Landscape Professionals: Watch Out for These Common Work Hazards While You’re On the Job
On-the-job accidents involving landscapers often result in severe and sometimes fatal injuries.
Gardeners, arborists, lawn care specialists, and other people who work in the landscaping and horticultural industry often sustain serious workplace injuries due to risks they face on the job, according to Occupational Health & Safety magazine. Consequently, many landscapers are hurt in work accidents and need to file for workers’ compensation benefits.
Unfortunately, navigating the workers’ comp system can be a challenge. And without experienced legal representation to guide you through this unfamiliar situation, you could lose out on the benefits you’re entitled to under Massachusetts or Rhode Island law. That’s why if you’re a landscaper in either state and you were injured in a work accident, it’s in your interest to talk to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer about your legal rights and options.
Common landscaper injuries
Landscaping workers often suffer severe work-related injuries and illnesses while on the job. On average, 12,380 workers in the landscaping industry suffer serious injuries or illnesses each year, according to work-related injury statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). An additional 122 landscapers die due to fatal workplace injuries or illnesses each year on average as well, according to the BLS.
According to Occupational Health & Safety magazine, common landscaping injuries include:
- Lawn mower injuries
- Heat stroke and heat exhaustion
- Injuries sustained from being struck by falling tree limbs or other falling objects
- Electrocution injuries, especially when landscaping workers come into contact with power lines
- Vibration syndrome injuries caused by operating vibrating lawn equipment such as leaf blowers or lawn mowers
- Hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to dangerously loud landscaping equipment
- Exposure to dangerous or hazardous chemicals
- Injuries due to loose clothing being caught in gears, blades, and other dangerous machines
How to prevent landscaping injuries & accidents
According to Occupational Health & Safety magazine, here are some steps that employers can take to prevent a work accident or illness:
- Properly train workers to safely use equipment, including lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, and other potentially dangerous tools.
- Provide appropriate safety equipment, including protective eyewear, hearing protection, and hard hats.
- Inspect work sites before starting a job to ensure there are no existing hazardous situations, including loose tree limbs or nearby power lines.
- Provide workers with enough water to drink on the job and consider setting up a cooling station.
- Make sure workers take rest breaks, especially on hot and humid days when workers are at risk of sustaining heat illness or heat stroke.
Remember, work-related injuries and illnesses are common among lawn care specialists and other landscaping employees. That means even if you and your employer take precautions, you could still suffer a work injury or illness. Fortunately, injured landscapers generally have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits. Unfortunately, obtaining those benefits isn’t always as easy as it should be. That’s when having an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in your corner can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your case.
Contact a workers’ compensation attorney today.
At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, we have been helping injured workers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for decades. As a result, we understand what it takes to build the strongest possible legal case and know how to fight for the benefits our clients deserve.
To learn more about your legal rights and options, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from one of our three law offices in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. We proudly handle workplace injury claims in both states and look forward to seeing how we can help you.