Asparagus weeds - Weeds Australia

Further informationSafety, native vegetation andcultural heritage informationSafetyAll weed control activities involve risk, so personalsafety must be prioritised. Regulations regardingthe safe use of herbicides and machinery mustbe followed and personal protective equipmentsuch as gloves, respiratory equipment, eye and earprotection should be worn as appropriate. Trainingmay also be required for handling herbicides andoperating machinery.New Commonwealth Occupational Health andSafety (OH&S) legislation, regulations and codes ofpractice were introduced in 2011. The ACT, NSW,Queensland and Northern Territory harmonisedtheir Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws with theCommonwealth in 2012. Other states have updatedtheir own workplace safety structures accordingly.In some states, areas where restorationwork is carried out are classified workplaces. Here, participating volunteers areclassified as workers subject to the samehealth and safety regulations as managingagency employees. Guidance, informationand fact sheets for working with volunteersare available from Safe Work Australiaat www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au, andrelevant authority websites in each state.Protection of native vegetation andthreatened speciesRestoration works can impact on native vegetationand threatened species. This includes herbsand grasses as well as trees and shrubs. Beforecommencing works, familiarity with relevantlegislation governing weed control activities in yourstate is essential. Working near threatened species,impacting threatened species or propagatingthreatened species may require a permit.Contact natural resource management officers orlocal government authorities for advice beforecommencing any weed control activities. They willprovide advice on state and federal legislation,as well as any local laws governing weed controlactivities in natural areas or near waterways. Thefollowing tables outline main federal and stateagency contacts.Rare or threatened species and vegetationof conservation significance shouldbe identified in your asparagus weedsmanagement plan (see Section 2 – Planningand Pre-control Considerations).A risk management tool called Running the Risk?is available from Volunteering Australia at www.volunteeringaustralia.org. Contact your localcouncil or natural resource management agencyfor more information about safety and weedmanagement.Asparagus aethiopicus fruits and foliageHillary Cherry112