Personal Protective Equipment – Landscaping Fatality File

Fatal Incident Due to Lack of Personal Protective Equipment in Landscaping

On April 18, 2023, a tragic accident occurred during a commercial landscaping project in Miami, Florida, resulting in the death of a 32-year-old worker, Carlos Hernandez. Hernandez was using a chainsaw to cut tree branches when a large branch fell unexpectedly, striking him on the head. Despite the immediate response from coworkers and emergency services, Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe head trauma.

The investigation revealed that Hernandez was not wearing the required personal protective equipment (PPE) at the time of the incident. Specifically, he was not equipped with a safety helmet, which could have mitigated the severity of the injury. Further investigation showed that the company had not enforced PPE requirements consistently, and employees were often allowed to work without the necessary protective gear.

In response to this tragedy, the landscaping company has implemented strict PPE enforcement policies, requiring all workers to wear helmets, gloves, eye protection, and other relevant safety gear at all times. The company has also initiated mandatory PPE training sessions to ensure that all employees understand the importance of proper protective equipment and how to use it correctly.