Using Digital Stories to Highlight and Prevent Fatalities Among Landscapers

BACKGROUND: According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), the number of fatalities among landscaping services workers in California increased from 9 (2012) to 24 (2013) to 28 (2014(preliminary)). Hispanic workers constituted all of the landscaping services fatalities in 2012-2013. In 2014, a Hispanic lake maintenance worker drowned when he was cleaning a golf course lake and fell out of a boat. His story is told through a compelling digital story (short video) that highlights investigation findings from the California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (CA/FACE) program. CA/FACE is funded by the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOSH) to investigate and prevent work-related deaths. These short videos bring CA/FACE fatality investigations to life with incident re-creations; photos from the investigation; interviews with co-workers, employers, and families; and clear explanations of how these tragedies can be prevented. The goal of this video is to prevent drowning deaths among landscape workers.

METHODS: This video was produced in collaboration with landscaping companies, trade associations, and government. Program staff adapted the video script from the CA/FACE fatality investigation report, and provided photography and video direction. Lake maintenance workers and employers participated in the incident re-creation and best practice demonstrations. Topic experts from industry and NIOSH provided technical review. The story shows the devastating impact of using improper work procedures and equipment by including re-enactment and investigation photos, video, music, narration, and recommended prevention practices. This video will be widely disseminated to lake maintenance & landscaping workers and employers, trade associations, health & safety professionals, government agencies, and others. The California Department of Public Health and NIOSH promote these videos through social media and e-newsletters, aiming to prompt numerous re-posts through Facebook, Twitter, organizational blogs, listservs, and e-newsletters.

RESULTS: Evaluation results confirm safety messages in these personal stories resonate with workers as they experience first-hand the personal devastation caused by these fatal incidents. They are used as effective training tools to kick-off worker trainings.

CONCLUSIONS: The CA/FACE videos are a unique and powerful way to bring those affected by workplace tragedies together for a common goal: preventing worker fatalities. They are an important addition to written FACE materials for safety trainings, and are now being produced by other FACE states and NIOSH.