Tree trimming or removal is dangerous work.
Arborists have accident rates 10 times greater than the all-industry average; however, based on emergency room statistics, homeowners are 5 times more likely to cause injury or death while involved in tree maintenance or removal. Safety is easily overlooked when there is a job to do, but it could have life-altering consequences.
Risks include:
- Contact with objects
- Chainsaws
- Falling branches or trees
I cannot believe my luck! In the process of writing this article, look what I found on Facebook! Let’s break this picture down: No hard hats, using a ladder for removal, there is no bark on that tree so it is dead, really dead (unsafe to climb), it looks like they smashed the fence to me, what happens when the tree branch strikes the guy on the ladder? The power line in the foreground of this picture poses a potential safety risk. Honey, do not hire this guy for tree work! - Contact with chipper blades (Google wood chipper accidents if you are into that type of thing. It’s not pretty)
- Falls from
- Trees
- Aerial lifts (or lift boom failing)
- Ladders (more commonly a homeowner injury)
- Roofs
- Electrical contact
- Direct (touching wire with hand, head, shoulder, etc.)
- Indirect (contact with a branch, boom, pole saw, ladder, etc, that is in contact with the wire)
- Biting and stinging insects or animals
- Bees, wasps, etc.
- Raccoons
- Squirrels
Insurance
Because of these risks, the arboricultural industry has some of the highest workers’ compensation in the nation. Guys who do not carry insurance can undercut the prices of established tree companies, but it comes with risks. Uninsured workers leave you liable for damages and injuries that occur on your property, with an industry-wide accident rate like ours, who wants to take that chance?
Wellnitz Safety Commitment
At Wellnitz Tree Care, we are constantly learning and improving our skills and awareness. Our company has committed to sending one of our employees through the Tree Care Industry Association’s Certified Tree Care Safety Professional course. At the time, he was one of the first CTSPs in Kansas, and as of this article, there are only six companies in the state that employ a CTSP.
What steps do we take to ensure your safety and ours?
- All new employees attend a safety orientation meeting before they start.
- National safety standards, such as ANSI Z133 and OSHA policies, are enforced at Wellnitz Tree Care.
- We conduct safety meetings at the beginning of each week, covering various topics that pose risks to workers.
- We practice aerial rescues in the event that a worker is injured or equipment fails while aloft.
- Wellnitz Tree Care equips our teams with the proper safety gear before they enter the field.
- You are protected from loss by our insurance policy while we are working on your property.
Safety Matters
Wellnitz Tree Care strives to be among the safest tree care operations in the nation. Click the link below to review nationwide incident reports.
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