Why hire an arborist? Part II

As stated in the post “Sealing wounds and why it is IMPORTANT”, we may save your life! Here are a couple of clips from a monthly publication.

Man falls from ladder while trimming tree

A 54-year-old Ocklawaha, Florida, resident fell from the top of a ladder while trimming a tree branch at his home
February 7, 2009. He was airlifted to a hospital in Gainesville. Donald Albritton was using a chain saw to remove a large branch when one end of the branch struck him,
knocking him off the ladder, according to a report in the Ocala Star Banner. Albritton was found lying face down, unable to move. His chain saw was still running beside him. Albritton’s wife told the officer that she saw her husband fall from the ladder, hitting his head against the tree trunk as he fell. The injured man was able to tell the officer that he felt “tingly” all over, but could not move or feel any- thing. When placed on the stretcher, however, he was able to move his arms.

TCIA Monthly Publication April 2009

Man killed by cut tree

A man was killed February 6, 2009, in New Derry, Pennsylvania, when a tree he was cutting down fell on him. Brian M. Shean, 37, of New Derry, and his father
were helping a friend cut down the tree in a wooded lot when it became lodged in another tree nearby. As the men tried to
pull it down, the timber, which was about 50 feet tall and 12 inches in diameter, fell toward them, crushing Mr. Shean. He was
pronounced dead at the scene.

TCIA Monthly Publication April 2009

Every month TCIA (Tree Care Industry Assocation) has section devoted to accident reports. Usually at least one, if not more of the articles are of homeowners’ trying to prune or remove trees themselves and getting seriously injured or even killed. I’m not saying if you prune your trees you are going to get hurt or die, but please use common sense!!!! Majority of the incidents involve a ladder. DO NOT PRUNE TREES FROM A LADDER, unless the ladder is properly secured to the tree and you (the trimmer) have on the appropriate safety gear i.e. rope, saddle, and safety lanyard.

DO NOT HIRE A COMPANY who is going to use a ladder to prune your trees…odds are that they are going to get hurt (eventually). I was called out to a site this past winter by one of our commercial clients to evaluate some work being done on a property from a “tree care company”. On the job site, the “tree guys” were using ladders to prune trees and another BIG NO NO using spikes (climbing spurs) on live trees. In shock and complete disbelief at what was before me, I almost ran into several cars in the parking lot. I watched these “tree guys” for a few minutes and during the brief time period, one of the guys fell from the tree while climbing a ladder with a BIG chainsaw in his hand. He looked around quickly, clearly embarrassed and hoping no one saw him fall. He repositioned his ladder and climbed back up the tree as if nothing had happened. What if he had the chainsaw running and it had hit his leg? Or another part of his body? Or someone passing by?

Next time some one knocks on your door offering to prune your trees really cheap, “Hey we are in the neighborhood will can give a REALLY good deal…”, think twice! Check their credentials! Are they ISA certified? Do they have Insurance? Check for General Liability as well as WORKERS’ COMPENSATION. Ask about how they are going to climb your trees? Are they using a ladder or ropes and saddles?

Trees are one of the most valuable parts to your landscape….take the extra time to research the folks you hire to prune your trees.

Lee Evans
ISA Certified Arborist TX-1339A
President, Certified Arbor Care