BY MIRABEL ODETA
Landscaping is often viewed as routine outdoor work, but new federal workplace data shows that grounds maintenance has become increasingly dangerous, with the occupation recording a significant rise in fatal injuries over the past decade.
The fatal injury rate for grounds maintenance workers increased from about 13 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2014 to 20.9 per 100,000 in 2024, according to an analysis of federal labor data. The increase placed grounds maintenance among the 10 occupations with the highest fatal injury rates in the United States.
Federal data showed that 239 grounds maintenance workers died from workplace injuries in 2024. The risks associated with the job include operating vehicles and heavy equipment, working with power tools, cutting or removing trees and performing physically demanding work outdoors.
Transportation incidents, falls and contact with heavy equipment were among the major causes of fatal injuries in the occupation. Heat exposure has also become an increasingly important concern for workers who spend long periods outdoors, particularly during periods of extreme temperatures.
Tree trimming and removal have historically been especially hazardous parts of grounds maintenance work. Workers can face serious risks while operating chainsaws and other equipment or working around falling branches and trees.
The broader list of dangerous occupations shows that workers in several industries face significantly higher fatality rates than the average American worker.
Logging workers had the highest fatal injury rate in 2024, at 110.4 deaths per 100,000 workers. The occupation recorded 51 workplace fatalities, with contact with objects or equipment identified as the leading cause.
Fishing and hunting workers ranked second, with a fatal injury rate of 88.8 per 100,000 workers and 24 deaths. Transportation-related incidents were the leading cause of fatalities in that occupation.
Roofers ranked third, recording a fatal injury rate of 48.7 per 100,000 workers and 104 deaths. Falls, slips and trips were the leading cause of fatal injuries among roofers.
Structural iron and steel workers ranked fourth, with a rate of 37.8 deaths per 100,000 workers and 14 fatalities. Falls and contact with objects or equipment were tied as the leading causes.
Refuse and recyclable material collectors ranked fifth, with a fatal injury rate of 37.4 per 100,000 workers and 36 deaths. Transportation incidents were the leading cause of fatalities.
Aircraft pilots and flight engineers ranked sixth, recording 73 workplace deaths and a fatal injury rate of 36.7 per 100,000 workers. Transportation incidents accounted for the leading category of fatal injuries.
Construction trade helpers ranked seventh, with a fatal injury rate of 35.8 per 100,000 workers and 18 fatalities. The leading cause was not published in the data.
Underground mining machine operators ranked eighth, recording a fatal injury rate of 35.6 per 100,000 workers and 12 deaths. The leading cause was also not published.
Driver and sales workers, along with truck drivers, ranked ninth. The group recorded 950 workplace deaths and a fatal injury rate of 25.7 per 100,000 workers, making transportation incidents the leading cause.
Grounds maintenance workers rounded out the top 10, with 239 deaths and a fatal injury rate of 20.9 per 100,000 workers.
The numbers highlight an important distinction between the total number of deaths in an occupation and the likelihood of a worker suffering a fatal injury. Truck drivers, for example, recorded far more workplace deaths than many occupations on the list, but their much larger workforce affects the fatality rate.
Several occupations, meanwhile, became safer between 2014 and 2024. The largest improvement was recorded among aircraft pilots and flight engineers, whose fatal injury rate declined substantially during the period.
Electricians, farmers and ranchers, as well as power-line installation and repair workers, also experienced notable improvements in fatal workplace injury rates.
The trends demonstrate that workplace safety can change significantly over time as industries adopt new equipment, safety procedures, training requirements and technology. At the same time, the rising fatality rate among grounds maintenance workers underscores the risks involved in jobs that are often considered less hazardous than logging, construction, mining or commercial fishing.
For landscaping and grounds maintenance workers, the dangers can come from a combination of machinery, vehicles, elevated work, falling objects and environmental conditions. The data suggests that employers and workers face continuing challenges in reducing those risks and preventing fatal workplace accidents.
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