Workplace safety should be a priority for every business.

Work-related injuries and illnesses cost employers more than $1 billion a week in workers’ compensation-related costs for non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses, according to a recent news article published by EHS Today.

However, injuries and illnesses sustained on the job cost people more than just money. For example, nearly 5,000 workers are killed annually in work-related accidents or due to work-related illnesses, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Employers and employees must do everything possible to prevent work accidents. Recently, EHS Today offered 7 suggestions to keep workers safe.

EHS safety tips

EHS Today recently offered seven recommendations to keep workers safe. They are:

• Normalize risk assessment – This suggestion involves regularly assessing possible risks workers may face and making adjustments to prevent workplace accidents. For example, observe how workers lift heavy objects and provide adequate training to help prevent an injury when performing that task.
• Make safety rules part of the job description – This proactive step sends a strong message to employees that workplace safety is part of the job.
• Create a work safety culture – Don’t just occasionally mention workplace safety. Protecting workers’ health and well-being is a daily part of a company’s operations.
• Provide Proper PPE – Ensure employees have the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) to do their job safely. Also, make sure employees actually use the equipment when it’s required.
• Allow remote work, if possible – Employees who can do their job remotely should be allowed to do so, especially if the employee isn’t feeling well. Working remotely prevents other workers from being exposed to possible diseases and illnesses.
• Provide ergonomic training – Companies need to ensure workers are safely operating equipment at work and not putting unnecessary strain on their arms, back, shoulders, and other body parts.
• Develop onsite injury assessment – In some instances, a medical professional can assess a worker’s injury using telemedicine to determine if the injured worker needs additional in-person medical care.

Other ways to prevent workplace injuries

Along with the seven suggestions provided by EHS Today, there are other steps employers can take to prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, including:

• Regularly inspect workplaces to make sure there are no hazardous conditions that could result in a workplace accident.
• Create a process for employees to report unsafe working conditions or concerns to the company, such as an anonymous tip line or suggestion box.
• Hold regular staff meetings with workers to address all their safety concerns.

Taking measures to improve workplace safety and prevent accidents is a step in the right direction. Nevertheless, it’s important to realize that work accidents will still happen. It’s also important to note that injured workers have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits. However, the process isn’t easy, and it’s common for hurt workers to encounter many obstacles in pursuit of the benefits they deserve.

If you were hurt at work in Massachusetts or Rhode Island, you need to fully understand your rights. More specifically, you need to talk to a workers’ compensation attorney who can listen to your situation and clearly explain your legal options. Depending on the circumstances of your work injury or illness, you may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits and additional forms of compensation.

Contact our law firm for a free case evaluation.

At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, we take pride in helping the hard-working people of Massachusetts and Rhode Island get the workers’ compensation benefits they’re entitled to under the law. Our dedicated legal team has the knowledge, experience, and resources to handle every aspect of your claim and will not rest until you get the outcome you deserve.

Contact us today to learn more about your legal rights and options during a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from our law firm. We have three offices conveniently located in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and handle workplace injury claims in both states.

On-the-job accidents involving landscapers often result in severe and sometimes fatal injuries.

Gardeners, arborists, lawn care specialists, and other people who work in the landscaping and horticultural industry often sustain serious workplace injuries due to risks they face on the job, according to Occupational Health & Safety magazine. Consequently, many landscapers are hurt in work accidents and need to file for workers’ compensation benefits.

Unfortunately, navigating the workers’ comp system can be a challenge. And without experienced legal representation to guide you through this unfamiliar situation, you could lose out on the benefits you’re entitled to under Massachusetts or Rhode Island law. That’s why if you’re a landscaper in either state and you were injured in a work accident, it’s in your interest to talk to an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer about your legal rights and options.

Common landscaper injuries

Landscaping workers often suffer severe work-related injuries and illnesses while on the job. On average, 12,380 workers in the landscaping industry suffer serious injuries or illnesses each year, according to work-related injury statistics compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). An additional 122 landscapers die due to fatal workplace injuries or illnesses each year on average as well, according to the BLS.

According to Occupational Health & Safety magazine, common landscaping injuries include:

• Lawn mower injuries
• Heat stroke and heat exhaustion
• Injuries sustained from being struck by falling tree limbs or other falling objects
• Electrocution injuries, especially when landscaping workers come into contact with power lines
• Vibration syndrome injuries caused by operating vibrating lawn equipment such as leaf blowers or lawn mowers
• Hearing loss due to prolonged exposure to dangerously loud landscaping equipment
• Exposure to dangerous or hazardous chemicals
• Injuries due to loose clothing being caught in gears, blades, and other dangerous machines

How to prevent landscaping injuries & accidents

According to Occupational Health & Safety magazine, here are some steps that employers can take to prevent a work accident or illness:

• Properly train workers to safely use equipment, including lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, and other potentially dangerous tools.
• Provide appropriate safety equipment, including protective eyewear, hearing protection, and hard hats.
• Inspect work sites before starting a job to ensure there are no existing hazardous situations, including loose tree limbs or nearby power lines.
• Provide workers with enough water to drink on the job and consider setting up a cooling station.
• Make sure workers take rest breaks, especially on hot and humid days when workers are at risk of sustaining heat illness or heat stroke.

Remember, work-related injuries and illnesses are common among lawn care specialists and other landscaping employees. That means even if you and your employer take precautions, you could still suffer a work injury or illness. Fortunately, injured landscapers generally have the right to seek workers’ compensation benefits. Unfortunately, obtaining those benefits isn’t always as easy as it should be. That’s when having an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer in your corner can make a meaningful difference in the outcome of your case.

Contact a workers’ compensation attorney today.

At the Law Offices of Deborah G. Kohl, we have been helping injured workers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for decades. As a result, we understand what it takes to build the strongest possible legal case and know how to fight for the benefits our clients deserve.

To learn more about your legal rights and options, contact us today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney from one of our three law offices in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. We proudly handle workplace injury claims in both states and look forward to seeing how we can help you.