Which states take “safety first” seriously for outdoor jobs?
With the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) recently proposed rule for federal heat protections, Lawn Love ranked 2024’s Safest States for Outdoor Workers.
We compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 5 categories. We looked at legislation protecting workers from extreme weather conditions, whistleblower retaliation rights, and employment benefits. We also considered the number of work-related injuries and fatalities, in addition to climate, among 26 total metrics.
See where your state stands in our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the states, see our methodology.
Contents
- Rankings
- Top 5 close up
- Key insights
- Ask the experts
- Behind the ranking
- Final thoughts: Landscaping safely
Rankings
See how each state fared in our ranking:
Top 5 close up
Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top 5 states for outdoor workers.
Whistleblower Retaliation Rights: 2 | Rank: 1 (TIE)
Severe Work-Related Injuries per 100,000 Residents: 0.27 | Rank: 15
Work-Related Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 1.35 | Rank: 10
Air Quality: 26.13 | Rank: 4
Union Membership Rate: 16.5% | Rank: 3
Photo Credit: Vlada Karpovich | Pexels | Pexels License
Total Fines $40,000+ in Last 3 Years (Willful or Repeated): 23 | Rank: 14
Whistleblower Retaliation Rights: 2 | Rank: 1 (TIE)
Severe Work-Related Injuries per 100,000 Residents: 0.31 | Rank: 16
Work-Related Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 1.3 | Rank: 9
Air Quality: 27.22 | Rank: 6
Photo Credit: Barrett Shutt | Pexels | Pexels License
Total Fines $40,000+ in Last 3 Years (Willful or Repeated): 43 | Rank: 22
Whistleblower Retaliation Rights: 2 | Rank: 1 (TIE)
Severe Work-Related Injuries per 100,000 Residents: 0.11 | Rank: 6
Work-Related Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 1.42 | Rank: 16
Air Quality: 30.29 | Rank: 9
Photo Credit: Nicole Geri | Unsplash | Unsplash License
Whistleblower Retaliation Rights: 2 | Rank: 1 (TIE)
Severe Work-Related Injuries per 100,000 Residents: 0.13 | Rank: 9
Work-Related Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 1.28 | Rank: 6
Humidity/Precipitation: 20.27 | Rank: 9
Union Membership Rate: 15.4% | Rank: 6
Photo Credit: Edgar Colomba | Pexels | Pexels License
Severe Work-Related Injuries per 100,000 Residents: 2.23 | Rank: 22
Work-Related Fatalities per 100,000 Residents: 1.26 | Rank: 5
Average Number of Very Hot Days (90+ degrees): 9.78 | Rank: 7
Annual Average Daily Dose of UV Irradiance: 3,002 | Rank: 5
Union Membership Rate: 20.6% | Rank: 2
Photo Credit: Pierre Blaché | Pexels | Pexels License
Key insights
21 states stay prepared with their own OSHA-approved state safety plans, protecting both private and government employees. 8 states require 10-hour or 30-hour OSHA training, which informs and trains workers and supervisors on dealing with typical safety and health hazards.
Statistics show about 2,000 deaths and 170,000 injuries result each year from laboring in extreme heat in the U.S. Only 4 states — Washington (No. 1), Oregon (No. 2), California (No. 4), and Colorado (No. 12) — have laws protecting outdoor workers from extreme heat.
Some states are going so far as to pass legislation preventing local counties and cities from improving work safety standards.
- In July, HB 433 went into effect in Florida (No. 50), specifically banning local heat protections — rest breaks, hydration, safety training, and acclimatization — for workers. Local advocates say Florida farmworkers commonly wear diapers and avoid drinking water at work out of fear of being harassed or fired for taking a break. Florida ranks 41st in union membership with 4.7% of workers in labor unions.
- Texas (No. 39) has the most hot days, averaging 104 days above 90 degrees annually. The Texas Regulatory Consistency Act passed in 2023, preventing cities from enacting a broad range of local regulations, including mandated rest and water breaks and safety training.
- Texas ranks 43rd in union membership with 4.5% of laborers with union representation. The Lone Star State also has the lowest share of workers with health insurance and claims the 12th highest number of severe work-related injuries per 100,000 residents in our ranking.
Hot and humid Southeastern states — Mississippi (No. 48), Alabama (No. 49), and Florida (No. 50) — land at the bottom of our ranking, alongside Arkansas, in last place. On top of a challenging climate, these states have low rates of both union membership and workers with health insurance, and high rates of severe work-related injuries per 100,000 residents.
Standout stats
- Michigan (No. 6) scores near the top with the highest workers’ compensation payout, about 77% of the worker’s weekly wage.
- Hawaii (No. 10) claims the highest union membership rate, 24.1%, followed by New York (No. 5) and Washington (No. 1).
- Ohio (No. 38) businesses have the most willful or repeated fines, 533, worth $40,000 or more each — totaling over $50.6 million.
- North Dakota (No. 46) had the most work-related severe injuries in 2022 — 10.9 per 100,000 residents — followed by Nebraska (No. 37) and South Dakota (No. 42). Wyoming (No. 30) had the most work-related fatalities, 5.9 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Ask the Experts
We turned to a panel of experts for tips on working in hot conditions and how federal heat protections might impact business in the U.S. Read their insights below.
- What are your best 3 tips for outdoor workers to stay cool while laboring outside in the heat?
- How can workers best advocate for their health and safety while working in the heat or other hazardous weather conditions?
- What are 3 ways companies and employers might be impacted — positively or negatively — by implementing safety measures like providing water or shaded breaks during extreme weather conditions?
- Why are states like Florida preventing local governments from requiring companies to implement safe work conditions during extreme heat?
- How could Biden’s proposed rule for protecting workers from excessive heat impact small businesses and/or economic regions where hot weather is most common?
- What are the three biggest risks outdoor workers face on the job?
- What steps should an employee take if they feel like their work environment is unsafe?
What are your best three tips for outdoor workers to stay cool while laboring outside in the heat?
1. The most important tip is to push fluids.
- One cup (8 oz.) of cool water or an electrolyte replacement fluid every 15-20 minutes.
- Four cups of water every hour.
Increased water intake may be needed to account for increased physical exertion and/or sweating.
2. Take rest breaks.
Prolonged physical exertion and muscle activity increases the body’s core temperature and reduces the body’s ability to cool itself.
3. Recognize and report the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses.
This includes watching:
- Urine color
- Body weight
- Loss of fluids
- Body conditions (rash, cramps, feeling dizzy, nauseated, etc.)
What are the three biggest risks outdoor workers face on the job?
Typically, the most important risk for outdoor workers is heat extremes (hot or cold). I would follow this by the OSHE top 2 killers especially for construction workers which are:
- Trenching/excavations
- Falls
Obviously, this depends on what exposures workers have. For example, if they are exposed to vehicular traffic, then motor vehicle accidents would top the above mentioned two hazards.
What steps should an employee take if they feel like their work environment is unsafe?
Workers should have the autonomy to stop the work and remove themselves from a hazardous situation once they perceive one. Sometimes accidents happen because the worker saw the hazard and chose to stay quiet and continue to work.
What are your best three tips for outdoor workers to stay cool while laboring outside in the heat?
1. Drinking cool water is the best way to stay hydrated in hot and/or humid conditions. Be aware that caffeine intake, such as from coffee or energy drinks can have negative effects that can increase heat illness potential. Energy drinks may also have other additives that can increase the likelihood of heat stress.
2. Heat exhaustion can occur in all temperatures but is more likely to occur as the weather gets hotter or more humid. Heat stress can impact how you think – you may not be able to think clearly when you are experiencing a heat event. Have a “heat buddy” that can alert you to take a cooling break.
3. To cool yourself quickly, immerse your hands and forearms in cold water, which has been shown to reduce the effects of heat stress. It feels good, too.
How can workers best advocate for their health and safety while working in the heat or other hazardous weather conditions?
- This should not fall on workers — the managers and leadership should create a psychologically safe space for workers to take breaks in the heat or speak up when they do not feel well. We often say “safety first,” yet create a culture where production is always the most important factor. Allowing workers to succeed in conditions where heat stress is likely, may mean changing our definition of success.
- Workers can “buddy-up” to help each other watch for signs of heat stress and advocate for one another in high heat or humid conditions.
What are three ways companies and employers might be impacted — positively or negatively — by implementing safety measures like providing water or shaded breaks during extreme weather conditions?
1. Productivity can be positively impacted by setting up cooling stations and encouraging workers to take at least a 10-minute break every hour.
2. Cooling stations can include shade, cold water (and caffeine free electrolyte drinks in extreme conditions), and buckets of cold water for dunking hands and arms. The cost of these stations will be negligible compared to the increase in worker comfort and performance ability.
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) plays an important role in heat stress. PPE should be evaluated not only for its protective qualities, but also for breathability and comfort. Covering the skin may be necessary to protect from the sun or other hazards, yet the evaporation of sweat must be considered when choosing the material and structure of the clothing.
Behind the ranking
First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Safest States for Outdoor Workers. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 5 categories: Worker Protection and Safety, Environmental Stressors, Medical Access, Employment & Benefits, and Safety. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
For each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each state to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A state’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 51).
Note: The “Worst” among individual factors may not be No. 51 due to ties.
Sources: American Hospital Directory, Atticus, Federal Emergency Management Agency, GovDocs, National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Neighborhood Scout, OSHA Training, Public Citizen, Statista, Urgent Care Foundation, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Labor
Final thoughts: Landscaping safely
Laborers must take shaded breaks and hydrate to prevent heat illnesses — like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and rhabdomyolysis — from occurring.
Outdoor workers are often weighed down by their gear, from boots to hard hats to respirators. Advancements in robotic thermally-insulated work clothes may help them stay cool in the future.
Safety is key for all outdoor jobs — including lawn care and landscaping. 1,072 landscaping and groundskeeping workers died on the job between 2011 and 2021. Last year, OSHA began a regional program to prevent injuries and fatalities of landscaping and horticultural workers in Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Equipment thefts are also hurting lawn care businesses across the country. Pros should consider using tracking devices, security cameras, and alarm systems to protect their property.
Stay safe on the job (or in your backyard) with help from our guides below.
- Lawn Mower Safety Tips
- Yard Work Safety Tips
- How to Cut Down a Tree Safely
- How to Remove Snow Safely
- For lawn care business owners: Do You Need Lawn Care Insurance?
Take a break on your day off and hire a Lawn Love crew to handle your yard chores.
If you work in lawn care and landscaping, consider signing up to be a Lawn Love pro.
Media resources
Main Photo Credit: standret | Adobe Stock | License
