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CLEANUP ON COMPLETION OF NURSERY WORK

4.1Store plants and materials according to company storage guidelines and OHS requirements
4.2. Clean, maintain and store tools and equipment according to manufacturers’ specifications
4.3 Report work outcome to the supervisor following established reporting formats

Lesson 1 - STORE AND STOCKPILE MATERIALS

BASIC STOCK CONTROL PROCEDURES

There are several materials needed in plant propagation activities. There are
bamboos, wood, poles, nets and others needed in the construction. Once the
nursery operation starts, materials such as potting medium, containers, plant
materials shall be included as its stocks.
The supply of these materials must be sufficient for the nursery to become
operational
A good nursery owner or manager should know the number of its supplies or
stocks.
Initially, it will take a considerable effort to compile a stock list, but this should
be done before investing an amount of money in either purchasing or acquiring
additional stocks
Some of these are the following:
a. Soil-This is a very common easily available and cheaper medium used in the
nursery. It contains both organic and inorganic matter. The organic part is
the residues of living and dead parts of plants, animals and microbes. The
liquid part of the soil is the solution containing water, dissolved minerals as
well as oxygen.
b. Sand- It is the result of weathering effect on parent rocks. The usual size of
sand is from 0.05 to 2.0 mm. Sand is generally used in plant propagation
media. The sand used in plastering is very much suitable for rooting of
cuttings.
c. Peat- This consists of the residues from a marsh swamp. Vegetative peat
moss is available but should be broken into fine parts before use in mixtures or
as media. It contains some organic nitrogen and is favorable for
newly rooted cuttings.
d. Sphagnum Moss- It is the dehydrated remains of acid hog plants and
has three genera, growing naturally in damp humid forest lands. It is
relatively sterile, light in weight and has a very high water holding capacity.
Normally, it absorbs and holds water 20 times to its weight.
e. Vermiculite- This is the micaceous or crumb mineral which expands
significantly when heated. Chemically it is hydrated magnesium, aluminum,
iron, silicate. When expanded it is very light in weight. It is neutral in
reaction and has good buffering properties. It is insoluble in water.
Vermiculite is available in 4 Grades, one of which is the Horticultural Grade No.
2 which should be used for rooting and No. 4 for seed germination.
f. Perlite-This is gray white material having volcanic origin. It is neutral. It has
no buffering reaction and it contains no mineral nutrients.
g. Leaf Mold- It is prepared by using fallen leaves of various tree species
available locally, eg Ficus, Ipil-ipil, Madre de cacao etc. it is prepared by
stacking a few layers of leaves then covering them with a thin layer of
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soil and cow or chicken dung. Some live culture of decomposing organisms
such as bokashi is added to hasten the process of decomposition. The
medium is ready or use after about 12 to 18 months of decomposition.
h.Saw Dust- It is a by product or waste material from saw mills. The quantity
and quality depend on the parent wood material. Why this so? Because
some wood shavings contain raisin that is not good use as rooting media.
i. Grain Husk-Several type of husks are available, paddy husk is one of the
important wastage from rice mills. It is light in weight and cheaply available.
It is suitable for mixing with other types of media.
j. Coco Peat: Coco peat, cow dung are also used as media. A mixture of
few media is always preferred and used in commercial nurseries. Many times
soil is one of the main parts for mixtures. Media must be selected on the
basis of the availability, cost, ease in handling The media should be
procured and stored.
There are other materials such as earthen pots, black polyethylene bags, plastic
pots, trays (undivided or with built in cells). These containers come in different
sizes used in the different stages of plant age. As plant grows it needs repotting.
This is done in order to maintain its good appearance.
Fertilizers such as inorganic or organic are part of the stocks needed in the nursery. There are
also chemicals such as fungicides and others used to control pests and diseases.

Preparing stock control procedure:

When preparing record for stock materials you can list down what are available
and those that need to be replenished.
Example:
Date No. of Stocks used Remaining Needed
Purchase: Stocks
_____________
_______
Materials
1. Earthen 1,000 pcs 500 pcs 500 pcs. ______
pots (size 10)
2. Trays 150 pcs 75 pcs 75 pcs ______
(undivided)
3. 10 sacks 8 sacks 2 sacks 5 sacks
Sphagnum (30k/s)
moss
Others
By identifying what stocks are available in the nursery, the owner knows what
to order with its supplier. In this manner wastage of money and resources are
avoided. Remember that many of the nursery materials are organic and may
become waste once they are not properly managed by workers.

Remember, there might be some wastes that are harmful in the nursery.
Some of these are:
a. materials that could pollute the nursery soil or the water supply ;
b. broken glass, thorns or spines, which can cause cuts and infections if they
get into the potting mix or the nursery topsoil;
c. weeds that have ripening fruits or persistent underground organs;
d. plants and soil that are contaminated with spores carrying diseases, or with
the eggs or resting stages of insect pests; or
e. water that contains a lot of nutrients and is full of bacteria or algae.
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There are solutions to these things.

1. Some sharp items can be sieved out from components such as ‗black soil‘,
and disposed of carefully;
2. Soil and plant material contaminated with pollutants, weeds, pests or
diseases could be sterilized, burnt or taken far away from the nursery; and
3. Water can be cleaned by running it through gravel or sand.

Maintain stockpiled material

Stockpiles of potting mix and other materials are a potential source of sediment
and litter.
To minimize sediment and litter generated from stockpiled material consider the
following:
• locate stockpiles away from drainage
• minimize the number and size of
stockpiles
• build the stockpile with no slope
greater than 2:1 (horizontal to
vertical)
• provide suitably enclosed storage
areas for stockpiled material such as
potting mix or enclose the potting mix
stockpile with silt fences or a
drainage system that will collect
contaminated runoff, or do both
• avoid locating stockpiles close to waterways.

RECYCLING/COMPOSTING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES

Don‘t you know that there are materials in the farm thatcan be produced as
plant supplement? Yes, it is through composting. The soil or substrate that you
are using, can be reconditioned through the process of composting.
Compost is organic matter that has been decomposed and recycled as fertilizer and used as soil
amendment. Compost is a key ingredient in organic farming as well as plant crop production.
There are plant leftovers and other biodegradable materials such as dried leaves, saw dust,
kitchen waste, weeds. manure, grasses, leaves, vines and others that could be used for making
compost.
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The following are the steps in preparing compost.

1. Choose a site near your supply of waste materials. It should also be near
your house and at a level that will not be flooded easily.

2. Construct a shelter to protect the pile from hard rain, measuring at least two meters by three
or four meters. If this cannot be done, provide covering of the pile with polyethylene materials.
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3. Spread a five to six –inch layer of soil under the shelter.

4. Gather and dust weeds, leaves, animal manure, wood ashes, garbage, garden
waste, kitchen leftovers, and other biodegradable materials on top of the soil
layer. Continue adding weeds, grasses, garden cuttings until the pile is about
shoulder high. Keep the sides of pile vertical with lightly dished top to hold

water.
5. Water the pile evenly everyday or every two days to keep it moist. The moisture will help in
rotting the file faster.
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6. Provide aerators like bamboo poles in the middle of the pile to allow air to
pass down the pile thereby helping decomposers in its process.
Modern method of composting nowadays is a multi-step, closely monitored
process aided by shredding the plant matter, adding water and ensuring proper
aeration by regularly turning the mixture. Worms, fungi and organisms further
break up the material. Aerobic bacteria manage the chemical process by
converting the inputs into heat, carbon dioxide and ammonium. The
ammonium is further converted by bacteria into plant nourishing nitrites and
nitrates through the process of nitrification.
Compost is generally recommended as an additive to soil, or other matrices
such as coir and peat, as a tilth improver, supplying humus and nutrients. It
provides a rich growing medium, or a porous, absorbent material that holds
moisture and soluble minerals. It provide support and nutrients in which
plants can flourish. Compost is primarily mixed with soil, sand, grit, bark
chips, vermiculite, perlite, or clay granules to produce loam. Compost can be
tilled directly into the soil or growing medium to boost the level of organic
matter and the overall fertility of the soil. Compost that is ready to be used as
an additive is dark brown or even black with an earthy smell.

Other Composting approaches

In addition to the traditional
compost pile, there are various
approaches that have been
developed to handle different
processes, ingredients,
locations, and applications for
the compost product.
A. Bokashi- is a method that uses a
mix of microorganisms to cover food
waste to decrease smell. It was
derived from the practice of
Japanese farmers centuries ago of
covering food waste with rich, local
soil that contained the
microorganisms that would ferment the waste. After a few weeks, they would
bury the waste that weeks later, would become soil.
Most practitioners obtain the microorganisms from the product Effective
Microorganisms (EM1), first sold in the 1980s. EM1 is mixed with a carbon base
(e.g. sawdust or bran) that it sticks to and sugar for food (e.g. molasses). The
mixture is layered with waste in a sealed container and after a few weeks,
removed and buried. EM is primarily composed of lactic acid bacteria, yeast
and phototrophic (PNSB) bacteria.
Newspaper fermented in a lactobacillus culture can be substituted for bokashi
bran for a successful bokashi bucket.
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2. Compost tea-is a liquid extract of compost that

contains plant growth compounds and beneficial
organisms. Liquid extracts have been used for
hundred of years in agriculture to promote plant and
soil health.
3. Humanure" is a human excrement (feces and
urine) that is recycled via composting for agricultural
or other purposes. The term was first used in a 1994
book by Joseph Jenkins, that advocates the use of
this organic soil amendment.
Humanure is not sewage that has been processed by waste-treatment facilities,
which may include waste from industrial and other sources; rather, it is the
combination of feces and urine with paper and additional carbon material (such
as sawdust). A humanure system, such as a compost toilet, does not require
water or electricity, and when properly managed does not smell. A compost
toilet collects human excrement which is then added to a hot compost heap
together with sawdust and straw or other carbon rich materials, where
pathogens are destroyed.

4. Vermicomposting is the product of composting utilizing various species of

worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and earthworms to create a
heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste (excluding meat,
dairy, fats, or oils), bedding materials, and vermicast.

Vermicast, also known as worm castings, worm humus or worm manure, is the
end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by species of earthworm.
Vermicomposting has gained popularity in both industrial and domestic
settings because, as compared to conventional composting, it provides a way to
compost organic materials more quickly (as defined by a higher rate of carbon-
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to-nitrogen ratio increase) and to attain products that have lower salinity levels
that are therefore more beneficial to plant mediums. Available worm species in
the country today is the African nightcrawlers.
There are other species that can be used such as the red wigglers (Eisenia fetida or Eisenia
andrei), though European nightcrawlers (Eisenia hortensis or Dendrobaena veneta) could also be
used. Red wigglers are recommended by most vermiculture experts, as they have some of the
best appetites and breed very quickly. Users refer to European nightcrawlers by a variety of
other names, including dendrobaenas, dendras, Dutch Nightcrawlers, and Belgian nightcrawlers.

PROPER STOCKPILING OF NURSERY MATERIALS

Good nursery hygiene is extra essential. Disease-free seedlings are those that are greatly needed
by plant growers because they do not have to spend money to maintain newly transplanted
plants in the field. In order to maintain nursery hygiene and to ensure a high standard of plant
health surplus materials must be properly managed.
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This can be done by:

1. Potting materials such as earthen pots, polyethylene bags, recycled cups

should be properly arranged and placed together in one area.

2. Media, mixing area including a section for sterilization of media and trays; sterile material
must be protected.
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3. Seed store, seed treatment section, seeding and germination room are neatly
found.
4. A pricking out room must be placed as an extension of the germination area.
5. Plants that aged already should be in the growing-on area.
6. A holding area for reject, surplus material, or returned trays for recycling and
composting, until sterilized recycled material need to be kept separate and
isolated from the nursery

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING SEED MATERIALS

Storage may be defined as the preservation of viable seeds from the time of
collection until they are required for sowing (Holmes and Buszewicz 1958).
When seeds are for afforestation, it can be sown immediately after collection, no
storage is needed. The best sowing date for a given species being raised in a
nursery depends on:
(a) The anticipated date of planting which by itself is dependent on seasonal
climate
(b) The time needed in the nursery for planting stock of that species to reach
the right size for out-planting. Only rarely does best sowing date coincide with
the best date for seed collection. More often it is necessary to store the seed for
varying periods which may be:
1. Up to one year when both seed production and afforestation are regular
annual events, but it is necessary to await the best season for sowing.
2. 1 – 5 years or more when a species bears an abundant seed crop at intervals
of several years and enough seed must be collected in a
good year to cover annual afforestation needs in intermediate years of poor seed
production.
3. Long-term storage for purposes of conserving genetic resources. The period of
storage will vary according to the seed longevity of the species and the storage
conditions, but will be measured in decades in species which are easy to store.
The storage facilities to be provided must be related to the amount of seeds and
the period over which they are to be stored. It is a waste of money to create
expensive facilities capable of maintaining viability for 10 years if the seeds will
never stay longer than nine months between collections and sowing. It is
equally wasteful to spend money on seed collection, extraction and cleaning if
storage conditions are so inadequate that the seeds are 90 % dead before they
reach the nursery.
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WASTE MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

Every business especially agricultural practice produces waste. Waste

represents a loss of resources and money for your project. By thinking
creatively, you can reduce the waste you create and make better use of the
waste that can‘t be avoided.
Here are the following strategies that can be done to manage waste properly:
a. Install recycling bins in and around your premises. There are materials that can be used as
media or containers in the nursery. Place them in a bin immediately then sort them into
recyclables. You can reduce the volume of waste going to landfill and you may be able to ‗on-
sell‘ your waste.
b. Use recyclable and reusable plant trays. Reusable and returnable plant
boxes, pots and trays can reduce the waste generated significantly.
c. Reuse and recycle other nursery products. For example, reuse potting mix
in top soil production, use pruning material for compost and mulch.
d. Install water efficient monitoring and management systems. Read how
to save water in the reducing water use section.
e. Order in bulk where possible. Purchasing in bulk minimizes packaging. If
necessary, consider installing larger storage facilities so that you can order raw
materials in bulk and store them for later use. Bulk purchasing is usually
cheaper and you will also be reducing the environmental impacts of frequent
deliveries to your premises.
f. Minimize production waste. Look at your production processes and see
what can be altered to minimize waste. If you have a café, consider the size of
the meals and if food is leftover consider downsizing the portion a little.
g. Think about waste produced by your customers. With takeaway coffee,
consider refillable mugs, which costumers can come back and get refilled at a
discount, rather than throwaway cups. If the throwaway cups are used choose
cups made from recycled materials and/or are certified as sustainable.
h. Establish a composting system. If you are preparing food at your nursery,
you might like to consider a simple composting system. Even a city business
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can compost nowadays, using a counter-top composter like a ‗bokashi bucket‘.

If you have outdoor space, you could establish a worm farm or compost heap.
Paper can be composted, along with fruit and vegetable scraps.
i. Introduce a no or low plastics policy. Ask members to bring their own
water bottles of clean cups or use recycled alternatives.
j. Use recycled materials for fixtures where possible. Recycled building
materials can also reduce the construction costs.
k. Act as a recycling centre for other recyclables. Work with council to be a
recycling centre and promote this service to customers.
l. Implement inventory control procedures to avoid over-ordering. Custom made computer
programs can be set up specifically to track your business needs, if necessary.
m. Eliminate materials that cannot be recycled from the production process or the services
you provide. Convert to recyclable materials to reduce your waste volume and seek out
businesses that will take your waste for recycling.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF WORKPLACE

It is important that plant nursery should be managed properly. If not, effort and
money will turn into nothing but a wastage of investment. A properly and
organized plant nursery can become a source of income. Customers, clients
who need planting materials, ornamental plants, seeds are looking for reliable
source. How can you become a known supplier if plant nursery is in disarray
and not properly maintained.
The following are preventive maintenance techniques SPR uses to ensure the
quality of its nursery grown plants.
• Plants will be pruned as needed to ensure good health and structure.
• Routinely groom crops. Remove debris from ground cloth to reduce the slips
and falls.
• All plants shall be spaced to allow for optimal growth and good air circulation
to prevent diseases.
• Containerized plants will be re-potted as needed to prevent encircling roots
and to allow them to grow into their desired natural form without girdling.
• All plants will be watered as needed. The primary method of irrigation is the
existing overhead system. This system works well for field growing areas but is
modified as needed for watering containerized plants.
• Fertilize plants as needed with a fertilizer appropriate to the crop. Use a slow
release product whenever possible.
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• Plants requiring shade conditions will be held in the shade houses or

provided a shade cover.
• City water used for plant irrigation purposes will be used efficiently.
146
▪ Plants should be grouped by size and water needs.
▪ Watering will be done on an as-needed basis.
The most efficient system for watering individual planted areas will
be used. Where plants are dissimilar in size or species differ, hand
watering will be required.
Avoid watering nursery areas that aren‘t currently holding plants.
• The nursery will support recycling operations.
Compost will be used whenever possible.
Growing containers will be reused (following cleaning).
Plant debris will be sent to ―clean-green‖.
• Plant holding areas will be used for plants that are in transition. While in
holding, plants shall be mulched, staked as needed, watered, and provided
with shade protection if required.
• Protection shall be provided for plants as needed especially during rainy days
and when the environment is too hot. Smaller and more tender plants will
have priority during these period.
• Routinely evaluate all gravel surfaces where crops are staged for the presence
of potholes and standing water.
Site Maintenance
• All potting soil, compost, and bark mulch will be covered with a tarp to
prevent weed seed germination. Alternatively, routinely turn all piles.
• Noxious weeds will be controlled or removed from the site during
preparation
• Roads and pathways will be maintained on an annual basis to ensure
accessibility.
• While the nursery supports various community programs the general public shall not be
allowed to get in and out of the vicinity.
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How to make compost:

1. Select a site near your supply of materials. It should at least be 150 feet
away from the house. A well-drained area with adequate water is ideal.

2. Gather and prepare compost materials. Farm wastes in the form of animal manure, grass
trimmings, crop residue, rice straw, kitchen refuse, and decayed leaves can also be used as
compost materials.
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3. Pile up the materials. a.) Pile up layers of chopped grasses, straw and kitchen leftovers about
12-15 inches on thick covering of the compost bin. b.) Pile the second layer of animal manure
about 5-8 cm. thick over the first layer. c.) Spread a layer of loam soil mixed with lime or wood
ash at least 4-5 cm. thick over the manure layer. d.) repeat steps a-c or until the pile has reached
the height of 1 ½ meters. Sprinkle the compost pile with water to make it moist.

4. Provide breathers. This is to hasten decomposition. Place two or more perforated bamboo
poles on the side and in the middle of the compost pile.

5. Provide moisture. Add water evenly to the top of the pile for a day or two to keep it moist.
This will make the materials rot fast, but too much water also is unadvisable.
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6. Cover the compost pile. Cover the top of the pile with either plastic material or galvanized
iron. This is to protect the pile from wash out in case of heavy rain.
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7. Take care of the compost pile. After a month of preparation, the compost pile can be turned
over to hasten decomposition. This compost could be used as fertilizer three months after
preparation. It can be mixed with soil in every hill during planting.

Rubric for compost making (Group Work)

Score Evaluation The project can be applied to real life sustainable
education.
The work of the team is presented in a way that catches the attention of
the teacher (resourceful and creative)
The presentation and the content of the work is appropriate
The team demonstrates a clear knowledge of their subject/theme.
The team demonstrates confidence in their work.
TOTAL (of 25 points)

Scoring 5 Excellent
4 Very
good
3 Good
2 Average
1 Needs
improve
ment

Glossary of Terms
Aerobic- Living or occurring only in the presence of oxygen
Afforestation- It is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees in an area
where there was no forest.
Effective Microorganisms (EM)-It is a system of odorless composting, where
carefully selected, "effective" microbes or "EM" are used to decompose organic
kitchen waste.
Molasses- A thick, brown, sweet liquid that is made from raw sugar.
Phototropic- An organism obtaining energy from sunlight to synthesize organic compounds for
nutrition.
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LESSON 2 - CLEAN-UP ON COMPLETION OF

NURSERY WORK
EXPECTED OUTCOME
After completing this Module, should be able to:
1. Store plants and materials according to company storage guidelines and OHS
requirements.
2. Clean, maintain and store tools and equipment according to manufacturer‘s
specifications
3. Report the work outcomes to the supervisor following established reporting
formats

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM (OHS) REQUIREMENTS

Contrary to the popular image of fresh air and peaceful surroundings, a

nursery is not a hazard-free work setting. The use of chemicals such as
fertilizers and fungicides produced methane gas in the decomposition of organic
substance used as media. Responsible health practices and good safety
practices could reduce fatal injuries and illnesses caused by irresponsible
nursery management. There are also associated costs that result to unhealthy
practice, workers‘ compensation insurance premiums, lost production, and
medical expenses. A safer and more healthful workplace improves morale and
productivity.
Labor law states that workers need to be provided with instructions to protect
their safety and health and ensure that what they do does not harm others.
Everyone needs to be aware of his/her responsibilities regarding safety and
health.
Nursery operation is not excluded in this aspect. Different activities done in
raising plants needs Operational Health System (OHS) concern. Health and
safety are a legal requirement for all. All small businesses, including plant
nurseries, must have an occupational health and safety program to prevent
workplace injury and disease. Health and safety programs for plant nursery are
necessary especially upon the completion of day‘s job. It is necessary that they
shall meet certain standards. All people concerned must exercise due diligence
in taking steps to meet these standards.

A health and safety program consists of eight basic components that will help
prevent accidents and injuries from happening, as well as help deal effectively
with any incidents that do occur.
The eight components are:
1. Hazard identification and risk control — Determine which hazards are
present in the workplace and take steps to eliminate or minimize them. For
example, chemicals, such as pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers must be identified
and placed in an area where they will be safe if not used.
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Some of the most common hazards faced by workers in nurseries include:

o Operating heavy equipment such as forklifts
o Operating power tools such as pruners and clippers
o Pushing and lifting heavy equipment such as loaded wheelbarrows or large
containers
o Using sharp tools such as pruning shears and picking knives
o Working with pesticides

You can prevent most workplace injuries and illnesses if you identify workplace
hazards and take steps to control them. Risk control involves eliminating the
hazard entirely or, if that is not possible, minimizing the risks as much as
possible. Ways to minimize the risks include the following:
o Select appropriate safety features when purchasing or replacing equipment.
o Modify work processes or equipment.
o Develop and implement safe work procedures for hazardous tasks.
o Ensure that workers use appropriate personal protective equipment.

2. Safe work procedures — Describe in writing how to carry out specific

tasks safely. How these materials will be kept safe and can be used in the
future before they expire.
There are chemicals like pesticides, herbicides, fungicides that are used in the
nursery. See to it that containers of these items are properly sealed before
leaving them in the storage cabinet. Chemical spills of pesticides may cause
severe problems once they are spilled out and can contaminate with other
materials used in the nursery.

If possible post procedures on proper use, safekeeping and disposal of empty

containers prominently so that workers could easily see the reminders.
Verbal instructions are not prohibited but aside from them posting is
necessary. There are times workers do not take instructions seriously.
Supervisors find it helpful to post written reminders to avoid accidents to
happen.
For tools and equipment, see to it that they are placed in the toolbox or room
for safety keeping.
For tools with sharp edges, apply oil on them to avoid rusting. For pruning
shears, clean the blade and apply oil on them and put them in a holster to be
safe. Again never leave other tools like pick mattock, axe, budding knife in an
area where they can cause accident. Make it a habit to place them in a tool box
or cabinet every after use.
Among others:
o Store respirators and other protective clothing and equipment, safely away
from chemicals.
o Keep pesticide storage area locked and use for no other purpose
o Ensure absorbent materials are located close by to clean up any spills. These
may include kitty litter, absorbent pillows, lime and/or sand.
o Never store chemicals in food or drink containers.
o Locate storage area as far away as possible from humans and livestock to
prevent accidental poisoning.

Disposal of Pesticide Containers

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Triple or jet rinse empty containers to remove all traces of the chemical. If
possible, return containers to the manufacturer or supplier, or call a
representative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) or Department of Agriculture (DA) for information on approved disposal
methods. Material Safety Data Sheets may provide disposal information.
3. Orientation, education, training, and supervision — Prepare workers for
the job and make sure they continue to work safely. This is particularly
important for new and young workers.
Occupational health and safety program should describe the type of education
and training that will be provided, especially if observed there is really a need to
provide it. most especially, if there are new workers in the area. For example,
paste on the wall the safe work procedures to follow when performing
hazardous tasks. Workers should also be trained in the use of emergency
equipment and procedures.
If new in the service, this is the orientation that you need:
o Rights and responsibilities
o Workplace hazards
o Safe work procedures

Other typical topics include:

• Falls from elevation (including ladder safety)
• Lockout (for machinery and power tools)
• Lifting and moving objects or people (strains and sprains)
• Guarding (for machinery and power tools)
• Forklifts and other mobile equipment
• Confined spaces
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
• First aid and emergency procedures
4. Safety inspections — Identify workplace hazards so that they can be
eliminated or controlled.
Besides correcting any hazards that you observe from day to day, set aside time
for regular workplace inspections, and control any hazardsyou find during your
inspection. Because safety inspections are preventive in nature, they are an
important part of your overall health and safety program.
Expect that you will be inspected by your immediate supervisor. Very common
in big nurseries a once or twice a month supervise visit. In small nurseries,
owners usually visit the area daily or every other day. The purpose of the visit is
to conduct an ocular inspection if health and safety system in the area is
properly attended to.
What is being inspected
During an inspection, it is expected that the owner identifies unsafe conditions
and acts that may cause injury and apply corrective measures right away.

A checklist is used to ensure that the inspection is thorough and consistent

with previous inspections. Expect to do the following:
• Ask everyone what hazards are associated with the job that workers observe
or that would be performed in that work area.
• Observe how workers perform tasks. Are they following safe work procedures
and using PPE?
• Talke to workers about what they‘re doing. Ask about safety concerns.
• Ask workers how they perform their tasks.
 P a g e | 21

• Record any unsafe actions or conditions that they observe.

While the first inspections may seem slow and difficult, over time they will
become much easier and ultimately will help make the health and safety
program more effective.
If there are problems observed, it is possible that they may ask the following:
Getting the root of the problem. For example, if they see a wet floor, they may
ask:
Why is the floor wet?
Where is the water coming from?
How long has it been like that?
Possible explanations include:
• A water leak
A job process that creates workers who need training and education on how
to clean up the hazard
Fix it right the first time and the problem shouldn‘t recur.

What to do:
Check whether safe work procedures are being followed. For example, consider
the following questions:
▪ Are workers turning off power tools before walking with them to another
location?
• Are gloves being used for handling garbage and debris?
• Are safe lifting techniques being followed?
• Do workers know the procedures for working alone and handling the
problem?

5. Incident investigation — Find out why an accident or injury occurred so

the causes can be corrected.
Everyone in a greenhouse or nursery has a role to play in an incident
investigation. Workers must report incidents to their supervisors. Owners,
employers, or supervisors must initiate incident investigations promptly. If
possible, investigations should include at least one employer representative and
one worker representative.
6. Health and safety meetings — Provide an opportunity for workers and
supervisors to communicate any concerns about health and safety.
Good communication among employers, supervisors, and workers on health
and safety issues is vital for the success of a workplace health and safety
program. The following are some guidelines for successful health and safety
meetings: Expect that workers will be required to attend the following:
• Hold regular monthly meetings with workers to discuss health and safety
matters.
• Focus your meetings on identifying and correcting hazardous conditions or
tasks and making health and safety a priority in your workplace.
• Post an agenda to get workers thinking about the topics to be
discussed.
• Keep a record of each meeting, including what was discussed and who
attended.
• Post meeting minutes for everyone to read.
Bring the following to each meeting:
• Your latest inspection report
• Any incident reports completed during the last month
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• First aid and incident investigation reports

• Any new safe work procedures
• The minutes for last month‘s meeting
This is important in order to allow workers to know that nursery work is
comparable to other job that requires professional dealings from owners. This
dignifies workers as they are treated with utmost concern by concerned
agencies.

7. First aid — Determine what level of first aid is required for your workplace,
and make sure everyone knows what to do if someone is injured on the job.
All workplaces must meet the first aid requirements. Effective first aid
treatment can reduce the severity of work-related injuries, which helps
minimize the financial costs associated with extensive medical treatment or the
need to replace employees who are unable to work.
All businesses must keep a first aid kit onsite. Many will also need a first aid
attendant. The type of kit and the need for a first aid attendant will depend on
three factors:
• the hazard rating for your business
• number of workers
• travel time to the nearest hospital
Most nurseries and greenhouse operations are considered moderate-risk
workplaces.
Nurseries should be prepared to respond to emergencies such as fires, chemical
spills, or natural disasters. If an emergency occurs, there will be a need to make
quick decisions that will minimize injuries and damage. Such decisions are
easier if you have already developed an emergency plan.
Follow these guidelines to develop and implement an emergency plan:
• List all possible events (for example, serious injuries, fires, explosions, or
natural disasters).

• Identify the major consequences associated with each event (for example,
casualties, equipment damage, or facility damage).
Determine the necessary measures to deal with those consequences (for
example, first aid, notification of medical authorities, rescue, firefighting, or
equipment evacuation).
Determine what resources will be required (for example, medical supplies or
rescue equipment).
Store emergency equipment where it will be accessible in case of emergency.
Ensure that workers are trained in emergency procedures and shown where
equipment is stored.
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Hold periodic drills at least annually to ensure that employees will be ready to
act if an emergency occurs.
Communicate the plan to everyone involved.
8. Records and statistics — Maintain documentation to help identify
recurring problem, and ensure that hazardous conditions are corrected.
Employers are required to keep health and safety records and statistics on file.
Examples of documentation include training activities, first aid treatments, and
incident investigations. Written records and statistics can help:
• Identify trends for unsafe conditions or work practices so you can take steps
to correct these hazards.
• Provide material for education and training.
• Provide documentation in case a DOLE representative requests it, or if an
incident occurs and you need to prove that you did all you could reasonably do
to prevent it.
STORING PLANTS AND MATERIALS
Propagation nurseries must have a reliable supply of good-quality
plant material. This might be seed from reliable seed suppliers or
from plants which can be readily used as a source seed collection.
It might also be cutting or grafting material from healthy, correctly
identified plants (―known varieties‖).

Seeds are alive and like any living thing they can be harmed by adverse
conditions. While some seeds may survive for thousands of years under the
proper conditions, others will lose viability quickly, even when properly stored.
To maintain dormancy the following must be done.
1. Keep seeds in a cool, dark location with low humidity, like a refrigerator.
2. Label (seed name, source, year) and store them in a small resalable bag or
empty film canister that is, in turn, kept in a larger plastic container.
Once you are ready to sow, you can test the viability of many, but not all, seeds
by soaking them in water for a few hours. The seeds that are still living will sink
to the bottom, while the dead ones will float on the surface. This test generally
works better for larger seeds, but there are no absolutes.
Stored seed can be affected by:
o Moisture content. Many short-lived seeds lose viability if they become dry-
citrus seed, for example, can withstand only slight drying. Medium-to long-lived
seeds need to be dry to survive long periods of storage (4-6% moisture level is
ideal-higher or lower can be detrimental to viability). For seeds not adversely
affected by low moisture, each 1 % decrease in seed moisture, between 5% and
14%, doubles the life of the seed. Fluctuations in moisture levels during storage
will reduce longevity. For this reason, seeds keep better in dry climates than in
areas of high humidity.
o Temperature. Most seeds will store for longer periods t lower temperatures.
Each decrease of 4.6ºC (9ºF) between 0º and 44ºC (32º
and 112ºF) will double the seed storage life.
o Storage atmosphere. Some techniques of modifying gas levels (increasing
carbon dioxide) can be of value.

Types of seed storage

1. Open storage with no control. Storage in bins, sacks or paper bags.
Fumigation or insecticide/fungicide applications are sometimes necessary.
Seeds of many annuals, perennials, vegetables and cereals can be successfully
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kept this way. Apart from a few exceptions (corn, onion, parsley ), seeds from
these groups will normally retain viability for at least a few years.
2. Cold storage with or without humidity control. Temperatures below 10ºC
(50ºF) will improve the longevity of virtually any type of seed. Cold storage of
tree and shrub seed is recommended if the seed is to be held for more than one
year.
3. Cold moist storage. Seed should be stored between 2º and 10ºC (35-50ºF)
in a container which holds some moisture – retaining material such as peat or
sphagnum moss. Relative humidity should be 80-90% . It should be placed in
an area of the nursery that is cool. The roots must be moist and are protected
from direct sunlight, wind or extreme temperature inside the nursery area.
Materials Storage
Proper storage of materials can range from sealing chemicals in a well-labeled
container indoors to covering piles of materials outdoors. Hazardous materials
require special attention, but non-hazardous materials also need to be stored so
that they do not contribute to dirt, trash, and debris in storm water. Designate
a storage area where runoff will not lead to the street or storm drains. Minimize
mishandling by training staff and posting applicable pollution prevention
information in storage areas.
The purpose of this best management practice is to minimize leaks, spills, and
runoff that may might pollute storm water.
Implementation
DO:
The first step in properly storing materials is to compile a materials inventory
by reviewing purchase orders and touring the physical plant or work area of
your business.

• Identify chemicals that are hazardous or toxic. Maintain Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) and other safety material for stored inventory in an area
accessible to employees. Include information on safety equipment and
appropriate materials and procedures to clean spills. In some cases, posters in
storage areas may be the best way to remind employees of this information
when it is needed. Provide all materials in the first language of employees.
Keep applicable clean up kits where materials are stored.
Label stored materials for contents, unit number, expiration date, handling
instructions, and health or environmental hazards.
Store materials where runoff will not lead to the street, gutter, or storm drain.
Storage areas should be graded so that runoff will not lead to storm drains or
stored materials can be lifted away from the runoff, for example, by storing on
pallets and then covering with a tarp.
Close off drains in storage areas.
Provide Secondary Containment. This provides a backup in case of leaks or
spills.
If possible, store materials indoors. This prevents wind and rain from carrying
them away.
Outdoors, cover any materials that are toxic or could contribute to trash,
debris, and sediment in storm water. For example, use leak proof lids on
containers or plastic tarps over dirt piles. If they are exposed to runoff, they
should also be isolated by either using beams, or elevated, for example, by
using pallets.
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Keep in mind the lifespan of the cover used. Tarps and plastic sheets, for
example, may not hold up well in certain climates.
For dirt piles, block rainwater runoff with a berm.
In storage areas, clean up regularly with dry methods.
Keep dumpster lids closed and consider constructing a roof or overhang to
shelter the dumpster. Replace leaking dumpsters.
Take care when loading and unloading materials to minimize losses or fugitive
emission losses such as dust or mist.

DON’T:
Do not dispose of unwanted materials in the street or storm drain.
Do not assume that a material is safe for storm water because it says it is
non-toxic or biodegradable. Non-toxic means the product is not toxic to the
user. Biodegradable means the product will eventually break down, but it may
harm the environment in the meantime.
CLEANING, MAINTAINING AND STORING TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
It is important that nursery tools and equipment must be properly managed.
This is in order to avoid additional cost on the part of the nursery owner.
Purchasing new tools and equipment makes nursery operation very costly when
available implements are still serviceable. The only thing to do is to properly
clean and do all maintenance procedures of said implements after their use.
The first step in tool and equipment maintenance is to read any instruction or
manual supplied with said farm implements. Regular servicing or maintenance
procedure may be required. If there are no specific instructions, a number of
simple maintenance tasks generally help prolong the life of many tools.
Looking after tools is very important. If you look after them they don‘t have to
be replaced as frequently. Tools and equipment in good condition are easier and
safer to use. Some simple general reminders are listed below.
Metal – To prevent rust or corrosion, metal needs either painting with a good
metal primer or regular coating with oil. It may be good if after use the metal
parts are cleaned and wiped with an oil rag.

Sharpening – Keeping tools sharp usually means less effort is required to use
them, so less strain is applied.

Washing – If tools are kept clean they are less likely to corrode or have
moving parts size. This also reduces the likelihood of pests and diseases being
spread from infected areas to uninfected areas.

Storing – Keeping tools stored properly means they are less likely to be
damaged, lost or stolen. Tools left lying around can also be dangerous,
particularly if the business is likely to have young children visiting (a retail
nursery) or if they can be used by burglars to break the office, work buildings or
storage sheds.

Other reminders are the following:

a. Make sure the tools are free of foreign matter or obstruction that may impede
the efficient and safe use of said nursery implements.
b. Make sure that worn or damaged parts are replaced promptly. This includes
pull-start cords that might be frayed.
c. Make sure that all moving parts are well-lubricated.
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d. Protect any parts that are likely to rust or become corroded with paint or
wipe with an oil rag.
e. Keep battery terminals free of corrosion. Cover terminals with a smear of
petroleum jelly. Battery level should be topped up. All connections should be
kept tight.
f. Make sure any oil are kept topped up, drained and replaced at regular
intervals. Follow manufacturer‘s recommendations.
g. Keep air cleaners clean and unblocked.
h. Keep any cutting edges properly sharpened.
i. Periodically check up and tighten any loose nuts, bolts, screws , etc.

REPORT PREPARATIONS
The nursery enterprise is an important source of employment and income
generation. It is important for the nursery owner to make an estimate of
expenditure and probable income during the operation of the nursery.
Similarly, it is also beneficial for the entrepreneur to make a nurseryM
production plan of work, manpower and raw material requirement for
successful operation of the nursery. The anticipation of income is also an area
which requires planning for proper financial appraisal in the nursery venture.
Proper financial planning of the income, expenditure statements is an essential
factor in the success of the nursery business.
Entrepreneurs can use business analysis as a guide for important decisions
such as business expansions, financing, marketing strategies, operations
planning, and product selection. When applied properly, this information can
increase nursery business profitability, control costs, reduce the risk of
business failure, boost employee productivity and job satisfaction, enhance
physical efficiency, and improve management professionalism.
It can also support the evaluation of costs and returns for individual products
to determine a more profitable product mixture. Financial analysis can assist in
identifying some common problems in wholesale plant nurseries such as low
output, slow crop growth or poor pricing, excessive costs, waste or overuse,
poor cash flow, overcapitalization or undercapitalization, and imbalanced debt
structure.

Records Maintenance for Sale and Income

The nursery should maintain the record of mother plants illustrating both the
rootstock and the scion trees as well. Additionally it should also maintain
separate record of production of grafts and, seedlings and sale of plants.
Here are formats of records in maintaining stocks in the nursery.
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Apart from the record for the sale and production of nursery plants it is
also recommended that the nursery entrepreneur maintain record of
expenditure in the nursery which is called bookkeeping.
Bookkeeping is one of the functions of financial accounting. Bookkeeping
entails maintaining proper records and books for recording complete details of
transactions made during the course of business. Business transactions can be
classified into several major activities/groups e.g. sales, purchases, assets, etc.
Separate books for recording transactions pertaining to these activities are
maintained. Details of the transactions were recorded into respective heading.
This exercise is called Bookkeeping.
It is advisable to maintain books of accounts for the following reasons:
They provide up-to-date information about the nursery business.
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They reflect the outcome of transactions made during the period under
review.
They give information about the state of affairs of the business at regular
intervals.
They help governments and other authorities to decide about the incidence of
various taxes.
They help to analyze the performance of the nursery business.
They help to compare the performance of several business firms.

Various records of expenditure and income are recorded in different book

records as follows:
1. Purchase Book: In the purchase book, all transactions pertaining to purchases on credit or
cash are recorded. Transactions of purchase returned are also recorded here separately;

2. Sales Book: In the sales book, all transactions pertaining to credit or cash sales are recorded.
Transactions of sales returned are also recorded separately.

3. Ledger: All accounts involved in the transactions recorded in the journal or its subsidiary
books are maintained here, and necessary posting is made.

It may be noticed from the format that a ledger account has two sides: debit
into four sections, viz. `Date', `Particulars', `Journal Folio Number' and
`Amount'.
(i) Date: In this column, the date of a transaction as entered in the journal book
from where the entry is brought to the ledger account is mentioned.
(ii) Particulars: In this column the name of the account in which the
corresponding credit or debit (under the double entry principle) is mentioned.
(iii) Journal Folio Number: In this column the page number of the journal book
or subsidiary book from where the transaction is brought to the account is
mentioned.
(iv) Amount: In this column the amount, with which the account is debited or credited, is
mentioned.

Glossary of terms
Berm- A flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.
Journal Folio- The number of the ledger account in which the journal entry
was posted is recorded in the folio number column
Storm water- is water that originates from precipitation.`