!
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • I didn't include any incidents about chainsaws as these were just too graphic!
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Neil Ruddick replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"According to AI, certain groups (eg., those unable to use digital tools due to age, disability, or location) may apply for exemption from MTD.  It gives GOV.UK as the source of that information.
It certainly suits me to stick to paper.  I am…"
16 hours ago
Peel Projects updated their profile
yesterday
Fusion Media posted a blog post
Aimee Davey joins ICL at a key point as the business moves into a busy period of campaign and product activity across its Turf and Landscape portfolio, taking on the role of Marketing Communications Manager for the UK and Ireland.Aimee brings strong…
yesterday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
""I like Nigel he's lived in the real world."
Yep- private school eduction, then his Dad (a city trader) gets Nigel a city trader job. His only ever job, before becoming an MEP.
Yep- that's the real world isn't it!
I wasn't suggesting that Reform…"
yesterday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"I'm with you on this. Just had a look at the betting odds for the next general election as it's not often the bookies get it wrong from the odds offered they predict a landslide victory for reform😃.
So we will have to be patient and put with what we…"
yesterday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"I'm hopping for asylum in America "
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Anyone with half a brain knows that's common knowledge.
'You will own nothing and be happy'
Last general election i red the manifestos of tories, Labour and reform. The only one that was realistic and contained common sense was reforms.
Tories and…"
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Labour will do anything to win votes.
Including burning our country to the ground just to prove a point."
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Just setting off in my dinghy from Calais"
Tuesday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"You do realise that it was the Conservative Party who introduced MTD in 2019 and then expanded it in law to include income tax self assessment in 2022. Nothing that Labour could do to stop it, even if they wanted to.
As for Nigel, if you are…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Yes, I'm pissed off too, fed up of supporting the druggies, alcos and bone idle who have 6 kids with no intention of supporting themselves,Rachel in accounts has just made that more of a lifestyle choice. Hope Nigel will sort this broken country…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Thats ok for you youngsters, who are capable of using this shit. What about the rest of us appriaching 70? When I was at school calculators were a novelty!  There are a lot in this trade who will just pack it in or go off grid, its more interference…"
Tuesday
Honey Badger replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"It's important as the 48% of working people to provide for the impoverished depending on the welfare state. 
If fat jayden with adhd doesn't get his macdonalds via delivero everyday he gets anxiety attacks.
His parents that have never worked still…"
Tuesday
Ian Harvey replied to Peter sellers's discussion Making tax digital
"Most of the business software packages such as QB, Zero etc are fully MTD ready. Some of these, such as Zoho Books, Wave, QuickFile are free for small businesses, and Freeagent is free if you have certain bank accounts.
The MTD idea is to stop small…"
Tuesday
Peter sellers posted a discussion
Thought there might be some unaware of this. So briefly and I am not an accountant . As from 6th April 26 anyone who has income from self employment, rent from property etc or a combination that equates to a turnover of 50k or more (not profit) will…
Tuesday
Neil Darby replied to Neil Darby's discussion Dirty subject.
"it thats what you are happy doing up to you. 8 turds last week & another 3 this. The client is been notified that I quit. .Edit, excuses excuses.please come back."
Monday
More…

Making tax digital

Thought there might be some unaware of this. So briefly and I am not an accountant . As from 6th April 26 anyone who has income from self employment, rent from property etc or a combination that equates to a turnover of 50k or more (not profit) will…

Read more…
12 Replies · Reply by Neil Ruddick 16 hours ago
Views: 225