1

Overview

An average of 197 landscape services workers1

died from on-the-job injuries each year between 

2003 and 20062. 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 experienced 3.5% of the 

total occupational fatalities.

Landscape services workers complete jobs such as 

landscape and irrigation installation, lawn care, tree 

removal, general landscape maintenance and snow 

removal.

Fact Sheet Fatal Injuries 

among Landscape 

Services Workers

NIOSH Fact Sheet Fatal Injuries Among Landscape Services Workers

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Workforce 

Landscape services workers numbered slightly 

more than 1 million workers in the U.S in 2006. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. 

Department of Labor, estimated over 924,000 

landscaping and groundskeeping workers plus 

110,000 first-line supervisors for those workers 

across all industries. The landscape services 

industry employed approximately 680,000 

workers in 2006. The remaining 300,000+ 

landscape services workers were employed in 

other industries such as golf courses, resorts, 

public parks, and schools. Forty-one percent of 

landscape services workers in 2006 were Hispanic 

or Latino in comparison with 16% of the total 

U.S. workforce. (www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf)

Occupational Fatalities

BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries 

(CFOI) identified 789 deaths due to traumatic 

injuries among landscape services workers 

and their first-line supervisors between 2003 

and 2006. In each of these years, 25 to 30% of 

these workers who died were identified as selfemployed. About 56% of the fatalities occurred 

among white workers, 29% among Hispanic 

and Latino workers and 11% among Black or 

African American workers. (http://www.bls.gov/

iif/oshcfoi1.htm) Nearly 80% of the landscape 

services worker fatalities occurred in the 

landscape services industry.

The most common event resulting in landscape 

services worker fatalities was transportation 

incidents (Figure 1). About 33% of all landscape 

worker fatalities were due to transportation 

Working in teams can reduce the risks of occupational injuries and fatalities, 

Photograph courtesy of John Curtis
2 NIOSH Fact Sheet Fatal Injuries Among Landscape Services Workers

Landscape Services 

Workers

incidents in comparison with 43% for all U.S. industry. 

Landscape services workers were more likely to die 

due to falls to lower level, struck by falling objects, 

and electrocutions (22%, 17%, and 9.8%, respectively) 

than the overall U.S. workforce (12%, 6.3%, and 4.4% 

respectively). 

Landscape services workers were engaged in a range of 

activities at the time of the occupational fatalities (Table 

1). Using tools or machinery during tree trimming or 

removal activities was particularly hazardous. Fatalities 

during tree trimming or removal activities were caused 

by falls from heights, being struck by falling objects and 

electrocutions. Information is not available to determine 

if the workers trimming or removing trees were employed 

by tree services companies or other landscaping services 

companies. Most landscape services worker fatalities 

occurred on private property with the largest proportion 

at private residences (Figure 2). Decentralized job sites, 

like those listed for these fatalities, are associated with 

reduced organizational and infrastructure support for 

safe and healthful work practices.

Table 1. Activities at the Time of Landscape Services 

Worker Fatalities, 2003 - 2006

Activity Fatalities

Using/Operating Tools or Machinery

 (during trimming or removing trees)

355

(288)

Vehicle or Transportation Operations 241

 Constructing, Repairing, Cleaning 103

Physical Activity, n.e.c. 46

Other Activities 44

Street or Highway

Industrial Place or Premise

Public Building

Farm

Private Residence

Recreation, Sports Facility

Woods, River

Other

Figure 2. Locations where landscape services worker 

fatalities occurred, 2003 – 2006.

191

40

30

27

318

53

55

75

Figure 1. Events associated with Landscape Services 

Worker Fatalities, 2003 – 2006

Transportation

Contact with

Falls

Exposure

Other

3

4

257

194

176

123

39

Careful harnessing reduces the risks of fatalities due to falls, 

Photograph courtesy of Jupiter Images.
3

Landscape Services 

Workers

NIOSH Fact Sheet Fatal Injuries Among Landscape Services Workers

Prevention of Traumatic 

Injury Fatalities

Most, if not all, occupational fatalities are 

preventable through hazard recognition and 

control, effective employee training, and appropriate 

selection and use of personal protective equipment. 

Some general guidance for prevention of traumatic 

injuries is given below. Guidance for specific 

hazards and training materials in both English and 

Spanish can be obtained free of charge through 

the internet addresses below. Many of the training 

documents are designed for tailgate training 

sessions. Many OSHA and NIOSH documents 

list recommended practices to reduce injury risks 

from specific landscape services hazards.

General Guidance

•	 Understand and comply with all OSHA 

regulations that apply to the landscape services 

operations and tasks.

•	 Develop, implement and enforce a 

comprehensive safety program that includes 

written rules and safe work procedures. A joint 

health and safety committee with employees & 

supervisors should be considered.

•	 Conduct an initial and daily jobsite survey 

before beginning work to identify all hazards 

and implement appropriate controls. 

•	 Provide specific training for hazards such as 

power lines and other sources of electricity, 

tree trimming and felling, falls from heights, 

roadway vehicle operations, and hand and 

portable power tools use. 

•	 Train operators of off-road machinery 

and other specialized equipment to follow 

manufacturers’ recommended procedures for 

safe operation, service, and maintenance. 

•	 Monitor workers during periods of high heat 

stress/strain and remind workers of the signs 

of heat-related illness and the need to consume 

sufficient water during hot conditions.

Endnotes

1. Landscape services workers includes these Standard 

Occupational Classifications: Landscaping and 

Groundskeeping Workers (37-3011), Tree Trimmers 

and Pruners (37-3013), Grounds Maintenance 

Workers, All Other (37-3019), and First-Line 

Supervisors/Managers of Landscaping, Lawn Service, 

and Groundskeeping Workers (37-1012).

2. The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries 

preliminary data for 2006 were used for the analysis 

included in this document. The final 2006 data 

identified four more landscape services worker 

fatalities. 

3. Contact with objects or equipment includes struck by, 

struck against, and caught in or compressed by objects 

or equipment.

4. Exposure includes temperature extremes, contact with 

electric current, exposures to substances including 

animal venoms, and oxygen deficiencies, e.g., 

drowning.

Figure 3. Numbers of total and transportation-related 

fatalities among Landscape Services workers and First-Line 

Supervisors, by month, for 2003 – 2006

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

January May September

Month

Fatalities

Total Fatalities

TransportationRelated Fatalities

Transportation-related fatalities for landscape services 

workers and their first-line supervisors for 2003 – 2006 

are compared with total fatalities by month in Figure 3. 

The numbers of total and transportation related fatalities 

were generally greater in May through September than in 

the remaining months. 
4 NIOSH Fact Sheet Fatal Injuries Among Landscape Services Workers

Landscape Services 

Workers

Specific Guidance for 

Landscape Services Hazards

After Falling Into Landscaping Pond Hispanic 

Laborer Drowns, FACE Investigation Report, 

Oregon, www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/

or/03or008.html

Landscape Laborer Dies When the Tractor He is 

Driving Overturns, FACE Investigation Report, 

Colorado, www.cdc.gov/niosh/stateface/co/95094.html

Landscape Mowing Assistant Dies from Heat 

Stroke, FACE Investigation Report, Michigan, 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/stateface/mi/02mi075.html

Work-Related Roadway Crashes, Prevention 

Strategies for Employers

www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-136/pdfs/2004-136.pdf

Preventing Falls and Electrocutions during Tree 

Trimming, NIOSH Alert 

www.cdc.gov/niosh/92-106.html

Tree Trimming and Removal Fact Sheet, U.S. 

OSHA

www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/

trim.pdf

Tree Trimming and Removal Safety Tips, U.S. 

OSHA www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_

Facts/tree_trimming_safety.pdf

Free Tailgate Training Documents 

in English and Spanish 

OSHA PLANET Alliance Safety & Health Topics Page 

www.osha.gov/ SLTC/landscaping/index.html

California State Compensation Insurance Fund Bi-lingual 

Training 

www.scif.com/safety/safetymeeting/SafetyMtgTopics.asp

Farm Safety Association Inc. (Canada) 

www.fsai.on.ca/manuals/manual-landtips.pdf

Kansas State University Research and Extension and College 

of Agriculture, 

www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/Landscaping_Equipment_Safety.html

Ohio State Univ. College of Food, Agricultural & 

Environmental Sciences, Landscape Worker Bi-lingual 

Training 

ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/192/index.html

Oregon Health and Science University, Center for Research on 

Occupational and Environmental Toxicology

www.croetweb.com/links.cfm?subtopicID=547

PLANET Safety Tip Sheets

www.landcarenetwork.org/cms/programs/safety.html

To receive documents or other information about 

occupational safety and health topics, contact NIOSH at

Telephone: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

TTY: 1-888-232-6348

E-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh.

For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe 

to NIOSH eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews.

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2008–144

October 2008

Safer • Healthier • PeopleTM

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

4676 Columbia Parkway

Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998