Main hazards

• Punctures and cuts from the tines when driving in, carrying, or leaving the tool on the ground.
• Blows and injuries to feet and legs from slips or falls onto the garden fork.
• Overexertion and lower back pain from lifting heavy soil or adopting poor posture.
• Stones, roots or clods being thrown up when levering.
• Head detaching or handle breaking due to wear or loose fixings.
• Unintentional damage to irrigation pipes, garden wiring or buried roots.
• Skin irritation or wound infection from contact with damp soil, fertilisers or compost.

Safe use

• Inspect before use: handle free of cracks, head secure, tines straight and free of burrs.
• Wear work gloves and sturdy closed-toe footwear; consider eye protection if stones are present.
• Keep other people and pets clear of the working area.
• Work with firm footing and keep your feet clear of the path of the tines.
• Drive in and lever in a controlled manner; if it becomes stuck, do not force it: loosen the soil gradually.
• Avoid lifting excessive loads; distribute the effort and bend your knees rather than your back.
• Carry the garden fork with the tines pointing down and facing backwards; when setting it down, place it with the tines resting on the ground or hang it on a hook.
• Before driving into unfamiliar areas, check for possible irrigation lines or shallow-buried cabling.

Storage and maintenance

• Clean off soil and moisture after each use and dry thoroughly to prevent corrosion.
• Occasionally apply a thin coat of oil to the metal parts; protect wooden handles with suitable oil or wax.
• Store in a dry, ventilated place, out of reach of children; hang on a wall or use a tine guard.
• Periodically check screws, clamps and joints; tighten or replace loose parts.
• Replace the handle if it shows cracks, splinters or play; remove the tool from service if the head is deformed or cracked.
• Straighten or replace bent tines and remove sharp burrs with a file.
• Avoid storing with weight on top or propped in a way that it could fall.

Restrictions on use

• Not a toy: not suitable for children; for teenagers, only under direct supervision.
• Do not use under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when severely fatigued.
• Do not use on ladders, unstable surfaces or in poor visibility.
• Do not use it as a lever for large rocks, as a hammer, or to lift loads beyond your control.
• Do not modify the tool or attach it to machinery or improvised extensions.
• Do not work near walkways without marking the area, and place the tool out of the way when not in use.
• Do not use if it shows structural damage, excessive play or advanced corrosion.