risk assessment

business

Lawn or landscape service

Allied understands that you take pride in your green thumb. We also know that no two gardeners, mowing services, groundskeepers, tree-trimmers, snowplow operators or landscape designers are the same. We’ve listed some common risks facing landscape businesses below. For truly personalized business solutions, contact your local, independent Allied agent for more details.

High risk

Workers' compensation

When dealing with spinning blades, chippers, choppers, blowers, whackers and mulchers, even a minor misstep can bring major injuries. Accidents aren’t the only workers’ compensation risk, though. Repetitive stress or gradual illnesses from exposures can also produce a claim.

• Train employees to operate tools, especially mowers, earth movers, and saws
• Require personal protective equipment like goggles, gloves, hearing protection, masks, hard hats and sturdy footwear
• Make sure outdoor workers know about bee stings, snake bites, and poison ivy, so that minor irritations don’t become dangerous infections
• Use ladders as directed, for the intended purpose, and on steady surfaces
• Learn about ergonomics and warning signs of risk factors, including awkward posture, high hand force, repetitive motion and heavy lifting
• Be extra careful when you’re outdoors in extreme temperatures

Workers’ Compensation laws are different for each state. Check with the US Department of Labor to find specific information about yours.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) posted information on landscaping job safety for teen workers. Even if you don’t hire teens, they offer great tips.

Auto/fleet

Since you travel to job sites to complete contracts, you need to practice fleet safety. Hauling equipment or supplies on a trailer increases your risk. Most personal auto insurance doesn’t apply to accidents that happen on business time. Be sure you’re covered, in case of emergency.

• Pack tools or supplies securely, to reduce distraction to the driver
• Secure loose items to avoid something falling onto the roadway
• Require all employees to wear safety belts
• Check tires, brakes, lights, wipers and fluids regularly
• Provide a cell phone in case drivers need to contact you, but be sure to remind them to pull over in a safe location before they call
• Log maintenance, repairs and accidents
• If you have a trailer, provide extra training for turning, stopping and reversing
• Don’t put your keys in the hands of an unsafe driver. Check the driving records of anyone who uses company vehicles

For more on driving safely, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Product liability

Your product is the quality of your service, which means your business may be at a risk for liability expenses related to dry or dead patches of grass, planting the wrong flowers, trimming the wrong trees, pest trouble or other damage.

• Follow manufacturer guidelines for pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer application
• Never substitute parts in decorative pieces you install, like ponds and fountains, or they might not work properly
• Choose a quality control person to watch for recalls and double-check your work before you leave an area
• Measure before planting to allow clearance of branches and roots from homes, underground pipes or cables, and other structures
• Teach customers about risks and benefits and get consent before you start work
• Check with customers to avoid seasonal allergic reactions
• Put contact information on your receipts, or leave a business card

By keeping on top of what’s new in the industry, you provide higher quality plant care. For industry tips, check out the American Nursery and Landscape Association, (ANLA).

Medium risk

General liability

It’s easy to see why you love your work. But, trimming, grooming and pruning at a job site can open you to liability risks. Any sort of harm to visitors while you’re working can hurt your bottom line. Keep it safer by planning ahead, staying alert, and having a policy for damage control.

• Put waste in proper containers, especially chemicals or yard waste
• Practice safe traffic control when working near roads
• Children might think work sites are a cool place to explore, so take measures to protect kids and your equipment
• Use a calendar to remind you to inspect equipment and keep blades sharp
• Put up warning signs around work zones
• Obey noise and pollution control regulations for your city
• Limit visitors or customers in a work area unless escorted by an employee
• Check for debris prior to mowing, so the blades can’t throw rocks or branches at high speeds

For information about pollution and safe disposal of certain types of hazardous materials, visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Fire

Work areas can catch and spread fire quickly, especially if you’re using certain fertilizers, refueling your machines, or conditions are hot and dry. So extra planning around fire safety can help. Your fire risk varies with how much and what type of work you do, but keeping a watchful eye on all potential hazards will help you stay ready.

• Never store combustible materials next to mechanical equipment
• Refuel in designated areas
• Keep supplies away from light fixtures or heat sources when you store them
• Use UL approved storage containers for combustible chemicals. 
• Ground flammable liquids while you pour them to prevent static electricity sparks
• Check for frayed or loose wires and connections on power tools
• Dispose of grass clippings, leaves, brush and other combustible waste carefully
• Have fire drills and train employees to watch for potential hazards

For additional information on fire safety and prevention at work and at home, visit the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and FireSafety.gov.

Equipment failure

Modern machinery helps you work more efficiently, and you can get behind schedule if you have to work at less than normal speed. So, plan now for what you need in a major outage, before you’re caught off guard.

• Prepare for breakdowns by finding equipment rental and repair companies
• Keep grinding and cutting blades sharp
• Train employees on minor maintenance
• Come up with a plan for working without certain machines
• Organize warranty, purchase and lease information

Data loss

To keep up with competition, inventory and customers, you probably use computers. If you have a website or make virtual design layouts, you use them even more. So, you know that when computers have problems, business suffers. Don’t go back to pencils and notebooks just yet -- with a little planning, you can work around occasional system failures.

• Keep paper copies of electronic records and update once a month
• Backup computer files daily or weekly on a disk and store offsite
• Install a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) to give you time to make a clean shut down during power surges or blackouts
• Create a recovery kit, including system disks, registration, manuals and a recent backup
• Use and update anti-virus software
• Train everyone on startup, data entry and shutdown
• If you have questions, contact a technical support person. Most computer retailers have contact information for reliable technical assistance if you need it

Learn more about protecting yourself from internet threats by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s Information Security website.

Low risk

Professional liability

If your expert advice ends up causing harm to someone, you run the risk professional liability. Instructing or consulting others and making custom fixtures may increase this risk. You may also be responsible if you recommend a product to someone and an injury occurs.

• Don't exaggerate the performance of a product 
• Teach customers about plants that are good for their climate zone
• Assign a quality control officer to double-check your work before you leave and to follow up with customers
• Tell customers whether or not you use chemical pesticides or fertilizers

Visit the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) for information on training and certification.

Crime/theft

Landscape businesses are sometimes tempting for thieves. It may be easy to re-sell stolen goods, and they may think your work is distracting enough to allow them to go unnoticed around work or storage areas. Don’t leave your assets vulnerable. Make your business as unattractive as possible to criminals.

• Put vehicles, tools and supplies indoors overnight, keeping the keys with you, not in the ignitions
• Install an alarm on trailers or temporary storage
• Mark equipment with ownership identification to help find stolen items
• Use internal controls to deter employee theft
• Keep a standard opening and closing procedure, it makes it easier to notice when something’s wrong
• Be sure your job sites and building(s) are well lit, inside and out
• Tell the local police department about deliveries, schedules and activities so they know when something seems strange

The National Crime Prevention Council has additional information and tips for reducing all types of crime, including theft and violence prevention for homes and for businesses.

For even more information, and to keep posted on the latest tips and trends, visit:

• Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
• National Safety Council
• Institute for Business and Home Safety
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• US Department of Homeland Security

The information contained herein is intended to assist you in making decisions that may reduce your risk of loss, but is not intended as an inclusive list of all risks. The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and its employees make no guarantee of results, and assume no liability in connection with the safety and loss control suggestions or information contained herein. Furthermore, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety or loss control method is contained in this publication, or that unusual circumstances may not require additional methods. The maintenance of safe premises, operations, and equipment is your legal responsibility. Nationwide cannot and does not guarantee that any of the advice is in compliance with your specific state laws.