Employee Safety for Landscape Businesses

Every employer knows employee safety is the right thing to do.  Every smart employer knows the strategic advantage that employee safety contributes to the organization’s culture, team cohesion, and company profitability.  A preventable employee accident, an unanticipated OSHA audit, or an unexpected rise in workers’ compensation premiums all reflect reactive safety after the fact, instead of proactive safety ahead of time.

Safety becomes increasingly salient with the ongoing passage of time.  Historically, it was simply defined by employees’ physical injuries.  Currently, it spans an extremely broad scope:  vehicle review, equipment maintenance, chemical awareness, workplace ergonomics, employee training, performance management, cost accounting, and executive involvement.

A comprehensive, balanced, and efficient safety program blends mandated administrative record keeping and documentation, with behavioral performance indices demonstrating competence, and rigorous measurement criteria indicative of employee well being safety incidence and cost containment.  While capable of extensive reach, a core safety program must contain these elements:

• Injury and Illness Prevention Program
• Fire Prevention
• Emergency Action Plan
• Safety Training Calendar
• Lockout/Tagout
• Hazard Communication Plan
• Accident Investigation Procedures
• Return to Work Program
• Record Keeping Procedures
• Tracking Standards
• OSHA Safety Audit
• Code of Safe Practices

Health is a strategic advantage.  Employee safety underscores a healthy workforce that is productive, collaborative, and effective.  Safety promotes success.  Always have a strategic advantage.