Division of Safety Research •• • 1095 Willowdale Road Morgantown, West Virginia 26505 Phone:(304)285-5916 

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program

FACE

FACE Report Number 2013-04 March 31, 2016

Hispanic Worker Dies After Being Hit With a Projectile From a Nearby 

Commercial Lawnmower—North Carolina

SUMMARY

On April 17, 2013, a 30-year-old male Hispanic lawn care worker was injured when struck in the 

head by a metal projectile from a coworker’s lawn mower. He died on April 18, 2013, from his 

injuries. The lawn care worker was trimming approximately 25 feet away from his coworker 

when the coworker ran over a pet tie-out stake with a lawn mower. The mower sheared off part 

of the stake, creating a projectile that struck the lawn care worker on the side of the head. The 

medical examiner identified the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:

• Yard fixtures and debris present during mowing operations.

• Lawn mower discharge deflector facing toward individuals working nearby.

RECCOMENDATIONS 

NIOSH investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:

• Require a thorough examination of the work area for debris and fixtures before lawn 

mowing and require employees to flag or mark objects that cannot be removed.

• Implement a comprehensive safe work practice for lawn care as mentioned in the 

operating manual for the lawn care machinery (i.e., not pointing the discharge toward 

any persons or buildings and maintaining a safe distance away from others operating 

lawn care equipment).

• Consider adding a mulching chute attachment to lawn mowers to catch any potential 

projectiles.

Additionally, manufacturers of yard fixtures should:

• Consider using bright colors or flags to increase the visibility of yard fixtures, such as 

metal pet tie-out stakes placed in the ground.

Additionally, homeowners should:

• Remove pet tie-out stakes when they are not in use or purchase a tie-out stake that can 

be easily removed prior to lawn maintenance.

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), an institute within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the 

federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. In 1982, 

NIOSH initiated the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program.FACE examines the circumstances of targeted causes of traumatic 

occupational fatalities so that safety professionals, researchers, employers, trainers, and workers can learn from these incidents. The primary goal of 

these investigations is for NIOSH to make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences. These NIOSH investigations are intended to reduce or 

prevent occupational deaths and are completely separate from the rulemaking, enforcement, and inspection activities of any other federal or state 

agency. Under the FACE program, NIOSH investigators interview persons with knowledge of the incident and review available records to develop a 

description of the conditions and circumstances leading to the deaths in order to provide a context for the agency’s recommendations. The NIOSH 

summary of these conditions and circumstances in its reports is not intended as a legal statement of facts. This summary, as well as the conclusions 

and recommendations made by NIOSH, should not be used for the purpose of litigation or the adjudication of any claim.For further information, visit 

the program website at www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/ or call toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
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INTRODUCTION

On April 17, 2013, a 30-year-old male Hispanic lawn care worker was injured when struck in the 

head by a metal projectile from a nearby coworker’s lawn mower. He died on April 18, 2013,

from his injuries. On July 31, 2013, officials of the North Carolina Occupational Safety and 

Health Administration (NCOSHA) notified the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health (NIOSH), Division of Safety Research (DSR), Fatality Assessment and Control 

Evaluation (FACE) program of the fatality. On September 18, 2013, two DSR safety and 

occupational health specialists and an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer conducted an 

investigation of the incident and reviewed the incident circumstances with the investigating 

NCOSHA safety compliance officer assigned to the case. NIOSH reviewed the medical 

examiner’s report and the death certificate, along with photographs of the incident site and 

witness statements taken by NCOSHA. On December 18, 2013, the NIOSH investigators 

interviewed the lawn care worker’s employer to gain further details about the incident.

EXPOSURE DESCRIPTION

In 2014, approximately 1,585,000 landscaping and groundskeeping workers and supervisors 

were part of the U.S. labor force [BLS 2014]. The rates of injuries and illnesses resulting in at 

least 1 day of lost work for landscaping and groundskeeping workers in 2014 was 264.8 per 

10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, which is more than twice the rate for all workers

(107.1 per 10,000 FTE) [BLS 2015, p. 9, 22]. In 2014, preliminary data from the Census of Fatal 

Occupational Injuries revealed that 84 landscaping and groundskeeping workers died from an 

injury at work and an additional 32 (preliminary) first-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn 

service, and groundskeeping workers also died at work. Of these worker and supervisor deaths, 

18 (preliminary) or 15.5% involved agriculture or garden machinery [BLS 2015, p. 9, 22]. Since 

2003, the numbers of fatalities among workers and among supervisors combined has ranged 

from 110 in 2010 up to 140 in 2009 [BLS 2015, p. 9, 22; NIOSH 2008].

EMPLOYER

The employer was a small, family-owned, landscaping business servicing nearby neighborhood 

homeowners and businesses. At the time of the incident, the employer’s business was 

approximately 3 years old, was managed by the owner and his brother, and employed six

seasonal contract workers. The workers serviced approximately 10 lawns each day, depending on 

the customer’s property size. Larger, commercial properties required 1 or more days to complete 

lawn care services whereas residential yards usually required less than an hour. The usual work 

shift was from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 5 days per week, with a 1-hour break for lunch. Typical 

employee activities included mowing grass, trimming plants and foliage, gardening, and 

occasionally trimming trees during most months of the year but more frequently during the 

spring, summer, and fall. The most senior worker typically operated the mower while other 

workers trimmed, unless a worker required training on a specific piece of equipment. On the day 

of the incident, the owner was working in his home office in the same neighborhood. The owner 

was not bilingual; rather the lawn care worker (the victim) typically assisted with translating for 

Spanish-speaking workers. This was the company’s first fatality.
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WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAMS and TRAINING

The employer did not have a formal written occupational safety and health program. Workers 

were verbally instructed to maintain a “safe distance” from the mower and to conduct activities 

in separate areas of the yard. They were made aware of the possibility of objects being thrown 

from lawn mowers if run over. The workers were also instructed to examine the yard, check for 

debris, and remove smaller objects such as rocks, sticks, and decorations. Workers mowed

around larger objects such as furniture and fixtures. The employer required and provided workers 

with safety goggles and hearing protection.

VICTIM 

The 30-year-old Hispanic male lawn care worker was approximately 64 inches tall and weighed 

130 pounds. According to the employer, the lawn care worker was a college-educated Central 

American immigrant and had been in the United States for approximately 12 years. Although his 

first language was Spanish, he was functionally fluent in English. He worked as the lead 

landscaper for the current employer for about a year and a half. He received verbal safety 

training through continuous conversations with the employer with no formal on-the-job training. 

At the time of the incident, the lawn care worker was wearing safety goggles, as required by the 

employer, but it was unknown if he was wearing any hearing protection. The lawn care worker

previously worked for another landscaping company.

INCIDENT SCENE

At the time of the incident, the lawn care worker was using a weed trimmer in the backyard of a 

private residence. The homeowner was a customer during the February through November 

cutting season for nearly 2 years prior to the incident. The home is set on a 13,000-square-foot 

lot with an approximately 7,500-square-foot backyard. The yard drops approximately 15 feet 

from the back of the property to the front of the property line, with some minor variations in 

grade. The metal projectile was from a spiral pet tie-out stake used to secure a pet on a leash in 

the homeowner’s backyard. The backyard has several mature trees, garden décor, and equipment 

(Photo 1). The lawn care worker was located approximately 25 feet from the operating lawn 

mower while using a trimmer. 
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EQUIPMENT/PERSONNEL

The mower was a 2009 Toro Grandstand commercial stand-on mower, model 74558, and

purchased new at the start of the business, approximately 3 years before the incident (Photo 2).

The mower was maintained and serviced regularly, according to manufacturer recommendations,

by employees or the local dealer. The mower’s operator manual is available online from the 

manufacturer’s website in English, Spanish, and French [TORO 2008]. The distance from the 

ground to the bottom of the mower deck was about 4 inches. The distance from the ground to the 

flexible rubber grass discharge deflector ranged from 1–9 inches. According to the manufacturer, 

the maximum travel speed of the lawn mower moving over the ground was approximately 8 

miles/hour, and the speed of the blade of this mower was 8,500 feet/minute or 96.6 miles/hour at 

the tip of the blade. Lawn mowers operate at blade speeds of 3,000 revolutions/minute and can 

propel an object at a speed up to 232 miles/hour [Coopwood 1976]. 

Photo 1. Incident scene. Backyard of private residence.

(Photo courtesy of NCDOL/OSH.)
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WEATHER

The incident occurred on April 17, 2013, at approximately 2:20 p.m. On the day of the incident, 

the weather was mostly cloudy with no precipitation, and the temperature was in the 70s

[Weather Underground 2013]. The weather is not believed to have been a contributing factor in 

this incident.

INVESTIGATION 

On April 17, 2013, at approximately 2:00 p.m., the lawn care worker and his coworker went to 

trim and mow a residence. The two workers had completed eight residences and had three

remaining for the day. The lawn care worker was operating a weed trimmer approximately 25 

feet from his coworker who was operating the stand-on mower. Both were wearing safety 

goggles. Before beginning work at this home, the lawn care worker and the coworker examined

the yard for debris. At the time of the incident, the lawn mower was traveling from the left side 

of the yard to the right in relation to the home. As a result, the discharge deflector would 

alternate facing the house and the back fence. Nearing completion of the yard, the lawn mower 

struck the metal pet tie-out stake, shearing off a metal piece, discharging it out from under the 

Photo 2. Stand-on lawn mower involved in this incident.

(Photo courtesy of NCDOL/OSH.)
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lawn mower and hitting the lawn care worker on the side of the head. The discharge deflector

was facing the area where the lawn care worker was standing when the incident occurred, 

although his exact location when struck by the metal projectile is not clear. There was no 

information on whether the deflector was in the horizontal position, as recommended by the 

manufacturer, at the time of the incident (Photo 2). The homeowner was working in their home 

office and noticed a loud noise but returned to work after seeing the lawn care worker on the 

phone. The homeowner was unaware the lawn care worker was involved in an incident until the 

ambulance had arrived. 

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS 

Occupational injuries and fatalities are often the result of one or more contributing factors or key 

events in a larger sequence of events that ultimately result in the injury or fatality. NIOSH 

investigators identified the following unrecognized hazards as key contributing factors in this 

incident:

• Yard fixtures and debris present during mowing operations.

• Lawn mower discharge deflector facing toward individuals working nearby.

CAUSE OF DEATH 

The medical examiner listed the cause of death as traumatic brain injury resulting from blunt 

trauma to the head due to metal spike/anchor projectile. 

RECOMMENDATIONS / DISCUSSION

Recommendation #1: Employers should require a thorough examination of a work area for 

debris and fixtures before lawn mowing and require employees to flag or mark objects that 

cannot be removed.

Discussion: OSHA and other lawn maintenance organizations recommend a thorough sweeping 

of a work area, removing debris and temporary fixtures, such as metal stakes, before performing 

any landscaping tasks [OSHA no date; KSU 2009]. Employees or homeowners should flag or 

mark objects that cannot be removed so they are more visible. OSHA provides the following 

specific recommendations on sweeping an area before mowing in order to reduce the risk of 

injury from thrown objects:

• Clear the work area before you begin. 

• Pick up sticks, bottles, rocks, wires, and other debris before you begin.

• Keep children and bystanders away from the area.

• Wear long pants to protect your legs from debris.

• Wear safety glasses at all times unless you are inside an enclosed cab.

• Workers in the area should wear safety glasses and a face shield when operating string 

and brush trimmers.

• Shut off equipment when crossing a sidewalk, driveway, or road.

Recommendation #2: Employers should implement a comprehensive safe work practice for 

lawn care as described in operating manuals for lawn care machinery (i.e., not pointing the 

discharge toward any persons or buildings and maintaining a safe distance away from others 

operating lawn care equipment.)
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Discussion: Employers should train employees to follow safe operating procedures as described 

in operating manuals for lawn care machinery. Training should be conducted in the language and 

literacy level of each worker. Landscaping companies should ensure that employees perform a 

pre-use inspection of all equipment, replacing any damaged parts before use. The training should 

include the following elements, at a minimum, to prevent injury [TORO 2008; Virginia Tech 

2014; KSU 2009; TAMU 2011]:

• Follow the guidelines in the operating manual.

• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., hearing protection, eye protection,

seatbelts, steel-toed shoes, and long pants). Note: A type II hardhat with protection 

against lateral impact and a face shield would offer maximum protection against flying 

objects. 

• Ensure that all equipment shields and guards are in place and functioning. Never remove 

shields to increase clipping discharge or for any other reasons.

• Never operate with the discharge deflector raised, removed, or altered, unless using a 

grass catcher.

• Never operate with the power take-off shield or other guards not securely in place.

• Be sure all interlocks are attached, adjusted properly, and function properly.

• Turn off the mower engine before unclogging the discharge chute.

• Only operate in good light, keeping away from holes and other potential hazards.

• Keep hands and feet away from the spinning blades at all times.

• Never raise the deck with the blades running.

• When operating push mowers, wear shoes that optimize traction.

• Never operate on wet grass. Reduced footing could cause slipping, and soft turf 

conditions can affect the machine’s stability.

• Use caution while operating near drop-offs.

• Slow down and use caution when making turns and when changing directions on slopes.

• Slow down and use caution when making turns and crossing roads and sidewalks. 

• Stop blades if not mowing.

• Keep bystanders and pets away.

• Do not allow any additional riders on riding mowers.

• Never leave a running mower unattended.

The manufacturer uses safety decals on the unit and explicit warnings in the manual that the unit 

should not be operated near bystanders (Photo 3). The manufacturer does not define a safe 

distance because several factors can influence how far a projectile may travel.

OSHA provides safety guidelines for landscape and horticultural services [OSHA no date]. The 

Consumer Products Safety Commission and the National Association of Landscape Professionals 

have developed additional safety guidelines and safety training for lawn maintenance equipment 

[CPSC 2013; NALP, no date]. The American National Standards Institute and Outdoor Power 

Equipment Institute have developed guidelines for developing safe lawn maintenance equipment

for the landscape industry [ANSI/OPEI 2012, 2013].
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In this incident, formal safety training in the employee’s own language may have increased 

awareness of the potential for a small object to become a projectile if run over with a mower. 

The lawn care workers may also have considered working in different sections of the yard rather 

than near the mower.

Recommendation #3: Landscaping companies should consider adding a mulching chute 

attachment to lawn mowers to catch projectiles.

Discussion: Operators should keep the deflector lowered as outlined in the owner’s manual,

unless operating a grass catcher. Commercial lawn mowers can be fitted with a mulch chute to 

recycle cut grass to help catch any projectiles. Such accessories can be added by the distributer

during purchase or later to the unit. Discharge deflectors can warp, diminishing their structural 

integrity and reducing the ability of the deflector to prevent an object from becoming a projectile. 

A damaged or warped discharge deflector should be replaced. 

Recommendation #4: Manufacturers should consider using bright colors or flags to increase 

the visibility of yard fixtures, such as metal pet tie-out stakes placed in the ground.

Discussion: Manufacturers of pet restraint stakes should consider offering pet tie-out stakes in a 

variety of highly visible colors to reduce trips, foot injuries, and potential projectiles from lawn 

mowers. Stakes with bright colors would increase visibility and will alert lawn care workers and 

homeowners to remove them.

Recommendation #5: Landscaping companies and workers should advise homeowners to

remove pet tie-out stakes when they are not in use or purchase a tie-out stake that can be 

easily removed for lawn maintenance.

Photo 3. Safety decals below the operating controls, showing hazards of operating a lawn 

mower, with expanded view of warning about flying debris, and that other people should 

stay away from the mower while in operation.
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Discussion: Landscaping companies and workers should encourage homeowners to remove all 

yard fixtures including pet tie-out stakes when they are not in use or purchase a tie-out stake that 

is brightly colored, marked, and easily removed for safe mowing. Homeowners should also be 

encouraged to use pet tie-out stakes that are brightly colored and place them in marked areas for 

better visibility to reduce risk of injury to anyone accessing the area, with the understanding that 

this for the safety of the workers and the homeowners.

DISCLAIMER

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In addition, citations to websites external to NIOSH 

do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of the sponsoring organization or their programs or 

products. Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the content of these webpages. All web 

addresses referenced in this document were accessible as of the publication date. 

REFERENCES

ANSI, OPEI [2012]. ANSI/OPEI B71.4-2012 Commercial turf care equipment—safety 

specifications. Washington, DC: American National Standards Institute. Alexandria, VA: 

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, 

http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2FOPEI+B71.4-2012.

ANSI, OPEI [2013]. ANSI/OPEI B175.3-2013 Outdoor power equipment internal combustion 

engine powered hand held grass trimmers and brushcutters safety and environmental 

requirements. Washington, DC: American National Standards Institute. Alexandria, VA: 

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, 

http://webstore.ansi.org/RecordDetail.aspx?sku=ANSI%2FOPEI+B175.3-2013.

BLS [2014]. Labor force data derived from the Current Population Survey, chapter 1. In: U.S. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Handbook of Methods. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of 

Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

BLS [2015]. Fatal occupational injuries by selected characteristics, 2003–2014.Washington, DC: 

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/all_worker.pdf. 

Coopwood TB [1976]. Missile injuries from power lawn mowers. Texas Med 72(4):53–54.

CPSC [2013]. Riding lawnmowers. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission,

Publication 588, http://www.cpsc.gov/PageFiles/122050/588.pdf.

KSU [2009]. Mowing and trimming safety for the landscaping and horticultural services 

industry. By: Lind S, Ricketts M. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University, K-State Research and 

Extension, Publication MF 2714 rev, https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-19503-

09/mowing-trimming_safety_manual.pdf.

NALP [no date]. Safety essentials. Herndon, VA: National Association of Landscape 

Professionals, https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/nalp/nalp/safety-risk-management/safetyrisk-management.aspx.
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NIOSH [2008]. Fatal injuries among landscape services workers. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. 

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Pub No. 2008-144, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2008-

144/pdfs/2008-144.pdf.

OSHA [no date]. Landscape and horticultural services. Washington, DC: Occupational Safety 

and Health Administration, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/landscaping/.

TAMU [2011]. Lawn maintenance safety. By: Smith DW. College Station, TX: Texas A&M 

University, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Publication E-356,

http://agsafety.tamu.edu/files/2011/06/LAWN-MAINTENANCE-SAFETY3.pdf.

TORO [2008]. TORO operator’s manual: GrandStandTM mower, model 74558. Bloomington, 

MN: The Toro Company, Form No. 3361-373 Rev A, 

https://www.toro.com/en/parts/partdetails/?id=33183.

Virginia Tech [2014]. Rotary mowers safety: lawn care training guide. Blacksburg, VA: Virginia 

Polytechnic Institute and State University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Publication 

BSE-47P, http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/BSE/BSE-47/BSE-47NP-PDF.pdf.

Weather Underground [2013]. Weather history for KCLT—April 17. Atlanta, GA: The Weather 

Channel Interactive, Inc., 

http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KCLT/2013/4/17/DailyHistory.html?req_city=N

A&req_state=NA&req_statename=NA.

INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION

The investigation was conducted by Christina Socias, DrPH, Epidemic Intelligence Service 

Officer, Analysis and Field Evaluations Branch, Division of Safety Research, Jennifer Lincoln, 

Health Scientist, and Nancy Romano, Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Fatality

Investigations Team, Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch, Division of Safety Research. 

Assistance was provided by Melanie Moore, Occupational/Environmental Safety and Health 

Specialist, Fatality Investigation Team, Surveillance and Field Investigations Branch, Division of 

Safety Research. The report was written by Christina Socias.

ACKNOWLEDGEMEMENT

The NIOSH FACE Program and the safety and occupational health specialists would like to 

acknowledge the compliance officer and staff of the North Carolina Department of Labor, 

Occupational Safety and Health Division for providing assistance and information for this 

investigation.