Landscapers face perils at work

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 142 workers in the landscaping and groundskeeping industries died from workplace injuries last year.
• That’s one of the reasons why the U.S. Labor Department is urging landscaping industry employers to increase protection efforts this year and be cautious about hiring minors.
• OSHA inspectors said common hazards include exposure to chemicals such as fertilizer and pesticides, respiratory hazards, and lack of personal protective equipment.
• When it comes to hiring minors for summer help, employers should be aware of federal protection laws that restrict employees under 17 from working in hazardous occupations.
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OSHA increases fees for cards

• OSHA is boosting fees for issuing new student course completion cards for its Outreach Training Program.
• Starting Oct. 1, the agency will increase the fee for new course completion cards from $8 to $10 per card.
• OSHA said the increase will address significant cost changes associated with producing and distributing the cards.
• This is the first cost increase since 2017 and the agency will adjust the fee every two years if needed based on the consumer price index.
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Texas looks to curb workplace violence

• The Workplace Violence Prevention Act has passed through the Texas State House and Senate and has been signed into law effective September 1, 2023.
• The bill comes in response to OSHA’s workplace violence guidelines, specifically targeting the healthcare industry.
• The new law defines workplace violence as “an act or threat occurring in the workplace that can include verbal, nonverbal, written or physical aggression, and threatening, and intimidating words or actions, among other violations.
• The bill will require facilities to establish a workplace violence prevention committee, including at least one registered nurse who provides direct patient care.
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Investigation opens after death of worker on motorized scissor lift

• Authorities in Monmouth County, New Jersey, are investigating the death of a Brick Township man while at work at a shopping center.
• Kevin McAdorey, 58, had been using a motorized scissor lift while performing work at the site. The lift was elevated when it came into contact with power lines.
• McAdorey fell to the ground from a distance of approximately 20 feet and was found to be in an unconscious condition. He was pronounced deceased a short while later at  Riverview Medical Center.
• The incident is under investigation by the MTPD as well as the local field office of the federal OSHA
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