Bridging the occupational policy to practice gap: user-centered designed toolbox talks for landscaping tree care.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Landscaping and tree care work are among the most dangerous jobs in the U.S. with fatality rates more than five times the national average, and injury rates twice as high. Despite these alarming statistics, these occupations remain largely unregulated, with little safety training information available for workers.

Aim

This study aimed to address this gap by developing culturally relevant, policy-driven, safety "Toolbox Talks," tailored to the landscaping and tree care industry. The specific objectives were to evaluate the usability of prototype Toolbox Talks, and validate their clarity, applicability, and usefulness for small business environments.

Methods

This was a mixed-methods study that involved workers and supervisor participants (N = 60) fro

SUBMITTER: Kearney GD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12699983 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature