Injuries have been on the rise among greenhouse workers, which is why the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development (MLITSD) is launching a regional inspection initiative in the west that will focus on greenhouse operations. “Contact with moving parts and falls are resulting in critical injuries and even fatalities. So, the severity is quite high,” says Kristin Hoffman, Senior Sector Specialist, Agriculture with WSPS. 

Incidents in greenhouse operations involve scissor carts, vine-pulling machines, and vine-shredding machines, so that is where MLITSD inspectors will focus their attention. “We’ve seen some growers take the scissor cart off of the heating pipe rails and use it as a platform for maintenance work. This is not what it was intended for,” says Jay Remsik, Health and Safety Consultant with WSPS. “They are not designed to maintain stability when used off the rails,” Kristin adds. “These are narrow carts meant to hold one person. If more than one person is on the platform as it goes up, it could tip over, causing those workers to fall and even get crushed by the equipment.” 

Vine-pulling and vine-shredding machines can be problematic because they present entanglement and amputation hazards. “Basically, vine-pulling machines are rotating shafts and vine-shredding machines are exposed augers,” says Jay. “If a worker were to troubleshoot running equipment without locking it out, they could lose a finger, hand, arm, or worse.” Jay recommends a dedicated crew working with these machines who have received proper training and have the necessary experience to operate them safely. “If a dedicated operator is away, you really can't assign another worker who has never worked with vine-pulling and vine-shredding machines to take their place,” says Jay. Some greenhouse operations have contracted out the tear-out at the end of the season. “It’s fine to do that; however, the greenhouse operator is still responsible for verifying that the workers coming in have completed the required training. They also need to be trained on the specific equipment they will be using to complete the job,” he notes.

Kristin points out the importance of guarding and lockout/tagout when working with these machines. “We know that sometimes guards are removed from vine-pulling and vine-shredding machines because they make it more difficult to position the machine or they impede the flow of waste product,” says Kristin. This can be addressed by using guards that are specifically designed for the machine.  If an obstruction occurs, workers should follow a safe work procedure that involves turning off the machine and locking out the power source before anyone attempts to remove the jam. “Lockout/tagout is crucial. Ensuring the hazardous energy is safely controlled and locked out will prevent the machine from starting up unexpectedly,” she says. 

6 tips to protect greenhouse workers from critical injuries

1. Always use scissor carts according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Do not remove them from the rails. Do not put more than one person on the cart.
2. Survey the rails in your workplace. Check to make sure they are in good condition, not damaged or warped and ensure that the ground beneath the rails is not washed out.
3. Ensure machines are in good working order. Perform regular maintenance on scissor carts, vine-pulling machines, and vine-shredding machines to avoid malfunctions. Have records are available.
4. Establish safe work procedures for each task. Train workers on the safe operation and use of each piece of equipment. Document step-by-step procedures to avoid any ambiguity or confusion about what is expected.
5. Ensure guards are in place, particularly on vine-pulling and vine-shredding machines. Make sure workers understand that guards are not to be removed.
6.  Remove language barriers. Provide training to workers in a language they understand.  Ensure records are available to show inspectors if they ask.

How WSPS can help

To help greenhouse operations prepare for inspector visits in the fall, WSPS is hosting an 
in-person session at the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers location in Leamington on September 2, 2026. For more information, contact Jay Remsik. 

Resources

• Greenhouse Growers Resource Hub 
• Farm Safety Roundup Podcast - Preventing machine entanglements       
• Reduce the risk of falls in greenhouses with these 5 tips (article)
• Lockout Guide
• Keep your greenhouse booming with a healthy workforce: Know the top hazards putting worker safety at risk (article) 
• Safe lifting and moving materials in greenhouses: 5 ways to prevent injuries (article)

 The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.