Growing your own fruits and vegetables can be a very rewarding experience and having your own compost pile often goes along with this. However, if you are new to composting, you may not be aware of the potential health hazards of compost so, here are a few tips on staying safe while composting:
Much emphasis has been placed on the importance of regularly washing our hands lately. This is also a very important step to take after handling compost. Although it may seem obvious, it’s very easy to forget to wash your hands after handling it, especially if you carry on with another aspect of yard work immediately afterward.
If possible, have as little contact with compost as you can. This way you will lower the risk of being exposed to the dangerous pathogens that are found in compost. When you do have to handle it, wear protective clothing, proper footwear, and a decent pair of gloves and be sure to remove all these items before entering the house.
You will, no doubt, be aware that compost needs to be tilled in order to be broken down. When doing this, always wear a face mask designed to stop you from inhaling hazardous materials. The rotting matter which makes up compost produces unhealthy spores that are then thrown into the air during the tilling process. Be aware of this when tilling and avoid doing so altogether when it’s windy out.
Another danger you should be aware of with compost is that it can be combustible if stored incorrectly. Make sure that the container you store it in allows for good airflow.
Following these safety tips will help you to enjoy the advantages of composting while avoiding the dangers.
