Introduction

In this section, we consider all accidents in the garden. This includes the garden itself with paths and drive plus greenhouse, garage and potting shed. Also some aspects of Bicycle safety are covered

An analysis of accident data collected under the Home Accident Surveillance System (HASS) showed that in 1996 there were nearly 465,000 accidents specified as being in or around the garden, 1 in 5 of all accidents. There were also 46 deaths (1995 data), 1 in 75 of all domestic fatalities.

Almost half of accidents involve adults but almost a quarter involve children and 14% infants and toddlers. A relatively small proportion involve older people.

18% of accidents are serious or very serious, with the proportion about constant at 17% up to the age of 64, but rising for older people, especially those over 75.

Almost 60% of the victims are male and the proportion declines with age, reflecting first of all that men probably spend more time in the garden, and secondly that in the older age-bands there are more women. For infants & toddlers, the figure once again shows boys to have a higher accident rate than girls.

Deaths are predominantly among adults.

Articles

The most common articles involved in non-fatal garden accidents are falling onto hard surfaces, drives, paths etc. These also tend to be the most serious. Only a small percentage of cases are caused by specifically garden items. Vegetation, including plants, branches, twigs etc, accounts for only 4% of cases. Garden tools, including knives, lawnmowers and strimmers, account for only 2% of cases.

There were 46 fatal accidents in and around the garden, 11 of them were poisoning by carbon monoxide from car exhausts in the garage. Seven of the cases involved drowning, 5 of them being small children. Two boys were entangled in swings, and two more were crushed by falling walls. Three men were struck by branches of trees they were attending to.

Others include two people who collapsed in the garden and died of exposure. Of the 46 cases only 6 were women.

Mechanism

Analysis of the mechanism showed that 44% of accidents involve falls, 20% are concerned with striking by or against objects and 12% involve cuts and lacerations or skin puncture. Other mechanisms were also consistent with the articles discussed above and add nothing further to the conclusions.

Accident Reduction

There are large numbers of non-fatal accidents in and around gardens. These involve mainly those under 65, and 60% of the victims are men.

The question of falls in the context of the garden will be difficult to reduce. It will be difficult to reduce cuts and abrasions except where specific activities are involved. The use of protective gloves while gardening may help.

Garden safety needs to be focused on those under 65, but the greatest opportunity for saving accidents in the garden relates to the fatalities, and there are several areas which might be more effectively targeted.

DTI has already conducted two garden safety campaigns on the hazards associated with children, in particular highlighting the potential dangers from garden ponds, power tools and barbecues. One feature of accidents to children in the garden is a significant increase during the school summer holidays, which makes this a good time to draw attention to the problem.

Last updated: 28 August 2003

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