FACTS

1. Inadequate PPE Use: Failure to wear appropriate PPE, such as gloves, safety glasses, or ear protection, increases the risk of cuts, eye injuries, or hearing loss from landscaping tasks like trimming or mowing.
2. Improper Fit and Selection: Poorly fitted PPE (e.g., loose gloves, non-ANSI-rated glasses) or choosing incorrect PPE for the task (e.g., no dust masks for pesticide application) reduces protection and safety.
3. Lack of Training: Workers untrained in proper PPE use, maintenance, and storage often misuse or neglect equipment, compromising its effectiveness in preventing injuries.
4. Exposure to Debris and Chemicals: Without safety glasses, face shields, or respirators, landscapers risk eye injuries from flying debris or respiratory issues from dust, pollen, or chemical sprays.
5. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: Not using earplugs or earmuffs during prolonged exposure to loud equipment (e.g., leaf blowers, chainsaws) can lead to permanent hearing damage.
6. Foot and Hand Injuries: Absence of steel-toed boots or cut-resistant gloves leaves workers vulnerable to crush injuries, punctures, or lacerations from tools, machinery, or sharp plants.

STATS

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in 2020 that 30% of landscaping injuries could have been prevented with proper PPE, with eye and hand injuries being the most common among unprotected workers.
• WorkSafeBC noted in 2022 that 18% of landscaping worker injuries in British Columbia were linked to inadequate or missing PPE, particularly gloves and safety glasses during tool use.
• A 2021 OSHA report found that 25% of landscaping industry safety violations involved failure to provide or enforce PPE use, contributing to injuries like cuts and chemical exposures.
• The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) stated in 2023 that landscaping firms with mandatory PPE training and provision reduced injury rates by up to 22%.
• A 2022 Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine study estimated that 15% of landscaping hearing loss cases were due to insufficient use of ear protection during high-noise tasks.
• A 2021 Statistics Canada survey indicated that 10% of landscaping workers reported skin or respiratory issues from chemical exposure, often due to lack of respirators or protective clothing.
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reported in 2023 that 20% of landscaping foot injuries were preventable with steel-toed boots, which were absent in 60% of injury cases.