fast facts 

Grounds/Landscaping July 2010 

Office of Compliance 

advancing safety, health, and workplace rights in the legislative branch 

www.compliance.gov 

Classifications: Task Associated with Hazards:

 Lifting & Awkward Postures  Manual handling of landscaping tools and materials. 

 Electrical Hazards  Working in proximity to overhead power lines, as well as in wet or 

damp locations. 

 Noise  Powered equipment such as chainsaws, mowers, trimmers, 

chippers, and trenchers. 

 Heat/Cold Stress  Working for extended periods of time outdoors in all seasons. 

 Slips / Trips / Falls  Working from bucket trucks, working in trees. 

 Motor Vehicles / Equipment  Working around traffic, motor vehicles, heavy equipment, and 

overhead hazards. 

 Sharp and/or Rotating blades, 

flying debris 

 Working around rotating blades, chippers, shredders, trimmers, 

chainsaws, mowers. 

 Pesticides / Chemical Exposure  Working with pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, gasoline, batteries. 

 Trenching / Excavations  Evaluating soil conditions, verifying utility locations, constructing 

protective systems, providing safe access/egress. 

Landscaping and horticultural service workers are at risk of injury from a wide variety 

of potential hazards in this industry. Risks include exposure to chemicals, noise, machinery, lifting, construction, and weather related hazards. Approximately 13,000 

injury or illness cases are reported in the Horticulture and Landscaping industry each 

year, according to OSHA Office of Statistical Analysis compilation of BLS data. As 

such, horticulture and landscape is one of the seven industries selected as part of 

OSHA’s strategic management plan. 

There are several hazards known to cause injuries associated with grounds and landscaping work. The most common are found in the table below. 

A proactive safety and health program is essential to prevent 

worker injuries and illnesses in this multifaceted industry. 

Depending upon the activities involved, landscaping and horticultural work may fall under OSHA’s General Industry and/

or Construction Industry standards. Training can prove challenging due to the broad range of topics that need to be covered to protect landscaping and grounds crews. Language 

barriers may also hinder the training’s effectiveness. 
Common Injuries: Preventions:

 Cuts and amputations  Keep clear of rotating mower and brush-cutting blades.

 Maintain saws and cutting equipment in serviceable condition.

 Don’t wear loose clothing around chippers. 

 Hand injuries  Wear gloves. 

 Chemical exposure  Read Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and follow precautions. 

 Implement an effective Hazard Communication program that in- 

 cludes employee training. 

 Eye injury  Wear protective goggles when using blowers, mowers, etc. 

 Hearing loss  Wear ear protection when using power equipment. 

 Sprains and Strains  Maintain comfortable mower settings for the worker. Use safe-lifting techniques. Use mechanical means or gain assistance to lift, whenever possible. 

 Vehicle accidents  Train drivers and maintain vehicles in serviceable condition.

 Train drivers to watch for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. 

Tree Care: Tree care includes activities such as pruning, chipping and removal, plant 

health care, cabling, bracing, transplanting, and fertilizing. Many hazards in the tree 

care industry are potentially fatal. Exposure to overhead power lines, falling branches 

and tools, and chainsaw use are just a few of the dangers. 

Common Injuries: Preventions/Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

 Struck by falling debris, cars, 

 lighting, etc. 

 Use PPE (e.g. hard hat)/know drop zone. 

 Cuts and amputations  Train safe chainsaw use and wear chaps. 

 Eye damage  Wear safety goggles. 

 Ear damage  Wear ear protection for chipping, chainsaw, and other power 

 equipment. 

 Electrocution  Comply with the 10-foot power line clearance rule (10 feet + 4 

 inches for every 10kV over 50 kV). 

 Slips, trips and falls  Use proper PPE and appropriate tie-ins (in tree, bucket, or aerial 

 platform). 

Lawn and Landscape Maintenance: This activity includes such tasks as mowing, pruning, chipping, fertilizing, leaf blowing, 

pest control, and providing safe transport for crew to and from the job site. 
fast stats 

 

 

This information does not constitute advice or an official ruling of the Office of Comp liance or the Board of Directors and is 

intended for educational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the Congressional Accountability Act (2 U.S.C.

1301 et seq.) and the regulations issued by the Board, or you may contact the Office of Compliance.

The Office of Compliance advances safety, health, and workplace 

rights in the U.S. Congress and the Legislative Branch. Established as an independent agency by the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, the Office educates employees and employing 

offices about their rights and responsibilities under the Act, provides an impartial dispute resolution process, and investigates and 

remedies violations of the Act. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Compliance: 

Room LA 200, John Adams Building 

110 Second Street, SE 

Washington, D.C. 20540 

t/ 202-724-9250 

tdd/ 202-426-1912 

Peter Ames Eveleth f/ 202-426-1913 

General Counsel 

Mary-Margaret Smith 

Editor Download the entire Fast Facts suite at http://www.compliance.gov 

Frequently Cited Standards 

The following standards, in order, were the most frequently cited by Federal OSHA from October 2008 through 

September 2009, in Landscape and Horticultural Services Industry Group (SIC Code 078). 

 

 1910.67, Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms 

 1910.132, General requirements (personal protective equipment) 

 1910.1200, Hazard communication 

 1910.133, Eye and face protection 

 1910.135, Head protection 

 Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause 

 1910.212, Machinery and Machine Guarding, General Requirements for all Machines 

 1910.333, Electrical – Selection and use of safe Work Practices 

 1910.134, Respiratory protection 

 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure

General Industry Standards 

29 § CFR 1910 Subparts: 

 D (Walking-working surfaces); 

 H (Hazardous Materials); 

 I (Personal protective equipment); 

J (General environmental controls); 

 K (Medical and first aid);

 N (Materials handling and storage); 

 P (Hand and portable powered tools and 

other hand-held equipment); 

 R (Special industries); 

 S (Electrical); and 

 Z (Toxic and hazardous substances)

Construction Industry Standards 

29 § CFR 1926 Subparts: 

 C (General safety and health provisions); 

 D (Occupational health and environmental 

controls); 

 E (Personal protective and life saving 

equipment); 

 I (Tools – hand and power); 

 K (Electrical), L (Scaffolds); 

 M (Fall protection); 

 N (Cranes, derricks, hoists, elevators, and 

conveyors); 

 O (Motor vehicles, mechanical equipment, 

and marine operations); 

 P (Excavations); 

 W (Rollover protective structures, overhead 

protection); and 

 X (Ladders)