Safety and Standards

Business is business, whether you are making widgets, selling widgets, fixing widgets, or all the other things that can be done. There are some basics that all businesses must do, like make money and generate cash. The basics are covered here (link to basic business practices page).

But the tree business is unique because it adds a complex layer of dealing with living organisms in unique situations, often involving very dangerous tools, heavy machinery, and heights. There is little room for error, as the consequences could be a permanently disfigured tree, a severe personal injury, or even death. This is not an ice cream stand or a newspaper route. We are not mowing grass or painting fences. Lives are at stake, those of the trees we are tasked with taking care of... and those of the men and women who perform the work.

Tree work is hazardous, but if performed correctly, the risks can be mitigated (not eliminated). Fortunately, there is a professional path to follow to make sure you and your team take the proper steps to stay safe. You can learn much from books, magazines, videos, and classes; but on-the-job training is a critical component of learning proper methods.

Unfortunately, you are limited by your teacher; and most "teachers" in this industry are self-taught or have learned the wrong way. So, improper methods are learned, and bad habits are developed. Habits are tough to break. If you can find the proper methods from the beginning, you can develop solid habits that can keep you safe.

Aside from governmental operations, this industry is governed in the United States by OSHA. There are ANSI Standards written that include the safety and proper arboricultural methods; ANSI boards are made up of industry professionals, including tree climbers, business owners, trainers, researchers, and safety personnel. These are not unrealistic methods dreamed up by government officials outside of our industry.

ANSI Standards are written by your peers who have performed the research or have been involved with situations that went sideways. Often, deaths and severe injuries are reviewed, discussed, and analyzed to come up with workable solutions to keep you from repeating the same mistake. The ANSI Z133 (Safety Standards) are said to be "written in blood" because every line represents a way to prevent an injury or death that has already occurred.

By adhering to the Z133, you are learning from the mistakes of others. We are fortunate to have such a standard, and we are not left with trying to reinvent the wheel. You can argue with the Z133 and claim that you have a better way because it is faster or easier; but if you study each line to figure out why it is in there, you will find that a major incident occurred from performing acts outside the standard (even before it was in there).

For example, 6.3.5 states: "A chainsaw shall be operated with two hands at all times, one hand on each handle with thumbs wrapped around the handles." Now, we could pick that apart and discuss why the thumbs must be wrapped and that "Shall" denotes a mandatory requirement, but let's stick to the meat of it, that you must use both hands on the saw, i.e., no one-handed chainsaw use.

Many have this bad habit of one-handing chainsaws, especially top-handle chainsaws, but doing so makes it very easy to cut the hand that is not holding the saw. If both hands are on the saw (in proper positioning), it is next to impossible to cut one of those hands with the chain. That's why it is in there. So, we can all agree that having both hands on the saw is a great way to prevent cutting a hand or arm. But will you do it? Or will you make excuses for why it is impractical to do so? Maybe that was the way you learned. Perhaps you don't know alternative methods. Maybe you rationalize it and say that it is faster, 

more efficient, more comfortable, or even safer (for whatever reason). But, at the end of the day, ANSI wants everyone to come home with their fingers.

With only one hand on the saw, can you guarantee everyone will go home with their fingers? Old-school climbers, some new climbers, and many bucket operators will argue that it is okay to do this or that it is impossible to perform tree work with both hands on the saw. However, many industry professionals will demonstrate ways to keep both hands on the saw at all times for every situation. We will cover those situations in a video for you to see.

Additionally, the Z covers PPE, electrical hazards, and so much more. Any leader in this field must be able to implement safety according to the standards. Doing so can prevent thousands of dollars in fines, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines; a blow like that could sink you. Also, this is the way to keep your people safe, keep your workers' compensation rates down, and keep people working, rather than out with an injury.

There is much more to professional arboriculture than removing trees, but probably the second most common practice is pruning trees. There is so much involved with pruning because each of the wounds created is permanent. Tree pruning is not a haircut. Each cut changes the way the tree grows, and it doesn't take much to severely change the way a tree grows for the worse forever. Your actions may result in a tree failure that causes property damage or kills someone who is least expecting it.

To be a professional arborist, you need to understand tree biology, how decay works, how trees respond to damage, and so much more. This is all just to do the two most common and basic practices of arboriculture (tree removal and tree pruning). Many more avenues can be taken to preserve trees, plant trees, water them, light them, provide supplemental support, fertilize, control pests, and even assess risk. Yes, there are full-time careers where the arborist never touches a chainsaw. If you are going to own, manage, or lead in a professional tree service, you have to study business AND arboriculture.