FOR SAFETY SAK E
continued from page 16 • Tool Choice – Teach your employees to choose the tool that is right for the job they need to complete. This may not always be the easiest tool to use, or the tool that accomplishes the job in the quickest amount of time.
• Weather – Employees should dress appropriately for the weather conditions of the day, including layers of clothing in the winter to prevent cold-weather related conditions like frostbite. On bright winter days, make sunscreen available. Employees should avoid using electric pruning tools or equipment in rainy, wet or dangerous weather conditions.
• Ladder Safety – make sure your workers know how to choose the right type of ladder for the job. Ladders should never be used to support more than their maximum load rating (user plus materials). There should only be one person on the ladder at a time. The proper length of a ladder is a minimum of 3 feet extending over the roof line
18 | Official Publication of The Ohio Landscape Association
or working surface. All metal ladders should have slipresistant feet. Along with that, metal ladders will conduct electricity, so use only wooden or fiberglass ladders in the vicinity of power lines or electrical equipment. The ground under the ladder should be level and firm. Large flat wooden boards braced under the ladder can level a ladder on uneven or soft ground.
• Repetitive Tasks – Reduce the risk of muscle and joint injuries by encouraging short, frequent breaks when employees are completing repetitive tasks. Doing stretches before, during, and after work is also beneficial. Consider using battery-powered electric hand shears which distribute weight more evenly.
• Power Line – Workers should always be aware of power lines. It is recommended that only professional tree services prune or trim branches or trees within 10 feet of power lines.