Thankfully, landscaping doesn’t top the BLS list of deadliest jobs, but it still ranks pretty high. According to the most recent data, landscape services saw a 25% jump in fatal injuries from 2010 to 2011. According to the report:

Fatal work injuries in the professional and business services sector were up 16 percent, led by an increase in fatalities in landscape services to 167 in 2011 from 133 in 2010.

To keep your crews (and yourself) safe out there, check out some of our most recent safety coverage. You’ll be glad you did.

Image via NPR.

Here’s our digest of the most interesting stuff for your weekend reading pleasure. Enjoy!

• New research on how plants grow. (via @BatesNursery)
• Success can mean lying to yourself.
• New PLANET safety training you should check out.
• How much we make and what we spend it on.
• Why entrepreneurs (and other creative types) like to hang out together.
• Above: Roger Phelps on how a set of chaps saved his life.

Steve Cesare sent us this list of OSHA’s most frequently cited workplace safety and health violations for fiscal year 2011. This list applies to all industries, not just landscaping, but as the government starts discussing tighter restrictions on the use of cell phones by drivers, it’s a good time to start thinking about your company’s approach to safety.

The top 10, starting with the most frequent violations are as follows:

1. Fall protection in construction,
2. Scaffolding in construction,
3. Hazard communication,
4. Respiratory protection,
5. Lockout/tagout,
6. Electrical wiring methods,
7. Powered industry trucks,
8. Ladders in construction,
9. Electrical general requirements, and
10. Machine guarding.

Steve is a PH.D. in industrial psychology and an HR expert with the Harvest Group. His series, on the top 10 HR mistakes landscapers make, ran for a good portion of 2011. And, he’s back in January with a new column, House Calls, in our print edition.

Here’s his July piece on how to prevent and respond to OSHA violations.