Total Landscape Care Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/85696
Out on a Limb? BY PETER GERSTENBERGER If you're contemplating tree work, know the risks. L andscapers in today's challenging economy are motivated by their competition and lure of profits to diversify their services and pro- vide a steadier income to a loyal workforce. There certainly can be benefits in becoming a full-service business and adding tree service to your portfolio, but there is risk, as well. Being a "tree guy," I can tell you that failure in tree work can have catastrophic results. Tree work is among the most dangerous occupations. So, if you are contemplating adding tree service to your business or if you already have one, pay particu- lar attention to how you recognize and train for the acute hazards inherent in this work. Be aware that the moment you decide to ask your employees to leave the ground as part of their daily jobs, you add signifi- cant risks, liabilities, insurance costs and regulatory complexity to your business. An average of 197 landscape service workers died from on-the-job injuries each year between 2003 and 2006, according to a recent publication from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), Publication No. 2008-144: Fact Sheet — Fatal Injuries Among Landscape Services Workers. 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. The statistics are sobering when you consider that many of these accidents are happening in a relatively 48 TOTAL LANDSCAPE CARE / February 2012