OSHA Reminds Grounds Managers of Job Hazards

Industry workers suffered more than 1,000 deaths from 2011-2021.   June 23, 2023


By Dave Lubach, Executive Editor


Grounds managers at institutional and commercial facilities are familiar with the many hazards that their workers face daily. Any time employees are operating machines or dealing with chemicals, the risk of hazards exists. 

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor bear this out. From 2011-2021, Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 1,072 work-related fatalities in the landscaping and groundskeeping industry. In 2021, the industry suffered 142 fatal workplace injuries

Even if some grounds tasks don’t seem hazardous, managers should be sure to train their workers and continually remind them of the dangers that can occur on the job. 

“Landscaping can be dangerous when workers lack experience and appropriate training in a language they understand,” says Doug Parker, assistant secretary of Occupational and Safety Health. “Too often, our inspectors find workers harmed in ways that their employers could have prevented by following federal and industry safety standards. We urge employers to implement strategies that involve their workers and protect everyone.” 

Vehicle collisions are the most common cause of fatal injuries in the industry, but many other hazards exist in the profession that contribute to fatalities and injuries, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA). They include: 

  • Exposure to chemicals such as fertilizer and pesticides 
  • Respiratory hazards 
  • Lack of personal protective equipment, particularly to hands and feet 
  • Moving machine parts, including mower blades 
  • Operating machines near water hazards, such as ponds and ditches 
  • Encounters with animals, insects and other natural hazards 
  • Contract with electrical power lines when trimming trees and bushes 
  • Overexposure to sun and extreme summer weather. 

Dave Lubach is executive editor for the facility market. 

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