Tree care is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States, consistently ranking among the top professions for severe injuries and fatalities. While many companies acknowledge the risks, fewer recognize just how much workplace safety impacts their bottom line, crew culture, and long-term reputation.
This article breaks down why safety matters — not just morally, but strategically — and how adopting structured training and safety systems can transform a tree-care organization.
Tree work demands precision, physical strength, situational awareness, and sound judgment, often under time pressure and unpredictable environmental conditions. Yet most serious incidents share a common pattern:
they arise not from complex, unforeseeable events — but from simple decisions made without a safety framework.
The most common contributors include:
Inadequate pre-job briefings
Poor communication between climber and ground crew
Improper or worn PPE
Complacency around energized conductors
Cutting without understanding tree structure or decay
Rushed timelines and productivity pressure
When these factors stack together, risk escalates rapidly.
Many organizations hesitate to invest in structured training or professional audits because they view safety as an added expense. In reality, the financial impact of unsafe work is far greater.
One incident can increase premiums for years. Companies that run reactive safety programs consistently pay more — and suffer more downtime.
The misconception that “safety slows crews down” is outdated.
Clear communication, structured job planning, and standardized procedures reduce confusion, re-work, and wasted motion. Crews move smoothly instead of stopping and restarting due to misunderstandings.
Homeowners, municipalities, and utility partners increasingly prioritize contractors who demonstrate professionalism, consistency, and structured processes. Companies known for preventable incidents often lose contracts — or never earn them to begin with.
Tree work is stressful enough without unclear expectations or chaotic management.
A strong safety culture builds trust, loyalty, and confidence.
Most tree-care companies care about safety — but struggle with implementation.
Safety messages get lost when they depend on the foreman’s mood, experience, or preference.
If every crew trains differently, mistakes become normalized.
Complacency is one of the most dangerous forces in arboriculture. Over time, shortcuts feel normal — until something goes wrong.
Companies often have written policies, but no consistent on-site follow-through.
A successful safety program doesn’t rely on posters or paperwork; it relies on behavior, consistency, and leadership.
Here’s what research and industry best practice show is most effective:
Not a checklist for the clipboard — but a conversation.
Roles, hazards, drop zones, communication methods, equipment checks.
Crews must learn through hands-on repetition:
• Rigging angles
• Pre-job bracing
• Aerial rescue basics
• Chainsaw handling
• Electrical hazard recognition
The foreman sets the tone.
If the leader normalizes shortcuts, the crew will follow.
Professionals who evaluate crews in the field provide the fastest improvements.
Safety only sticks when it’s practical.
The best systems are clear, actionable, and easy to apply under pressure.
With years of experience in arboriculture, utility vegetation management, and crew leadership, ArborSafe LLC provides:
✔ On-site crew safety audits
✔ Customized training programs
✔ Climbing and rigging safety coaching
✔ Job briefing system development
✔ Electrical hazard awareness training
✔ Crew leadership and communication training
✔ Full safety program design or revisions
We help companies go beyond compliance to build sustainable safety cultures that support production, confidence, and professionalism.
At the end of the day, safety is about more than rules — it’s about people.
It’s about ensuring that every climber, every ground worker, and every crew leader makes it home safely.
It’s also about helping companies operate more efficiently, more competitively, and with less risk.
Tree-care safety isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s the best business strategy.
Remember Get Smart! Get Safe!
Nick Palladino, CTSP