Growing is great work, but it isn’t “zero-impact” on your body. In a growroom you mix humidity, heat, dense air, intense light, fine dust—and sharp tools. A few simple rules will save you trouble with skin, eyes, back, sinuses and—yes—your head. Here’s a practical, grower-to-grower set of habits.
The air you breathe
- Masks aren’t lame. Perlite, biochar, trichome dust, fungal spores, and cleaning fumes all end up in lungs. For sieving/perlite use FFP2/FFP3; for routine plant work FFP2 is fine. Disposables cost €0.5–€2 each; reusable half masks €25–€40.
- Air exchange is for you too. Work with extraction on or at least open intakes. If your head feels heavy: take a break, fresh air, water.
CO₂—use it smart, skip the bravado
- Extra CO₂ is great for plants, not for you in excess. Keep sensible setpoints (typically 800–1,200 ppm for plants) and ensure good ventilation while you work. Get a CO₂ meter (NDIR)—useful for plants and your brain (€60–€150). If levels climb, air out and step away.
Light & eyes
- LEDs/HPS aren’t night lights. Purple/magenta spectra, blue content, sometimes UV—eye strain is real. Wear grow glasses matched to your spectrum (HPS or LED lenses) — decent pairs start €10–€25.
- Don’t stare into diodes up close. Do service work with lights off whenever you can.
Skin, hands, allergies
- Resin and fine dust can sensitize skin. Nitrile gloves (box €5–€15) prevent “green rash” and protect from cleaning agents.
- After work use cool water + mild soap, not hot—don’t “iron” resin into skin.
- Prone to allergies? Wear long sleeves and wash work clothes separately.
Chemicals & disinfection—no heroics
- Isopropyl, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid (PAA), hypochlorite all work—use with sense: gloves, goggles, ventilation.
- Never mix chlorine with acids/ammonia.
- Label sprayers and jugs (what, when, concentration). Saves skin, eyes, and nerves.
Ergonomics & your back
- Substrate bags, coco bricks, totes of solution—many kilos. Lift with legs, keep loads close, use a trolley/dolly.
- Trimming? Chair with lumbar support, knee pad for floor work, micro-breaks every 30–45 min to stretch wrists and neck.
Noise
- Big fans, RO units, compressors can drone all day. Earmuffs or earplugs (€15–€30) make a big difference.
- If you must stand by a loud unit for long, rotate tasks.
Heat, sweat, dehydration
- Growrooms become saunas: lights + humidity + work = overheating.
- Water within reach; isotonic drink on long shifts. Hat/cap and light clothes for outdoor work.
- Signs of overheating: dizziness, cramps, nausea—step out, sit, drink water, cool the neck.
Electricity & water—world’s worst couple
- Drivers, power strips, controllers—keep them off the floor, add drip loops.
- A RCD/GFCI is a must. Night leak? An RCD has saved many growers and flats.
- Conduit for cables, sealed connectors, no “extension-cord Christmas trees.”
Knives, pruners, scalpels
- Most cuts happen when rushing with dull tools, not on the trim mat. Sharp blades cut clean; dull blades tear skin.
- Blade sheaths, tools parked in the same spot, and disinfection after each plant—that’s hygiene and safety in one.
Your head is gear too
- Long solo shifts can grind you down. Make it a ritual: music/podcast, daylight in breaks, a short walk after leaving the tent.
- Sleep and food are the operator’s “nutrients.” Without them, mistakes multiply.
Small Health & Safety starter kit (real-world price ranges)
- FFP2/FFP3 (box): €10–€30; half-mask + filters: €25–€40.
- Grow glasses (LED/HPS): €10–€25.
- Nitrile gloves (100 pcs):€5–€15.
- Earmuffs/earplugs:€15–€30.
- CO₂ meter (NDIR):€60–€150.
- First-aid kit + eye wash:€10–€25.
Mini door checklist for the growroom
Before you enter: drinking water, gloves, glasses/mask for the task, sharp & clean tools.
While you work: ventilation on, pause every ~45 min, lift with legs, keep cables tidy.
When you leave: wash hands in cool water, wash work clothes separately, jot down what chemicals/concentrations you used, 5 minutes of stretching.
Bottom line
This isn’t “medical advice,” it’s field-tested practice. Used together, these habits make a massive difference—week after week. Care for the plants, but look after the operator first. On maryjane.farm, we like it when a grower finishes the shift pain-free and clear-headed—plants feel that.
