Safe handling of potting mix minimises Legionnaires risk

4 November 2005

Canterbury retailers are being asked to warn customers about the potential risk of Legionnaires disease associated with compost and potting mix.

The Department of Labour is planning an information drop to local retailers who sell bagged compost and potting mix, following the recent death of an elderly man from Legionnaires disease. It’s believed the man contracted the disease, which is caused by a bacterium that occurs naturally in soils, composts and potting mixes, from his gardening activities.

Workplace health and safety manager for Canterbury Margaret Radford said some people were more at risk of contracting Legionnaires disease than others. These included people susceptible to lung diseases or chest conditions, such as the middle-aged and the elderly, the infirm, and people who smoke.

To limit any future incidence of the disease, the Department is putting together advice on how to best handle compost and potting mix. Retailers will then be asked to pass on the information to customers buying the products.
As residents of the garden capital of New Zealand, many Christchurch people were likely to be handling potting mixes and compost, especially with the weather warming up, Ms Radford said.

“There are some very simple but effective precautions against this form of Legionnaires disease, and we’re asking the business community here to help protect their clients by distributing this advice,” she said.

Precautions include:

• Watering gardens and composts gently with a low-pressure hose
• Opening bags of composted potting mix slowly, directed away from the face
• When potting plants, wet the soil to reduce dust
• Avoid working in unventilated places such as enclosed greenhouses
• Washing hands carefully after handling soils

Ms Radford said employers should ensure that employees were aware of the risks associated with handling compost and potting mix, and that these precautions be taken. They should also have safety data sheets for their mixes, available for their workers and also customers.