Safety First

Flying debris, sharp power tools, frequent exposure to loud, obnoxious noises and various chemicals are just some of the daily hazards landscape professionals deal with (see Florida for snakes, gators, and hurricanes, too). This time of year, the hot weather conditions can be particulary challenging for those who work outdoors for a living. The storms are nothing to mess with either.

Even though Florida is known as the "Sunshine State," it's also the lightning capital of the world. If you live here, you can pretty much set your watch by the thunderstorms that blow up around the same time every afternoon during the rainy season.
Landscapers are often, if not always, out at a jobsite during this time of day. There have been plenty of times that I've driven by a group of landscapers mowing, trimming, etc.. in the middle of these monsoons. I guess there are some jobs that just won't wait.

Unfortunately, the bevy of metal-based equipment and tools used also are great lightning rods. Case in point: Just recently, a South Florida landscaper was struck and killed by lightning while mowing a lawn at a Coral Springs apartment complex. According to the Weather Channel, there were seven reported lightning deaths across the U.S. (including the one in Florida) during the week of May 31-June 6 alone. Three out of the seven were garden/yard/landscape-related activities. Frankly, I'm surprised this kind of thing doesn't occur more often.

According to statistics, farming/ranching and tree-cutting-related jobs rank as some of the most dangerous occupations. OSHA has a web page dedicated to landscape/horticultural service hazards and solutions. There's some basic info there, but there also are some items that put some of on-the-job dangers in perspective.

As a weekend warrior, I might not be able to totally identify with what landscapers endure on a daily basis. But as a journalist who covers the Florida nursery and landscape industry, I do appreciate and respect the risks taken. Keep up the good work and be careful.