Expert’s advice: Greg Ambrose, from Cleveland, Ohio, a hardscape consultant with Vander Kooi & Associates, says worker safety requires regular maintenance and updating just like equipment check-ups. Ambrose says improper lifting of heavy and awkward items can cause back and neck injuries, and it’s a good idea to refresh yourself on safe lifting practices even if you think you know the information. “I would look at this accident and try to determine if the worker had been wearing safety gear such as steel-tipped boots and gloves. The boots could have prevented him from slipping and the gloves give a stronger grip,” he says. Other factors leading to the accident include the incorrect assessment of the weight and awkwardness of the planter and the roughness of the terrain. The worker could have used a dolly or lifting device or carried it with another worker. Ambrose says most accidents result from haste and not necessarily from lack of information.
Hardscape Safety: Lifting
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