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www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation January/February 2015 15 Every employer, regardless of the industry, is bound by OSHA's general code known as Section 5 (a) (1), which states that "each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees..." 25 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA- approved state plans outlining their own standards and enforcement policies that must be followed. You can find out if your state has its own plan on the OSHA website https://www. osha.gov/dcsp/osp/. No substItute for traININg Regardless of your niche market within the green industry, your employees are likely using one or more pieces of equipment each day. "Equipment handling is probably the number one safety concern," said Beth Horrigan, co-owner of Apex Turf in Ballston Spa, N.Y. Clearly, all new employees need an orientation to the company's safety procedures and policies. "Our training is first done at the shop to help a new operator become familiar with the machine...how to operate, how to load and unload, what to watch for, etc.," Horrigan said. Additional training at Apex Turf takes place in the field during the new employee's first full week on the job. "Safety training is best done when pairing an inexperienced operator with an experienced one," she added. "An experienced operator travels with the new employee to the job site and oversees the work performed." Companies that employ workers whose first language is not English must provide training in the worker's native language and in terms the worker understands and can relate to. Employees not only need to know how to properly handle the equipment, they need to understand the importance of guarding and shielding for specific machines. The guards are engineered and installed on the equipment to protect a worker, and missing or damaged shields can create a situation leading to an injury. "Providing a safety checklist for each vehicle and having an employee read the machine's operating manuals is very important," said Horrigan. PPE is of equal concern to business owners. Employers are required to provide workers with PPE, be it gloves for hand protection, safety glasses for eye protection or ear plugs for hearing protection to name a few. Not only are employers responsible for providing this equipment, they are also mandated to train workers on how and when to use PPE including, when it is needed, why it is needed, the limitations of PPE, how to properly wear and adjust the PPE and how to care for the PPE. "We make sure safety items like ear plugs, eye protection, gloves, etc. are readily available to all employees," Horrigan said. PPE depends on the task being performed, job site location and the potential hazard. Crews working on highways and interstate plantings are at a high risk for being struck by a vehicle. Safety vests, of a specific color, must be worn by all workers performing tasks near vehicular traffic. A well-documented safety program enforces the business' commitment to providing a safe working environment. Written programs should include hazard communication, accident investigation and a safety committee that meets regularly to continually focus on employee safety. fosterINg a safety cuLture Embracing a culture of safety begins with the owners/managers of the organization. Even if the company's leaders are only stopping by to check-in on a site, they too should use PPE appropriate to the site to demonstrate their commitment to safety. Remembering that safety is an ongoing obligation is also key. Safety training should continue on a regular basis. Manufacturers such as Caterpillar provide easy-to-use "Toolbox Talks" (safety.cat.com) that can be used once a week or once a month to remind employees of the importance of attention to safety. Training on the proper use of equipment is equally important for veteran employees who can easily become complacent or fall into an easy routine. Regularly scheduled safety trainings, tailgate talks or an annual safety training day reinforce the importance of following safety procedures and using PPE. Small to mid-sized businesses can request a free meeting with the State OSHA Consultation Program for a consultation to identify potential hazards — including any that could result in a citation — and offer suggestions on how to decrease hazards. The representative provides a follow-up report highlighting things to work on, and will likely include things business owners would not have considered. Though the State OSHA program is funded by federal OSHA department, it is separate from OSHA enforcement and findings are not submitted to OSHA enforcers. The State Consultation offices are typically located at a university, other college, or within state government. The results of the assessment are not reported to OSHA enforcement, unless the business owner is unwilling to eliminate a "serious" hazard or remove employees from an "imminent danger" situation within an agreed upon timeframe. Learn more about this free service at www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html. "Networking with industry peers and consulting industry websites also provide great sources of information," said Horrigan. Industry associations, including PLANET (landcarenetwork.org), can provide prepared training resources, checklists and training manuals that can be incorporated into any green industry business. Katie Navarra is a landscape industry professional based in New York. She is also an accomplished author and freelance correspondent with more than 200 articles to her credit. She can be reached via e-mail at katienavarra@yahoo.com. LI