Tools, clothing and risks
Tools
Volunteer bush regenerators use simple hand tools - no power tools are used by volunteers.
Commonly used tools are
We also use herbicide, which is an essential tool for removing certain weeds. See below for more information on how and why we sometimes use herbicide. We never spray herbicide
Any volunteer who does not wish to use herbicide is not required to do so.
The other essential tool is knowledge; the knowledge of which plant is a weed, and the best technique for removing it.
Commonly used tools are
- Secateurs
- Trowel
- Knife or Gyprockers Saw
- Rake
- Spade or shovel
- Loppers
- Mattock
- Bush saw
We also use herbicide, which is an essential tool for removing certain weeds. See below for more information on how and why we sometimes use herbicide. We never spray herbicide
Any volunteer who does not wish to use herbicide is not required to do so.
The other essential tool is knowledge; the knowledge of which plant is a weed, and the best technique for removing it.
Clothing
Bush regenerators must wear appropriate clothing as protection. This is usually
Eye protection - glasses or goggles - are useful in some situations to avoid eye injuries and sunglasses are important on sunny days.
A water bottle is essential - it's thirsty work.
- Long sleeved shirt
- Long trousers
- Covered-in shoes or boots
- Wide brimmed hat
- Gloves
Eye protection - glasses or goggles - are useful in some situations to avoid eye injuries and sunglasses are important on sunny days.
A water bottle is essential - it's thirsty work.
Risks
Bush regeneration does have risks, and these can be mitigated by taking appropriate precautions. These include;
Volunteers who are registered with the Central Coast Council Environmental Volunteers program are covered by its insurance arrangements.
Volunteers should inform the site convener and colleagues about any medical condition that may need to managed on site.
We ask that volunteers inform us of any medial condition we should be aware of so we can manage associated risk. This would include allergies, heart conditions, asthma and the like, including the location of any medication that may be needed.
- We do not work on wet or hot days. or under trees on windy days.
- The risks of the site are discussed and assessed by volunteers and by Central Coast Council Bushcare Officers
- Herbicides are used only in accordance with the law and Council's approved policies and only by hand by approved users.
- Appropriate clothing must always be worn and insect repellent makes life more comfortable and safer
- Volunteers do not work alone and look out for their colleagues
- Volunteers tell their colleagues of the presence of risks, such as trip hazards, ants nests, snakes etc
- The right tools are used for the right jobs
- A first aid kit is kept on hand
Volunteers who are registered with the Central Coast Council Environmental Volunteers program are covered by its insurance arrangements.
Volunteers should inform the site convener and colleagues about any medical condition that may need to managed on site.
We ask that volunteers inform us of any medial condition we should be aware of so we can manage associated risk. This would include allergies, heart conditions, asthma and the like, including the location of any medication that may be needed.
Glyphosate - friend or foe?
The use of herbicides is a contentious issue and the Group respects the views of those who do not wish to use them.
However, herbicide is one tool among many that are used in bush regeneration.
There are some weeds, like Morning Glory vines, Ochna and camphor laurel that are extremely difficult to kill without using herbicide.
Only Council-supplied herbicide is used.
Generally, herbicides improve efficiency. We have limited time and resources and herbicides reduce labour and improve the mortality rate of targeted weeds. In certain circumstances, we can kill more weeds quickly and more effectively by using herbicide.
Herbicide use also saves bush regenerators from work strains. Small weed shrubs can be pulled out by hand, but this becomes more and more difficult the bigger the shrub. So weeds like lantana and bitou are much easier to kill if cut off at ground level by lopper or saw, and the stump poisoned.
Using herbicide to kill larger weeds also means less soil disturbance, hence less weed regrowth and reduced soil erosion
Approved Group members apply herbicide by a nozzle from a small bottle, direct to the plant. This makes killing the plant more likely and eliminates overspray or wind drift. Council runs a short induction course on herbicide use, and only those who complete that course are permitted to use herbicide. Council may approve qualified contractors to spray on our site.
Like all herbicides, if glyphosate is used incorrectly it can be detrimental to the environment. But it has a short life span in the soil, becoming ineffective in a matter of a few hours so has negligible long term residual effect and no translocation to non-target plants. Because it is applied directly to the target weed, the issue of herbicide resistance build-up does not occur.
It also has a very low level of toxicity. It is less toxic than salt and considerably less toxic than caffeine or tobacco smoke,
Below is a table provided by Chemcert, the herbicide accreditation trainers, showing the relative toxicity of a range of products from Strychnine to glyphosate.
Ticks - Important reading
Ticks are a hazard on our sites. Proper clothing, use of inset repellent and showering and shampooing after work sessions are important tools to mitigate the risks of them.
Below is the newsletter of the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators regarding ticks and tick-born deseases.
aabr_news_112_the_tick_edition.pdf | |
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