Health And Safety For Tree Surgeons

Tree surgeon companies employ those are highly skilled in their work in order to carry out their procedures in the correct way. But they must also have the correct health and safety knowledge and equipment in order to successfully undertake their roles. Read on for some need to know tree surgeon safety rules.

Working With Chainsaws

Most tree surgeons will use a chainsaw everyday, as these are the tools of choice for felling a tree. Chainsaws can be dangerous and cause major injury if used by untrained people. On average 131 people suffered major injuries from working with a chainsaw. To protect yourself and others, anyone who uses one must receive adequate training before being allowed to use it. Correct clothing must be worn when using a chainsaw including gloves, safety glasses and heavy duty boots.

Working At Height

Trees are tall, with some growing as tall as 20ft, which can make pruning and treating trees quite difficult. Around 16% of all reported tree accidents involve falling from height, which is why safety is paramount when working from a height. Always plan and organise any job that involves working at height down to the very last detail - don't leave anything to chance. Make sure there is someone to supervise you whilst you are working and only allow trained individuals with lots of experience to carry out the work.

Aerial Work

The safety requirements for aerial work are similar to those when working at height. But aerial work includes more safety guides as different techniques are used. For example chainsaws must never be used during aerial work. This is because they are dangerous, heavy objects and when doing aerial work surgeons will not always be in a safe or secure position to use such a dangerous tool. Climbing and work ropes must be used for safety. Ensure these are knot free and keep them away from obstructions such as other machinery.

Working On Steep Ground

Working on uneven ground can make a job more difficult particularly as changes in weather can drastically change the way a job is undertaken. Every aspect of the job must be planned including the condition of the soil, the size and type of the tree and any underlying material that could cause problems. Before the job can be undertaken extensive plans and risk assessments have to be done to ensure every safety aspect is in place. This also allows the correct equipment to be used, as not all machinery can be used on steep ground.

Tree surgery is said to be the 3rd most dangerous job in the world. With that in mind, it's imperative that health and safety requirements are met for every job. Before any job is started, extensive plans and risk assessments must be carried out - as well as sourcing the correct equipment so a job can be completed in the right way.

Wassells Aboricultural Services Ltd is a small family business with over 35 years experience working as tree surgeons in London. They provide an expert service in all aspects of tree surgery and management