November 3, 2008—The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released several new publications to help protect landscape services workers, groundskeepers, and others who work out-of-doors.
NIOSH Publication No. 2008-144: Fact Sheet—Fatal Injuries among Landscape Services Workers reports that the fatality rate for the landscape services industry, about 25 deaths per 100,000 workers, is similar to that for more recognized high-risk industries such as agriculture and mining. Although landscape services workers make up 0.8% of the U.S. workforce, they experience 3.5% of the total occupational fatalities, with an average of 197 deaths from on-the-job injuries each year between 2003 and 2006.
The publication expands on these statistics and gives basic guidelines and numerous resources for improved safety. Landscape services workers complete such jobs as landscape and irrigation installation, lawn care, tree removal, general landscape maintenance, and snow removal.
The NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Poisonous Plants page identifies common poisonous plants in various parts of the US and offers recommendations for protecting landscapers, groundskeepers, painters, roofers, construction workers, and others who work outside from hazardous exposure.
NIOSH also has new Safety and Health Topic pages for: Insects and Scorpions,
Venomous Snakes, and Venomous Spiders, with precautions for workers in the industries listed above.
