Top Work-Related Injuries for Landscapers

Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Travelers Insurance’s peer data from 2020 to 2025 report showcases the top work-related injury causes within the landscape industry.  Looking at the top of this list, slip/trips/falls as well as strains account for roughly 40% of the injuries reported. 

With the state of the worker’s compensation marketplace clearly hardening, as shown by the proposed 11% increase to the pure premium rates in CA, now is a great time to make sure your landscape company is focused on preventing these top work-related injuries. (Learn more about the pure premium increase.)

Managing and accounting for slips, trips and falls for landscape companies can be difficult. Best-in-class landscape companies mitigate these claims by managing their job hazard analyses (JHAs). Documenting and communicating to the crew these JHAs can be very beneficial in the prevention of slips trips and falls.  Examples include calling out a portion of the sidewalk that may be uneven due to a root, or a hole in the grass. It can also include identifying  a slippery slope if it had just rained the night before, or perhaps when crew members are working in the morning hours when dew is present. Staying diligent with your company’s JHAs can help reduce these slip trips and falls.

The second major cause of work-related injuries referenced for landscape companies would be strains.  The day-to-day demands of being a landscape professional can be very taxing on the body as it is a very physical occupation. To help mitigate some of these strains, landscape companies should consider implementing a mobility and stretch program into their organization’s daily routine. This would consist of the crews getting together either in the morning at the yard, or at their respective jobsites and performing a quick 5 minute stretch routine to make sure their bodies are ready for the physical activity of the day. Rancho Mesa’s Mobility & Stretch™ Program offers an effective way to ensure employees are stretching prior to performing their job duties.

With workers’ compensation rates on the rise, now is a great time to revisit these key elements of your safety program and make sure your team is doing everything possible to help mitigate future work-related injuries.

For more information or to learn more about our safety resources, email me at ggarcia@ranchomesa.com or (619) 438-6905.