While business booms for Ontario’s greenhouse industry, health and safety professionals have noted a concerning trend: injuries from falls have been increasing. “Between 2020 and 2023, we have noticed a sharp increase in falls among greenhouse workers,” says Nicole Sherman, Health and Safety Consultant with WSPS.

According to injury statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), the number of workers who experienced an injury after falling to a lower level has increased in recent years, but the majority of fall injuries have been occurring when workers slip or trip while working at ground level. “Many of these injuries seem to be related to the walkways and floors that workers are walking on, so it really comes down to the condition of the walking surfaces,” says Nicole.

Good housekeeping procedures are essential

Hoses, extension cords, uneven ground, water, and debris from the plants or other materials are all common things that contribute to slips, trips, and falls in greenhouses. “It’s generally a combination of things that causes a worker to slip or trip, so the best way to prevent falls is to keep walkways and work areas clear and dry,” says Nicole. “It’s not enough to tell workers to keep walkways clean. Employers should develop and document detailed housekeeping procedures that are specific to the work area and the equipment being used.”

Housekeeping procedures should be specific about where certain equipment goes when it’s not in use. Procedures should also include a schedule outlining how often a particular area is supposed to be cleaned up. Assigning a clean-up crew is an effective way to ensure clean-up is done because it allocates resources to the task. “Specify when it is going to be done, how it is going to be done, and who is going to do it,” says Nicole.

Once robust housekeeping procedures are in place and workers have been trained, the final piece is monitoring and enforcement. “Housekeeping procedures need to be followed up with monitoring and enforcement by supervisors,” says Nicole. It’s important for workers to know the expectations when it comes to housekeeping and understand why it matters. As part of training, discuss the impact a fall injury can have on their life and explain how following housekeeping procedures reduces the risk.

 Five ways to prevent falls in greenhouses

Whether it’s from falling off a ladder or slipping on fallen produce, greenhouse workers are getting hurt. In addition to establishing detailed housekeeping procedures, here are five things employers can do to reduce the risk of falls and protect their workers.

1. Train workers on the hazards and controls. Good training is always one of the most important things employers can do to protect workers. Clearly explain what the hazards are and what controls have been put in place to reduce risk. Make sure everyone understands safe work procedures. If language is a barrier for some workers, use pictures, a translation app or a translator to get the message across. Verify understanding by observing the worker complete the task safely.
2. Complete regular maintenance and inspections. Conduct pre-use inspections on all equipment and applicable structures (e.g., ladders, rail systems, scissor carts) before use to ensure everything is in good working order. Pay particular attention to water systems. If not properly maintained, water systems have the potential to leak, and leaky equipment will quickly create a slip hazard.
3. Assess the use of extension cords. If workers are relying on long extension cords stretched out across walkways to get their work done, it may be time to install more electrical outlets. “This will eliminate this trip hazard by removing the need for permanent use of extension cords,” Nicole points out.
4. Monitor regularly. Supervisors should check work areas regularly to ensure clean-up procedures are being followed. Don’t wait until someone gets hurt before realizing that a clean-up task was misunderstood or not completed.
5. Give workers time to complete the job properly. “Feeling rushed at work is common, but we have to be careful because when workers feel pressure to work quickly, that’s when they cut corners,” says Nicole. Ensure your workers have the time required to follow proper procedure.

Have health and safety questions?  WSPS is here to help. Contact us at 1-877-494-9777 or contact WSPS Customer Care online, and a member of the team will contact you.

This article was originally published in The Grower.

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