Seasonality – it’s one of the best things about being in the landscaping industry, yet business owners must be aware that their line of work carries four seasons of risk. The most prolific challenge in the landscaping field is understanding how the challenges and risks change shape throughout the year and how to address them appropriately.
By necessity, landscaping companies must offer a range of services all year round to keep the revenue rolling and their employees busy despite changes in the weather and working conditions. At times, seasonal changes can be drastic, yet brokers and agents can help landscaping companies weather them by offering them seasonal insurance coverage to protect their businesses all year long.
Identifying Year-Round Challenges in Landscaping and Outdoor Maintenance
Most landscapers will be familiar with the challenges that spring and summer bring, yet autumn and winter bring their own sets of challenges. We’ll review the common and not-so-common challenges landscapers face as the seasons change.
Spring
Spring is a time for renewal and rebirth of plant life. After a long, cold winter, residential and commercial customers look forward to sprucing up their properties so they can enjoy them until the cold weather sets in once again. These are some of the challenges landscapers face during springtime:
- Hiring qualified employees
- Training employees for safety
- Dealing with rising waters from flash floods
- Preventing weed growth before it gets started
- Fertilizing lawns and plants
- Servicing or purchasing equipment for mowing and landscaping
- Storm damage claims
Summer
The summertime gives landscapers an opportunity to beautify the grounds, yet hotter temperatures bring new challenges in keeping the landscape lush and green. These are some of the issues landscapers contend with during the hottest months of the year:
- Dealing with quality labor shortages (This was the top concern according to the Lawn & Landscape State of the Industry report)
- Extreme heat
- Risk of injuries
- Slips and falls
- Cuts and hand injuries
Autumn
Major changes start to take place in the trees, plants, and grasses as the warmer temperatures start to drop during the fall season and plants go dormant. These are a few of the concerns landscape owners need to be aware of during the fall:
- Erratic weather conditions
- Uncertainty as to the proper PPE for the conditions
- Changes in scheduling as the busy season winds down
- Trimming and felling trees
- Evaluating equipment for repair or replacement
Winter
While winter isn’t the busiest season of the year for landscapers, they must deal with unseasonal challenges like the following:
- Frozen pipes and water sources
- Mud runoff and erosion
- Ice and snow
- Salt for de-icing
- Biting winds
- Sun exposure
In addition to contending with seasonal issues, landscape business owners face other challenges that impact their business during all seasons of the year. For example, allegations of discrimination are a concern for landscapers for the following reasons as this Zippia study shows:
- Only 9% of landscaping employees are women
- Only 3% of landscaping employees identify as LGBT
- The industry is dominated by whites (61.3%) and Hispanics (22.4%)
Compliance is another year-round issue landscapers must be cognizant of. According to OSHA, the states of California, Minnesota, and Washington have passed regulations related to heat standards that are stricter than OSHA requires.
Brokers and agents play a strategic role in helping their landscaping clients prepare for these and other challenges and risks all year long.
Preparing for Seasonal Hazards in Landscaping and Outdoor Maintenance
One of the best resources owners of landscaping companies can have in dealing with risks during the on and off-season is their insurance broker or agent. Clients will appreciate your diligence in seasonal risk management. Brokers and agents who specialize in landscaping insurance must be knowledgeable about the industry and the various risks it bears during each season. While brokers and agents do well to stay current with trends, we’ve outlined some of the common seasonal weather risks you can help your landscaping clients prepare for as they move from one season to the next.
Spring
Landscaping employees face unique risks in the spring as the ground warms up and the snow melts away. Here are some issues you can remind landscapers of:
- Respiratory concerns related to fertilizers and pesticides
- Slippery conditions due to mud, melting snow, and excessive rains
- Lightning hazards
- High winds
Summer
As the mercury rises during the summer months, employers will need to ensure their employees have the proper protection and training for the change in conditions. Specifically, landscaping companies need to be cautious about the following:
- Heat cramps due to the loss of body salts and fluid during sweating
- Heat exhaustion or heat stroke
- Risks related to animals, insects, and other natural hazards
- Machines being operated near water hazards, ponds, ditches
- Hazards connected with electrical power lines when trimming
- Groundskeeping liability
Autumn
Things slow down a bit in the autumn months and there is less concern about the heat. Even so, employees need to keep their guard up when it comes to safety. Here are some tips to impart to landscapers in the fall:
- Maintaining safety policies and procedures
- Unpredictable weather
- Wearing the proper PPE which may be different than what’s required for the summer
- Thick fog and visibility
Winter
The cold temperatures and precipitation can cause slippery roads and grounds suddenly, even during the course of a workday. The winter months are a good time to offer some reminders to landscaping clients about the following changes in risks from autumn to winter:
- Slip and fall risks
- Windburn
- Hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot
- Harder soil conditions
- Damage to snowplows during snow removal
As landscapers travel to jobsites all year long, employees must be aware of the risks of auto accidents and other weather-related claims while driving company vehicles. Employees commonly also use power tools daily or weekly which adds another element of risk of injury in every season.
Unfortunately, every mishap cannot be prevented and employees don’t always follow safety protocols. Brokers and agents are responsible for ensuring their clients are protected with the proper insurance for the unique challenges and risks they may face.
Benefits of Having Comprehensive Outdoor Maintenance Insurance
As niche providers, brokers and agents are a valuable resource for landscaping clients no matter what Mother Nature dishes out. The relationships you build will further enhance your reputation as a knowledgeable expert in the industry over time.
Landscaper insurance such as LandPro is strategically designed to cover the unique risks that are inherent in the landscaping industry. Specialization in this industry elevates you above the competition as it provides business owners with added security. Whether a client is dealing with a property damage claim, liability claim, employment practices liability, auto liability, or professional liability claim, they can count on having the right policies to weather a claim.
LandPro is a comprehensive insurance plan that covers specific risks that account for seasonal fluctuations. The plan covers seasonal risks such as:
- Equipment damage due to winter conditions
- Liability during the busy summer months
- Limited pollution coverage for chemical spills in the spring or summer
- Auto pollution broadened coverage
- Employment practices liability if an employee alleges their rights have been violated
Offering LandPro can help brokers and agents develop a niche in the landscaping industry.
Key Takeaways
- The challenges and risks change with every season in landscaping.
- Injuries in the landscaping industry can be catastrophic.
- Workers must be aware of the changes and have the proper PPE for the job.
- Sudden or unexpected weather poses risks all year long.
- There is potential for discrimination because of industry demographics.
- Seasonal risk coverage helps protect landscapers all year long.
Landscaping and Outdoor Maintenance Insurance Is Valuable All Year
Brokers and agents might consider that the off-season months are a good time to schedule appointments with landscaping companies to point out the highlights of comprehensive insurance for landscapers as business owners aren’t as busy at this time.
Having a partnership with NIP Group is also a good way to build your book of business with landscapers as it gives you access to LandPro which includes specialized coverages for landscaping companies. Contact one of our experts at NIP Group today at 866-620-7152 to learn more about how to offer seasonal risk coverage for your landscaping clients.
