SAFETY TOPICS

Keeping Grounds Maintenance Workers Safe

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, grounds maintenance workers—including landscaping and tree care workers—are twice as “likely to be injured on the job compared to workers across all occupations.” Grounds maintenance workers are exposed to many types of physical, chemical, and biological hazards. In 2019, there were more than 1.3 million grounds maintenance workers, and “that number is projected to grow by more than 10% over the next 10 years.” Providing frequent training and the appropriate personal protective equipment are crucial to protect these workers.¹

Work demands

The demands of grounds maintenance work include mowing grass, spreading fertilizer, mulching, working near roadways, and loading and unloading trucks and trailers. Workers also carry items such as leaf blowers, trimmers, chain saws, plants, decorative stone, and mulch.^1,2Grounds maintenance workers often spend long hours outside in the heat and direct sunlight which makes them susceptible to heat stress (an increase in the heat stored in the body that can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes).^1,2,3 Review this poster on how to prevent heat illness at work, available in English and Spanish.

“Grounds maintenance workers are exposed to many types of physical, chemical and biological hazards.”

Potential hazards

It’s important that employers recognize potential exposures and are properly equipped to help keep their workers safe. Physical hazards include extreme heat or cold, noise exposure, and sun exposure. Slippery slopes and flying debris are additional hazards while working near roadways. Biological hazards include vector-borne diseases (resulting from an infection transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks or fleas), venomous wildlife and insect bites, and poisonous plants.^1,2,3 Failure to operate equipment properly can result in cuts, lacerations, and punctures which OSHA sites as the second leading injury type in the landscape and horticultural industry.⁴ Proper safety training is necessary to reduce the risk of injury.

Safety solutions

Engineering controls that can improve safety in this industry include safety features for tailgates, liftgates, trailers, and ramps. Some examples of these are lifting assist, remote controls, and features allowing easier access. To avoid serious injury, factory installed safety features on tools and equipment should not be overridden or removed. Here are several ways employees can avoid injuries from common hazards: ^1,2

Keep clear of rotating mower and brush-cutting blades
Train drivers on riding mowers (see Dangers of Roll-Overs of Riding Mowers)
Wear protective goggles when using blowers or trimmers
Use safe lifting techniques
Wear ear protection when using power equipment
Wear high visibility safety apparel when working near roadways
Follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for signs, signals and barricades on roadways
Implement a hazard communication program that includes employee training

Working near roadways

The recommended safety practices below can help managers and crew members reduce the risk of injury while maintaining grounds near roadways.⁴

Conduct safety meetings daily and as needed. A crew leader should conduct a daily “safety session before work begins and whenever hazards or conditions change.”
Make sure workers wear the correct personal protection equipment. “Provide flaggers and crew members working near roadways with high-visibility safety apparel, hard hats, safety glasses, and other necessary equipment.” Ensure that the equipment is being worn at all times.
Follow federal, state, and local regulations. Companies are required to follow “OSHA standards for signs, signals, and barricades and the Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD),” in addition to all state and local regulations.
Determine the proper temporary-traffic-control devices for each situation. There is not a “one-size-fits-all” option. Some areas require barricades, while orange cones could work in other situations. “Make sure the devices and methods convey clear and concise” directions for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Create a traffic-control plan to use when crew members work along roadways. The following items should be considered.
- Evaluate the work area from the perspective of drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to develop a strategy for alerting motorists to the presence of workers (cones, signs, flaggers, etc.). Ensure that the placement of cones won’t force drivers into unsafe lane changes.
- Place a sign or flagger in advance of a corner or curve in the road with limited visibility near the work zone.
- Consider the time of day that the work will start and end and how the timing of the work may affect traffic patterns. If the sun will be directly in drivers’ eyes limiting visibility at the time of the work, adjust the work times.
- Check to see if a permit is required to perform the work. Contact city, county, state, and federal agencies to make sure all applicable regulations are followed.
Confirm that traffic-control devices and traffic-control plans comply with the MUTCD. According to the “U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, the MUTCD is the national standard for all traffic-control devices on streets, highways, and bicycle trails. State DOTs also adopted the manual as their standards.” OSHA’s construction-industry safety standards (which often apply to the landscape industry) require that traffic-control signs, signals, barricades, or devices protecting workers conform to part six of the MUTCD, which covers temporary traffic control. All aspects of a traffic-control plan and traffic-control zone must adhere to part six of the manual. Access the manual here.
Use appropriately trained flaggers. Many states require traffic flaggers to be certified and/or trained. View your state’s requirements.
Understand the four segments of temporary-traffic-control zones:
- The advance-warning area—An area used to inform road users about upcoming hazards such as the presence of workers.
- The transition area—The place where road users transition to a path different from normal road patterns.
- The activity area—Location where work is being completed or an obstacle is located.
- The termination area—An area where traffic patterns transition back to normally designated paths.

Safety resources in English and Spanish

Did you know that OSHA offers safety and health resources for landscape and horticultural services in English and Spanish? Access these resources here.

If you would like additional information, please contact your Summit loss prevention consultant.

Footnotes

Afanuh, S. and Hughes, S. “Reducing the Risk of Rhabdomyloysis and Other Heat-Related Illnesses in Landscaping and Tree Care Workers.” NIOSH Science Blog, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Serv., Aug. 6, 2021, blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2021/08/06/rhabdo-landscaping/ (Accessed May 2, 2023).
“Landscape and Horticultural Services.” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Dept. of Labor, www.osha.gov/landscaping/hazards (Accessed May 2, 2023).
“Heat Stress.” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Serv., last reviewed Aug. 31, 2020, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/default.html (Accessed May 2, 2023).
“Working Near Roadways.” National Association of Landscape Professionals, www.landscapeprofessionals.org/LP/Safety/Working_Near_Roadways.aspx (Accessed May 2, 2023).

Disclaimer

The information presented in this publication is intended to provide guidance and is not intended as a legal interpretation of any federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations applicable to your business. The loss prevention information provided is intended only to assist policyholders of Summit managed insurers in the management of potential loss producing conditions involving their premises and/or operations based on generally accepted safe practices. In providing such information, Summit Consulting LLC does not warrant that all potential hazards or conditions have been evaluated or can be controlled. It is not intended as an offer to write insurance for such conditions or exposures. The liability of Summit Consulting LLC and its managed insurers is limited to the terms, limits and conditions of the insurance policies underwritten by any of them.