Gardening with hand tools

WebPartZone1_1

PublishingPageContent

Guideline review date: 24 September 2025

This guideline is provided to support schools in implementing the managing risks in school curriculum activities procedure.

The CARA planner (DOCX, 232KB) must be used for the specific school context in conjunction with this guideline considering additional risks, hazards and controls and including environmental, facility, equipment and student considerations.

For activities beyond the scope of this guideline, complete a CARA record using the CARA generic template (DOCX, 98KB).

Activity scope

This guideline demonstrates the minimum safety standard for student participation in gardening with hand tools as an activity to support curriculum delivery. Gardening with hand tools includes the use of gardening tools such as forks, spades, shears, saws and other aids for relatively simple gardening activities.

Note: This CARA guideline does not include the use of electrical gardening or motorised gardening equipment.

The Department of Education is committed to ensuring that curriculum activities are planned for and managed in accordance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld), to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of students, staff and others.

Depending on the scope of this activity, other risk assessments may be required when planning. Curriculum activities encompassing more than 1 CARA guideline (e.g. science investigation, experiments and activities) must comply with the requirements of all CARA guidelines appropriate to the activity.

For activities conducted at a non-Department of Education venue, and/or when engaging external expertise, request written risk assessment advice and attach it to this CARA record.

For activities conducted off-site, schools must comply with the school excursions procedure.

Risk level

Low risk
Use of small, simple-operation hand tools (e.g. hand fork or hand trowel).

Medium risk
Use of larger hand tools (e.g. spades, rakes).

High risk
Use of hand tools, both small and large, with sharp cutting edges or points (e.g. budding knives, secateurs, pruning saws, shears, mattocks, digging forks and hoes).

Activity requirements

If any requirement cannot be met, the activity must not occur.

A registered teacher must be appointed to maintain overall responsibility for the activity.

Teachers, in collaboration with other adult supervisors of the planned activity, determine additional risks, hazards and control measures relevant to the activity and the specific school/group circumstances in order to lift the safety standard above the minimum identified in the CARA guideline.

Consult review comments from previous CARA records to improve safety standards based on the advice from the previous supervisors of the activity at the school.

Prior consultation and collaboration with local expertise (e.g. property owner/manager) is required for local advice, emergency support mechanisms and additional supervision requirements to ensure participant and public safety.

Refer to children and young workers code of practice 2006 when planning this activity to determine student suitability to undertake relevant work activities.

Refer to plant diseases, insect pests and invasive plants for advice (e.g. fire ant map) when planning this activity.

Follow the standard operating procedures (SOP) for equipment and machinery resources and manufacturer instructions.

Assess and manage risks associated with working at heights.

WebPartZone1_2

Collapse all Expand all

Students

Emergency and first-aid

Emergency plans and injury management procedures must be established for foreseeable incidents (e.g. raising alarm, provision of CPR and first aid) and incorporate the advice from local authorities, for example, location of automated external defibrillator (AED).

Adult supervisors must have:

emergency contact details of all participants
a medical alert list and a process for administering student medication
communication equipment suitable to conditions (e.g. mobile phone) and a process for obtaining external assistance and/or receiving emergency advice.

Safety procedures must be determined for the location (e.g. out-of-bounds areas),incorporate advice from local expertise, if relevant and are to be informed by information provided as manufacturer's instructions, product labels, vendor safety data sheets (SDS) and safe operating procedure (SOP) as relevant.

Access is required to first aid equipment and consumables suitable for foreseeable incidents

Induction and instruction

Consent

Supervision

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults, make final supervision decisions* for the activity that considers the local context.

Appropriate adult supervision must be provided to manage the activity safely (i.e. prevent an incident from occurring and manage an incident if one were to occur, including managing emergency situations). The principal must give active consideration to the minimum standards set in the CARA guideline for the activity, the CARA planner and the risk assessment when determining the appropriate level of supervision.

See number of adult supervisors below.

Before the activity, all adult supervisors:

must be familiar with the contents of the CARA record, including the emergency and supervision plans.

During the activity, all adult supervisors:

must provide active and direct supervision—be constantly vigilant, attentive and rescue ready
must comply with control measures from the CARA record and adapt as hazards arise.

The activity must be suspended if the conditions become unfavourable (e.g. extreme temperatures).

Number of adult supervisors

Principals, in consultation with the qualified adults of the activity, determine the final number of supervisors to fulfil instructional, emergency and supervision roles for the local context that consider the nature of the activity, students' ages, abilities and specialised learning, access and/or health needs. In some instances, the final supervision ratio may be 1:1.

If the minimum safety standard cannot be met, modify the activity (or elements of it) and use the hierarchy of controls to implement alternative control measures to meet or exceed the minimum safety standard (e.g. reduce the number of students participating at any one time).

See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for further support.

Supervisor qualifications

Qualifications support the minimum safety standard for this activity. Principals make final decisions* in determining supervisor capability (competence, relevance and currency) and whether the activity leader meets an appropriate teaching standard.

*See FAQs for further support.

All adult supervisors must comply with the working with children authority—blue cards procedure.

Qualified adults for the activity

Recovery/emergency—CPR, first aid, rescue

An adult with current emergency qualifications is required to be quickly accessible to the activity area.

Supervisors must have CPR and first aid qualifications relevant to the activity. Emergency qualifications may include:

At least 1 adult supervisor is either:

a registered teacher with competence (knowledge and skills) in gardening and the use of gardening hand tools and the potential hazards
an adult supervisor, working under the direct supervision of a registered teacher, with competence (knowledge and skills) in gardening and the use of gardening hand tools and the potential hazards.

See FAQs for further support.

Facilities and equipment

The qualified adult supervisor of the activity, in consultation with the principal, determines the requirements for facilities and equipment appropriate to the local context.

Location must be suitable for the activity being undertaken, including sufficient space, adequate lighting and ventilation to ensure safe participation and that safety rules and procedures can be followed. Undertake a reconnaissance of new or infrequently used locations to ascertain suitability.

Consult chemicals in curriculum activities for support in assessing the risks of chemicals used with/by students in curriculum activities.

If a CARA record is required in OneSchool, a summary of chemicals (e.g. herbicide), plant, equipment and/or materials (e.g. potting mix) used in the activity must be provided by entering directly onto the CARA record in OneSchool or by attaching a summary. Sample templates are provided on chemicals in curriculum activities and plant, equipment and materials in curriculum activities.

Participants must wear personal protective equipment as relevant (e.g. appropriate enclosed footwear, safety glasses with glasses, gloves, appropriate face protection against airborne particles, such as pesticides or fungicides, dust or organisms in compost or potting mix).

Equipment must be sized to match the ability and strength of students.

All equipment must be conform to Australian Standards, comply with the relevant codes of practice and standard operating procedures (SOP) and be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

A maintenance schedule (e.g. checking for damage, repairing, sharpening) must be established and enacted for all plant and equipment used in the workspace. Consult Equipment Maintenance Records (EMR) documents.

A retirement schedule must be developed to replace plant and equipment by manufacturers' nominated expiry date or when significant wear causes a hazard.

A process for checking for damage for all equipment used in the activity must be established and employed.

Common hazards and controls

Further to those listed, include any additional hazards and control measures considering the local context of the activity.

Environmental hazards	Control measures
Animal bites/diseases Stings, poisoning, infection	Allergen and disease risks associated with working with dust, dry matter and airborne organisms, for example, Q fever must be controlled. Adhere to established practices regarding the use of insect repellent, outlined in insect viruses and allergies. Ensure the location is clear of obstacles and wildlife (e.g. snakes) that may pose hazards
Environmental conditions Weather, surfaces, surrounds	Assess weather conditions prior to undertaking the activity, inspecting the intended location in order to identify variable risks, hazards and potential dangers. Follow the school's sun safety policy, including appropriate clothing, sun protection (e.g. sunscreen) and shade facilities when outside. Follow the managing excessive heat in schools guidelines when participating in very hot or extreme heat conditions. Manage allergen and disease risks associated with dust, compost and other soil enrichment products, dry matter and airborne organisms (e.g. Legionella), such as moistening the contents of potting mix bags to avoid creating dust. Prevent hazards by ensuring appropriate control measures are in place for unfavourable weather conditions (e.g. dampen dust during high wind, control slipping hazards after rain)
Facilities and equipment hazards	Control measures
Faulty or dangerous equipment	Check equipment for damage before and during the activity (e.g. checking tool heads for splits or cracks and security of handle, checking handles for splits, cracks and splinters). Equipment situated where it does not pose potential hazards
Heights/ falling objects Falling from height	Assess and manage risks associated with working at heights. Exclusion zones clearly marked to prevent falling objects striking participants when working at heights
Sharp implements or objects	Safety guidelines enforced when using sharp implements (e.g. keeping fingers out of the way, carrying sharp implements appropriately)
Student considerations	Control measures
Injury	Students aware of the location of emergency and first-aid equipment
Manual handling Lifting equipment	Use correct manual handling processes when lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling or carrying. Establish appropriate lifting equipment is used to lift heavy objects or materials
Physical exertion Exhaustion and fatigue	Continually monitor participants for signs of fatigue and exhaustion. Establish rest breaks, considering the age and fitness level of students
Student issues Student numbers, special needs, high risk behaviours, medical conditions, separation from the group	Remove accessories (e.g. jewellery, lanyards) before participating. Ensure fingernails and hair do not pose a hazard. Safety zone established and maintained around the area where potentially hazardous activities are conducted (e.g. use of mattock). Students supervised in a safe location when not actively receiving instruction. Drink breaks to occur regularly. Make water available for individual participants between drink breaks. Follow appropriate hand washing procedures after the activity. In addition to the above for high risk activities: establish, induct and implement procedures for clean-up and storage of blades/cutting tools
Visibility	Have students wear easily identifiable clothing. Ensure staff can easily recognise those students with health support needs and are familiar with their needs

Additional links

Queensland Poisons Information Centre

Disclaimer

This information is developed and distributed on this website by the State of Queensland for use by Queensland state schools only.

Use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information by persons or organisations other than the State of Queensland is at their sole risk. All users who use, adapt or rely on this information are responsible for ensuring by independent verification its accuracy, currency and appropriateness to their particular circumstances. The State of Queensland makes no representations, either express or implied, as to the suitability of this information to a user's particular circumstances.

To the full extent permitted by law, the State of Queensland disclaims all responsibility and liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs arising from the use or adaptation of, or reliance on, this information.

Links to external websites are for convenience only and the State of Queensland has not independently verified the information on the linked websites. It is the responsibility of users to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of the information at these external websites.

WebPartZone2_1

WebPartZone2_2

WebPartZone2_3

WebPartZone3_1

WebPartZone3_2

WebPartZone3_3

WebPartZone3_4

WebPartZone4_1

WebPartZone5_1

WebPartZone5_2

WebPartZone6_1

WebPartZone6_2

WebPartZone7_1

WebPartZone7_2

WebPartZone8_1

WebPartZone8_2