Landscaping - Lawn Care Safety Process Template (by Chorbie)

Overview

At [business name], we value safety first. Period. That's why it's important that you read and always follow each safety policy outlined in this subject. Let's make sure you're prepared to complete each job safely.

After you've completed this subject, you'll understand:

• Job site safety protocols
• How to safely use our tools
• How to properly mix chemicals
• How to read product labels

Job Site Safety Protocols

Necessary PPE

We require the following PPE to be worn/brought to each job:

• Waterproof, steel-toed, closed-toed boots  
• Jeans
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Pair PVC gloves
• Safety goggles
• Ear protection
• Mask
• Apron
• Sunscreen
• First aid kit
• Common Sense! Don't just have your PPE, use it.

You have an allowance each year to spend on the PPE not provided to you. Ask your supervisor about this.

Preventing and Managing Fires

Here are some tips to follow (when possible) for preventing fires during your work:

• Mow in the cooler parts of the day (before 10 a.m.)
• Do not mow when it’s windy or excessively dry.
• Mow growing/live lawns only (not dry/dead)
• Survey the area and remove any rocks and weeds before mowing
• Keep equipment exhaust systems, spark arresters, and mowers in proper working order and free of carbon buildup
• Use the recommended grade of fuel and don’t "top it off" (AKA do not keep filling past the fill point)
• Don’t drive your vehicle onto dry grass or brush
• Keep a cell phone, shovel, and fire extinguisher on hand for every job

Maintaining Fires

A fire can be an extremely dangerous situation, one in which you should take extreme caution.

If there is a small, manageable fire, remain calm and use your provided fire extinguisher to take care of the situation. After you put it out, you'll need to contact your supervisor to advise them of the situation.

If the fire is out of hand, please stop and call 911 immediately to get the fire department out as soon as possible. Then call your supervisor to explain the situation.

First Aid

We keep first aid kits in the trucks you take to each job, just in case you experience a minor injury while on the job or driving to your job.

Here's what you'll find in the first aid kit:

• Compress dressings
• Variety of bandaid sizes and shapes
• Adhesive cloth tape
• Antibiotic ointment packets
• Antiseptic wipe packets
• Packets of aspirin
• Tweezers
• Oral thermometer
• Sterile gauze pads
• Hydrocortisone ointment packets
• Breathing barrier

Minor injuries

If you find yourself in a situation where you are hurt, please do what is required to take care of yourself! If you get a small scrape, use your standard first aid kit to patch yourself up, and you can likely get back to your route without much of a hiccup.

Serious and Emergency Injuries

Roll an ankle, get chemical burns, get chemicals in your eyes, get bit by a dog, get into a car accident, or something of the like — this is considered a situation where the rest of your day is likely to be negatively impacted.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation, please remain calm, work towards a solution, and communicate with your supervisor. Essentially, if your first aid kit is insufficient to get you back on track, you need to stop, seek medical attention (if necessary), and communicate with your supervisor with a phone call.

Sun Exposure

Sunlight contains ultraviolet radiation, which causes painful sunburns, premature skin aging, cataracts, and skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, and sun exposure causes more than 90% of skin cancer cases (Skin Cancer Foundation). Because you spend so many of your working hours outdoors, your risk for skin cancer and other problems related to sun exposure is significant. Today, we’ll talk about precautions you should take to lessen this risk.

Sunscreen

• Wear SPF-30 or higher sunscreen and lip balm that blocks UVB and UVA rays.
• Apply 1 oz (about a shot glass full) of sunscreen
• Use sunscreen every day you work outside, including cloudy days. Up to 80% of ultraviolet radiation can penetrate cloud cover.
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before sun exposure and reapply it every 2 hours. Also, reapply after sweating a great deal or toweling off.

Cover Your Skin

• Wear lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and pants — but be aware that regular clothing doesn’t provide full protection from UV radiation. A wet, white cotton T-shirt, for example, offers an SPF of only 3. On the other hand, darker colors and tightly woven fabrics provide more protection.
• Wear clothing with embedded sunscreens and laundry detergents that increase your clothing’s ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). Fabrics usually have a UPF rating instead of an SPF rating. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a UPF of 30–49 is very good and 50 or higher is excellent.
• Wear hats with at least a 4-inch brim and a drape to cover the back of your neck. That way, it shades your face, ears, and neck, as well as the top of your head.

Protect Your Eyes

• Wear sunglasses or safety glasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
• Protective eyewear with the ANSI Z-87 2010 designation found imprinted on the glasses will provide this protection.

What Doesn't Help

• Removing your shirt. People sometimes think this will give them an even “base tan” that will protect them during future sun exposure, but this is a myth. Chronic sun exposure that creates a “base tan” increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
• Having naturally dark skin. Skin cancer caused by sun exposure occurs in all ethnic groups.

Signs of Skin Cancer

Non-melanoma (skin) cancer usually appears on the face, ears, neck, lips, shoulders, arms, and the backs of hands. Melanomas (skin cancers) typically form on the trunk, chest, and back.

Look out for:

• Spots on your skin that change size, shape, or color, or that are itchy or painful.
• Pale, pearly, wax-like nodules.
• Red, scaly, sharply outlined patches.
• Sores that don’t heal.
• Moles that have irregular borders, non-uniform coloring, or asymmetrical shapes (This may indicate melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer).

If you are concerned about your skin, we encourage you to see your primary care physician. Please connect with your supervisor to ask about taking sick time for this as needed.

Tool Safety

Skid Steer

When using a skid steer, always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for operation. And be sure to fully complete skid steer training prior to use.

Here are some general safety tips for operating a skid steer:

• Always wear your seatbelt or restraint bar
• Stay seated while operating
• Inspect the skid steer prior to use to ensure nothing is broken
• Do not work in areas where your team members are also working on foot. If you see someone nearby your skid steer while operating, stop working and ensure they leave your work area before you continue working.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times during operation so you don't hit another team member with your skid steer. Always look behind you before backing up.
• Do not work under the raised arms or bucket of a skid steer, even if it's turned off. Always lower the skid steer bucket before getting out.

Plow Truck

When using a plow truck, always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for operation. And be sure to fully complete plow truck training prior to use.

Here are some general safety tips for operating a plow truck:

• Use caution when climbing into the truck
• Always wear your seatbelt
• Stay seated while operating
• Inspect the plow truck prior to use to ensure nothing is broken
• Raise the blade when going over delicate surfaces to not scrape them
• Always plow away from buildings when right next to them
• Turn around to be aware of your surroundings when backing up — don't just rely on your mirrors
• Plow into areas away from sidewalks and parking spaces
• Never block access to driveways, mailboxes, fire hydrants, dumpsters, water drains, or electrical boxes with piles

Snowrator

When using a Snowrator, always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for operation. And be sure to fully complete Snowrator training prior to use.

Here are some general safety tips for operating a Snowrator:

• Always wear your seatbelt or restraint bar
• Stay seated while operating
• Inspect the Snowrator prior to use to ensure nothing is broken
• Every month, tighten all nuts, bolts, and screws and check that all fasteners are properly installed
• Do not work in areas where your team members are also working on foot. If you see someone nearby your Snowrator while operating, stop working and ensure they leave your work area before you continue working.
• Be aware of your surroundings at all times during operation so you don't hit another team member with your Snowrator. Always look behind you before backing up.

Line Trimmer

When using a line trimmer, always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for operation. And be sure to fully complete line trimmer training prior to use.

Here are some general safety tips for operating a line trimmer:

• Inspect the area and pick up any objects like sticks, stones, pieces of glass/metal/plastic that could be thrown by the trimmer
• Inspect the line trimmer prior to use to ensure nothing is broken
• Make sure the cutting head and shield are securely in place
• Make sure the cord does not have fraying or damage
• Always wear these when using:
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Gloves
• Long pants
• Fitted clothing (loose clothing could get caught on the trimmer when using)
• Secure, close-toed shoes
• Operate in outdoor areas only (not in garages or sheds, as this puts you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning)
• Do not work on areas that are not reachable with both feet planted firmly on the ground
• Only add fuel when the trimmer is cold (has not been recently used)
• Shut off the grass trimmer and disconnect the spark plug wire or electric cord before performing mechanical adjustments, maintenance, repairs, or cleaning
• Lubricate the trimmer once per month

Blower

When using a blower, always adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for operation. And be sure to fully complete blower training prior to use.

Here are some general safety tips for operating a blower:

• Inspect the blower prior to use to ensure nothing is broken.
• Always wear these when using:
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Gloves
• Long pants
• Secure, close-toed shoes
• Operate in outdoor areas only (not in garages or sheds, as this puts you at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning)
• Do not work on areas that are not reachable with both feet planted firmly on the ground.
• Shut off the blower disconnect the spark plug wire or electric cord before performing mechanical adjustments, maintenance, repairs, or cleaning
• Make sure bystanders, including other team members, are at least 50 feet away. Stop blowing if you are approached.

Mixing Protocols & Product Label Education

Chemical Product Label Breakdown

Next, we'll go over how to properly read a product label. It's important that you understand what the elements of a product label mean for the following reasons:

• Safety — for yourself and others
• Protection — of the landscape and your working environment
• Using the correct amount of chemical to get the job done — no more, no less
• Proper application of the chemical you’re using
• Understanding what a product kills and/or what growth it promotes
• Understanding first aid procedures in case of an accident

Learn how to read a chemical product label in the video below:

Chemical Mixing Protocols

Now we will review how to safely and accurately measure and mix the chemicals we use.

1. Loosen spray rig lid and place lid in a secure area
2. Shake up first product
3. Grab a mixing jug and place it on an even surface
4. Pour appropriate amount of chemical  #1 (based on mixture rate) into your mixing jug
5. Pour the chemical into the spray rig at an even pace to prevent splashing
6. Pour appropriate amount of chemical #2 (based on mixture rate) into your mixing jug
7. Pour the chemical into the spray rig at an even pace to prevent splashing
8. Continue pouring chemicals/water into your mixing jug and then into your spray rig until all products are mixed
9. Secure the spray rig lid back on the tank
10. Start the tank motor to agitate the tank to mix the added chemicals for 5-10 minutes
11. Tighten chemical caps tightly for any leftover chemicals and put them back into the storage unit

Note: When you empty out a jug, rinse it out with water 3 times and carefully cut a hole in it before disposing of it.‍

Wear all PPE (personal protective equipment) and read the chemical product label to determine the appropriate mixture rate before starting this process.

See this process in action in the video below.

Recap

Congrats — you've finished the Lawn Care Safety subject! 🎉

You should now be able to:

• Follow all job site safety protocols
• Safely use our tools
• Properly mix chemicals
• Read product labels

If you are unclear about how to do anything listed above, go back and review the previous topics.

Remember: If you forget anything that you learn in this subject, you can go back and look at it at any time! And be sure to download the Trainual mobile app for iOS or Android for when you're on the go.