Safety in the Tree Care Industry

Providing tree care is no laughing matter. This week a man was killed near Thorndale when a tree he was cutting down fell on him. The risks are real. People in the tree care industry are at risk of injury or death due to falls, electrocution, and contact with objects. Those objects include whole trees, tree trunks, branches, as well equipment such as vehicles, chippers, chainsaws, and other tools of the job. Injuries, and even death, can also occur due to bee or wasp stings (allergic reactions) and interaction with angry neighbours (they tote guns in the US). While the table below comes from the CDC website, Canadian statistics tell a similar story.

TABLE 2. Number and percentage of occupational injury deaths associated with tree care operations, by event circumstances — United States, 1992–2007

Circumstance

No.

%

Total*

1,285

100

Injury event

Contact with objects and equipment

595

46

Struck by or against

546

42

Caught in, compressed, or crushed

49

4

Falls

441

34

To lower level

434

34

Exposure to harmful substances or environments

180

14

Contact with electric current

174

14

Transportation accidents

65

5

Highway accident

§

Nonhighway accident

34

3

Pedestrian

27

2

Other/Nonclassifiable

Primary injury source

Machinery

88

7

Chippers

38

3

Parts and materials

103

8

Power lines

79

6

Persons, plants, animals, and minerals

548

43

Trees and logs

540

42

Structures and surfaces

418

33

Floor or ground

406

32

Tools or equipment

63

5

Powered hand tools

24

2

Vehicles

56

4

Highway vehicle

33

3

Other sources

9

1

Activity

Trimming/Pruning

569

44

Felling

300

23

Clearing/Removing

114

9

Operating machinery

81

6

Topping

39

3

Not specified

182

14

SOURCE: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 1992–2007.

CLC Tree Services takes Workplace Health & Safety seriously

CLC Tree Services takes Workplace Health & Safety seriously

At CLC Tree Services we take our health and safety seriously. We have been in business for over 25 years and aim to be here a little longer. The only way to do that is by exercising safe practices.

CLC Tree Services carries both Liability Insurance and coverage under Workplace Safety and Insurance Board for all our employees. All our work practices comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, as well as the Ontario Arborist Industry Safe Work Practices. On a regular basis, we conduct safety meetings and look for ways to continue to train our employees through the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association. That includes CPR and first aid training.

The training and safety measures that CLC Tree Services has in place greatly reduces the risks to our employees. We work within a team and are vigilant about their security. We don’t want to see anyone get hurt. But accidents happen.

Our condolences to Garnett Smith’s family this week. You are a reminder that our industry isn’t forgiving to those who are injured and that safety should always first. RIP

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ericrynne

My local Tree Expert talks to me all the time about safety and the real life risks his crew takes when they are in these beautiful trees. He has definitely had some close calls!

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Published by
February 25, 2015 2:40 pm