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Fatalities in the Ornamental Shrub and Tree Services Industry

by William J. Wiatrowski

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Originally Posted: July 26, 2005

While changes in industry classifications provide more detail on new and growing industries, less detail will be available for

some smaller industries. Data on fatal injuries in the ornamental shrub and tree services industry for 2002 are the last such

data available.

As the U.S. economy continues to evolve, industry classifications evolve as well. In the past few decades, there have been

declines in such industries as manufacturers of typewriters and vinyl records, while new industries have arisen, including

Internet publishing, laser eye surgery, and cellular phone services.1 To keep up with these changes, the classification system

used to categorize industries was revised in the mid-1990s; the former system, the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)

system, was replaced with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), which not only identifies and

categorizes emerging industries but was designed to provide consistent classification between the U.S., Mexico, and

Canada. And while NAICS has modernized the classification of industries, some smaller industries have been subsumed into

broader categories that might not distinguish their unique character. The data presented here are from one such industry--

ornamental shrub and tree services. This unique industry, classified separately under the SIC system (SIC 0783), is now part

of the larger industry known as landscaping services under NAICS (NAICS 561730).2

The ornamental shrub and tree services industry was defined under the SIC system to include such activities as arborist

services; ornamental tree and bush planting, pruning, bracing, spraying, removal, and surgery; and utility line tree trimming

services. Under the new NAICS classification, organizations in the landscaping services industry comprise those providing

landscape care and maintenance services and/or installing trees, shrubs, plants, lawns, or gardens; and those providing

these services along with the design of landscape plans and/or the construction/installation of walkways, retaining walls,

decks, fences, ponds, and similar structures. The addition of those involved in lawn and garden work and those involved in

design and installation work, both previously in separate categories, results in the NAICS landscape services industry

employing just over 1 million workers in 2003.3

There were 70 fatal occupational injuries in the ornamental shrub and tree services industry in 2002, the last year that such

data are available. In the 11 years (1992-2002) for which data are available from the BLS Census of Fatal Occupational

Injuries (CFOI), there were 637 fatalities in the industry--an average of about 58 fatalities per year.4 Beginning in 2003, CFOI

began reporting fatalities for the larger NAICS-classified landscaping services industry. There were 156 fatal occupational

injuries in that industry in 2003. (See table.) The fatality rate for this industry was 14.1 fatalities per 100,000 employed

workers, compared with the overall rate of 4.0 for all workers.

The CFOI provides a glimpse into the demographics of the workers killed on the job and a categorization of the

circumstances surrounding the incident. In the case of the ornamental shrub and tree services industry, all 70 decedents in

2002 were men. In fact, of the 637 fatalities in this industry over 11 years, only 5 were female. About two-thirds of the

fatalities occurred among wage and salary workers--those employed by a firm in the shrub and tree service industry. The

remaining one-third were self-employed individuals. While the NAICS landscaping services industry in 2003 employed more

people and suffered more fatalities, the same patterns held true--most of the decedents were men and about two-thirds were

wage and salary workers.

While the age of the fatally injured shrub and tree industry workers ranged from mid-teens to 65 and over, the majority were

ages 25 to 54. The distribution of fatalities by age was very similar to the distribution of all fatalities by age, regardless of

industry. Further, the age distribution in 2002 was little changed from the entire 11-year period for which data are available.

The number and proportion of fatally injured employees in the shrub and tree services industry who were identified as

Hispanic has risen in recent years. In the first year of the Census, 1992, there were 4 decedents identified as Hispanic
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among the 36 fatalities in the industry, or about 11 percent. In 1997, 6 Hispanics were killed among a total of 67, or about 9

percent. However, in 2001, 12 of the 75 fatalities (16 percent) were Hispanic and in 2002, 17 of 70 fatalities (24 percent) were

Hispanic. (See chart.) This is consistent with the overall rise in fatalities among Hispanics in all industries.6 Looking at 2003

data for the larger landscaping services industry under NAICS, Hispanics represented about 28 percent of the total fatalities.

There were 4 types of events that led to most of the fatalities among workers in the shrub and tree services industry--struck

by an object (typically a tree); fall to a lower level (typically out of a tree); contact with electric current (such as when a limb

hits a live electrical wire); and a transportation incident (either a collision between vehicles or a worker struck by a vehicle).7

While these categories provide an overall view of the events leading to the fatality, some anecdotal evidence provides more

details about the fatal events.8

• Those workers who were struck by a tree included cases where a tree they were cutting fell forward onto them. There

were also instances where the tree that struck the decedent was being cut down by a co-worker. • There were a number of cases where those cutting down trees were attempting to move from the path of a falling tree

when they slipped or tripped and could not get out of the way in time. • In several instances, fatally injured workers were described as wearing protective clothing or using protective

equipment. • Those who fell to their death included falls from ladders, roofs, and trees. In some cases, the incident occurred when

the worker cut through a safety line. • Electrocutions occurred when workers (or a branch, or a tool or other piece of equipment that the worker was

touching) came in contact with high voltage lines or electric transformers. • Some transportation incidents involved vehicles that were being used during a landscaping operation, such as a

tractor being used to remove stumps overturning onto the driver. • Other transportation incidents involved vehicles operated by others hitting the landscape worker, such as workers on

the side of a road being struck by a vehicle.

The data presented here are examples of the variety of information available from the CFOI program, even for very small

industries. While the change in industry classification system has resulted in the elimination of data for some smaller

industries, such as ornamental shrub and tree services, it provides new data for other industries. For example, in the past,

fatalities in the restaurant industry were all included in one category; now data are available separately for full-service

restaurants, limited service restaurants (including fast food establishments), snack bars, and mobile food services (such as

ice cream trucks). Beginning with the 2003 census, all future CFOI data will be presented under the new NAICS

classifications, with data available for as many unique industries as possible.

William J. Wiatrowski

Economist, Office of Safety, Health, and Working Conditions, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Telephone: (202) 691-6305; E-mail: Wiatrowski.William@bls.gov

End Notes

1 For a discussion of changes in employment by industry, see Teresa L. Morisi, "Recent changes in the national Current Employment Statistics

survey," Monthly Labor Review, June 2003, pp. 3-13.

2 For a complete description of the Standard Industrial Classification system and the North American Industry Classification System, including

a list of codes and definitions, go to www.bls.gov/bls/naics.htm. 3 Employment data are from the BLS Current Population Survey.

4 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) provides the nation’s most accurate count of fatal workplace injuries. Data are captured

from multiple sources designed to confirm the work-related nature of the fatality and to verify the accuracy of data elements. Available data

include demographic characteristics of the decedent, information about the occupation and industry in which the worker was employed, and

descriptions of the event or exposure that led to the fatality. More information about the CFOI program is available at www.bls.gov/iif. 5 In addition to data on fatal work injuries, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also provides data on nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses

through the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. These data also changed industry classification systems in 2003. While workplace
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injury and illness data are available for many detailed industries, no data are available for the ornamental shrub and tree services industry (SIC

0783). Data are available for the broader landscape and horticultural services industry (SIC 078). Beginning in 2003, nonfatal workplace injury

and illness data are available for the landscaping services industry (NAICS 561730). More information about the Survey of Occupational

Injuries and Illnesses is available at www.bls.gov/iif. 6 For information on fatalities among foreign-born workers, see Katherine Loh and Scott Richardson, "Foreign-born workers: Trends in fatal

occupational injuries, 1996-2001," Monthly Labor Review, June 2004, pp. 42-53.

7 CFOI classifies the fatal incident in a number of ways, including event or exposure (defined as the manner in which the injury was produced

or inflicted by the source), primary source (defined as the object, substance, or exposure that directly produced or inflicted the injury), and

secondary source (defined as the object, substance, or person that generated the source of injury or that contributed to the event or exposure).

For example, in the case of a worker who is electrocuted, the event might be "contact with overhead power lines" (a component of "contact

with electric current"), the primary source would be "electrical wiring" (a component of "machine, tool, and electric parts"), and the secondary

source might be "trees, logs," if the tree came in contact with the electrical source.

8 In addition to the many data elements captured in the CFOI program, narrative descriptions of the incident are prepared. These descriptions

are used to confirm the circumstances of the incident; they can also provide additional details of the fatality beyond those included in the CFOI

data elements. Because these data are confidential, the information presented here includes summaries and highlights from numerous

fatalities and does not refer to any one incident.

Table. Fatal occupational injuries by selected industry, 1992-2003

Characteristic Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 1992-2002

Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 2002

Landscaping services

(NAICS 56173), 2003

Total: 637 70 156

Employee status:

Wage and salary workers(1) 411 42 102

Self-employed(2) 226 28 54

Sex:

Men 632 70 154

Women 5 -- -- Age:

16 to 17 years 5 -- -- 18 to 19 years 17 3 -- 20 to 24 years 78 7 19

25 to 34 years 176 14 34

35 to 44 years 160 24 36

45 to 54 years 110 11 29

55 to 64 years 62 8 22

65 years and over 25 3 10

Footnotes:

(1) This category may include volunteers and other workers receiving compensation.

(2) Includes paid and unpaid family workers, and may include owners of incorporated businesses, or members of partnerships.

(3) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Hispanic or Latino persons may identify themselves racially as white, black, or another race category.

(4) The primary source of injury identifies the object, substance, or exposure that directly produced or inflicted the injury.

(5) The secondary source of injury, if any, identifies the object, substance, or person that generated the source of injury or that contributed to

the event or exposure. For vehicle collisions, the deceased's vehicle is the primary source and the other object (truck, road divider, etc.) is the

secondary source.

NOTE: Dashes indicate no data or data that do not meet publication criteria. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown

separately.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
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Characteristic Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 1992-2002

Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 2002

Landscaping services

(NAICS 56173), 2003

Race or ethnic origin:(3)

White 489 49 87

Black or African American 45 3 18

Hispanic 83 17 44

Event or exposure:

Contact with objects and

equipment 225 22 52

Struck by object 197 21 45

Struck by falling object 164 18 43

Caught in or compressed by

equipment or objects 23 -- 4

Caught in running

equipment or machinery 17 -- Falls 207 20 38

Fall to lower level 204 19 38

Fall from ladder 17 4 3

Fall from roof 3 -- Exposure to harmful

substances or environments 119 13 23

Contact with electric current 112 13 17

Exposure to caustic,

noxious, or allergenic

substances

3 -- Oxygen deficiency

(including drowning) 4 -- 4

Transportation incidents 78 15 38

Highway incidents 34 7 20

Collision between

vehicles, mobile

equipment

14 5 14

Non-collision incidents 12 -- 3

Non-highway incident,

except rail, air, water 15 -- 12

Overturned 9 -- 8

Footnotes:

(1) This category may include volunteers and other workers receiving compensation.

(2) Includes paid and unpaid family workers, and may include owners of incorporated businesses, or members of partnerships.

(3) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Hispanic or Latino persons may identify themselves racially as white, black, or another race category.

(4) The primary source of injury identifies the object, substance, or exposure that directly produced or inflicted the injury.

(5) The secondary source of injury, if any, identifies the object, substance, or person that generated the source of injury or that contributed to

the event or exposure. For vehicle collisions, the deceased's vehicle is the primary source and the other object (truck, road divider, etc.) is the

secondary source.

NOTE: Dashes indicate no data or data that do not meet publication criteria. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown

separately.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
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Characteristic Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 1992-2002

Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 2002

Landscaping services

(NAICS 56173), 2003

Automobiles 10 -- Trucks 55 12 16

Tractors 8 -- 7

Worker struck by vehicle,

mobile equipment 28 6 4

Assaults and violent acts 5 -- 4

Primary source:(4)

Vehicles 79 14 30

Highway vehicles 71 13 21

Plant and industrial powered

vehicles, tractors 8 -- 7

Structures and surfaces 199 18 38

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces 191 18 37

Machinery 48 7 15

Agriculture and garden

machinery 5 -- 8

Construction, logging, and

mining machinery 27 3 5

Material handling machinery 16 3

Parts and materials 71 4 9

Machine, tool, and electric

parts 61 3 6

Persons, plants, animals, and

minerals 192 22 45

Trees, logs 185 22 44

Tools, instruments, and

equipment 41 5 6

Other 6 -- 12

Bullets and pellets -- -- 3

Secondary source:(5)

Vehicles 25 6 19

Highway vehicles 23 6 18

Structures and surfaces 14 4 3

Footnotes:

(1) This category may include volunteers and other workers receiving compensation.

(2) Includes paid and unpaid family workers, and may include owners of incorporated businesses, or members of partnerships.

(3) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Hispanic or Latino persons may identify themselves racially as white, black, or another race category.

(4) The primary source of injury identifies the object, substance, or exposure that directly produced or inflicted the injury.

(5) The secondary source of injury, if any, identifies the object, substance, or person that generated the source of injury or that contributed to

the event or exposure. For vehicle collisions, the deceased's vehicle is the primary source and the other object (truck, road divider, etc.) is the

secondary source.

NOTE: Dashes indicate no data or data that do not meet publication criteria. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown

separately.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
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Characteristic Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 1992-2002

Ornamental shrub and tree

services (SIC 0783), 2002

Landscaping services

(NAICS 56173), 2003

Floors, walkways, ground

surfaces 7 -- 3

Structures 4 -- Machinery 43 -- 9

Parts and materials 67 9 16

Machine, tool, and electric

parts 57 9 9

Persons, plants, animals, and

minerals 178 17 34

Trees, logs 173 16 29

Tools, instruments, and

equipment 35 3 11

Other 6 -- 5

Liquids (including water) -- -- 3

No secondary source 266 27 59

Footnotes:

(1) This category may include volunteers and other workers receiving compensation.

(2) Includes paid and unpaid family workers, and may include owners of incorporated businesses, or members of partnerships.

(3) In this study, the racial categories "White" and "Black or African American" do not include persons from the ethnic category "Hispanic or

Latino." Hispanic or Latino persons may identify themselves racially as white, black, or another race category.

(4) The primary source of injury identifies the object, substance, or exposure that directly produced or inflicted the injury.

(5) The secondary source of injury, if any, identifies the object, substance, or person that generated the source of injury or that contributed to

the event or exposure. For vehicle collisions, the deceased's vehicle is the primary source and the other object (truck, road divider, etc.) is the

secondary source.

NOTE: Dashes indicate no data or data that do not meet publication criteria. Totals for major categories may include subcategories not shown

separately.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries
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Data for Chart. Fatal occupational injuries among Hispanic workers in the shrub and tree services industry, 1992-2002

Year Number of Fatalities Percent of total fatalities

1992 4 11%

1993 6 11%

1994 4 9%

1995 7 18%

1996 6 9%

1997 6 9%

1998 5 10%

1999 8 13%

2000 8 11%

2001 12 16%

2002 17 24%

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