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:
Dave Lubach is executive editor for the facility market.
