Tools, Equipment, and Safety
What the domain covers
This domain tests correct tool selection, maintenance, and safe work practices in garden and nursery operations. Questions often ask which tool suits a task and which safety control prevents injury.
Core rules and concepts
- Use the right tool: khurpi for shallow digging, spade for lifting soil, rake for levelling, secateurs for small stems, pruning saw for thick wood, sprayer for liquid applications.
- Keep blades sharp and clean; disinfect between plants when disease risk exists.
- Inspect handles, locks, hoses, and nozzles before use; repair or replace damaged equipment.
- Wear PPE: gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protection, and a respirator when mixing or spraying.
- Carry sharp tools pointed down, never leave them on paths, and store them in a dry, locked place.
- Fuel and chemicals need labelled containers, ventilation, and separation from produce and water sources.
Worked example
A worker pruning a diseased shrub uses secateurs, cuts into healthy wood, and disinfects the blade between cuts. The reasoning is that sap on the blade can transfer pathogens. The cut is clean, not ragged, so the wound closes faster. The worker wears gloves and collects prunings for disposal rather than leaving them as mulch.
Traps
- Using a pruning saw for green stems: it tears tissue and slows healing.
- Storing fuel or pesticide in unlabelled bottles.
- Skipping eye protection when mixing concentrates.