Landscape Architect Articles

LSMP Labor September 200409-01-04 | News

Tree Dangers Near Overhead Lines

A power outage in the making–winter storms cause tree branches to bend from the weight of ice, causing catastrophic contact with overhead electric utility lines.

When tempted to trim trees near overhead lines, remember that state and federal laws prohibit any person from working within 10 feet of any electric power line or facility without proper training and certification. Never attempt to trim or remove any tree next to a power line. Instead notify your local electric utility company to schedule a trimming call.

Most electric utility companies use private contractors like Asplundh Tree Expert Company and Nelson Tree Service to perform the majority of their tree pruning. Those companies are nationally recognized as professional arboricultural companies and must meet and maintain specific OSHA safety standards, ANSI pruning techniques and other professional standards guidelines in order to retain the contract on a year-to-year basis.

Wage and Hour Exemption Reform Moves Forward

Congressional passage of recent spending bills include proposed changes to wage and hour exemption requirements. The wage and hour exemption issues involved supervisory, administrative, professional, computer and sales employees. The final Department of Labor regulatory changes haven?EUR??,,????'???t been issued yet, but expect them within the next few months.

The changes may help Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) members convert some currently non-exempt employees to exempt status. For example, assistant branch or operations managers could potentially be exempt from overtime requirements under the new regulations.

Until the final regulations are issued and become effective, employers must comply with current regulations regarding which employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime payments.

The PLCAA represents the professional lawn care industry before the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, such as the EPA, Department of Labor, Department of Transportation and the Federal Trade Commission.

For more information log on to www.plcaa.org.

OSHA Aligns with ALCA on Safety Program

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) are working together to further the safety and health of all workers in the landscape industry. There will be a focus on young and non-English speaking workers and on reducing injuries and illnesses associated with material handling.

?EUR??,,????'??Landscaping is one of seven industries in which we?EUR??,,????'???re focusing considerable resources to drastically reduce those rates. Together, OSHA and ALCA can make a positive difference for the lives of thousands of landscape workers and the businesses that employ them,?EUR??,,????'??said John Henshaw, an OSHA administrator.

?EUR??,,????'??The Alliance will help to further our joint objective of improving safety in the landscape industry through enhanced communication about safety issues, development of safety programs, and an ongoing dialogue and commitment to work together,?EUR??,,????'?? offered ALCA CEO Debra Holder.

OSHA and ALCA will provide information through various media and participate together in forums and speak or appear at various conferences, such as the Landscape Industry Conference & Green Industry Expo. They will also develop and deliver safety training programs and hire knowledgeable landscaping people fluent in English and Spanish to teach the courses.

A team of OSHA and ALCA representatives will meet at least quarterly to track and share information on activities and results in achieving their common goals.

ALCA represents approximately 2,500 professional exterior and interior landscape maintenance, installation, and design/build contracting firms and suppliers nationwide.

For more information, go to www.alca.org and www.osha.gov.

ALCA?EUR??,,????'???s Landscape Maintenance Training Manual
Now Available in Spanish

The Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) has created a Spanish version of their training resource, Landscape Training Manual for Maintenance Technicians. This manual is the first of a three-volume series of training manuals to be developed for Spanish-speaking landscape technicians. Later this year, Spanish versions of the Landscape Training Manual for Installation Technicians and Landscape Training Manual for Irrigation Technicians will be available.

Filled with detailed tables, charts, landscape drawings and photographs, the manual offers companies a training resource that can improve field performance. It features comprehensive information for turf maintenance, spring/fall cleanup, turf types, aeration, chemical applications, weeds and pests, diseases, plant care, equipment operation, basic irrigation maintenance and snow removal.

For Hispanic Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) candidates, this manual, plus the upcoming companion installation and irrigation manuals, will serve as a comprehensive study guide in preparing for the written and hands-on certification examinations.

The manual is now available for $55 for ALCA members and $80 for nonmembers, plus shipping and handling. To order, visit the ALCA bookstore at www.alca.org or call (800) 293-5542.