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

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) from small landscaping and tree care companies. Prototype Toolbox Talks were developed and field tested with participants. User "pain points," or issues related to design layout, terminology, graphics, were identified in group sessions, and revised based on iterative testing. Results: In final testing sessions, workers (n = 37) and supervisors (n = 23) consistently described Toolbox Talks being "highly needed" and "relevant" for addressing workplace hazards and promoting safe practices. Narrative "true story" examples strongly resonated with workers, reinforcing hazard recognition, and prevention strategies. Supervisors reported increased confidence in delivering Toolbox Talks, noting improved clarity during trainings. The use of Spanish terminology and phrasing enhanced accessibility for Spanish-speaking participants. Conclusion: Engaging users directly in the development process significantly improved the relevance, clarity, cultural fit, and alignment of Toolbox Talks with the needs of landscaping and tree care workers and supervisors. This participatory approach enhanced usability and demonstrated that Toolbox Talks can serve as a practical, scalable model for strengthening safety communication in high-risk occupations with limited regulatory oversight.