Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for anyone working with tree service equipment. This includes helmets, face protectors, safety goggles and shoes, gloves, high-visibility clothing, and hearing protection. Arborists often overlook hearing and eye protection in favor of other types of PPE, such as chainsaw helmets or pants. But years of chainsaw use can be damaging to your ears, and it's important to take care of your hearing.
In addition, sawdust, wood chips and other debris can cause irritation to the eyes, so it's important to wear protective eyewear. Basic tree service team workers must wear face protectors, steel-toed boots and protective goggles at all times while working. Tree climbers should have the right goggles, steel-toed boots, climbing ropes, the right saddle and the right helmet when working on trees. If someone shows up without the necessary safety equipment, it's best to tell them that they won't need your services. The number one personal protective equipment (PPE) that is required for all tree care service workers is a helmet.
This is the most important form of protection, as the head is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body. In addition to this, protective eyewear is also essential. When pruning a tree or cutting down a tree, debris can unexpectedly fall onto a worker. Sometimes helmets come with protective goggles, but it's best to buy separate glasses if they are not attached. Followed by the head and eyes, there are pieces of PPE that have a little more flexibility with the types being used.
These include earmuffs or earplugs, pants that protect the legs, and solid boots. Before handling a chainsaw, it is important to ensure that the PPE checklist decided by the employer has been reviewed and followed. If you're a tree service company looking for customers, create an advertisement and add your company details to connect with more locals looking for great companies to repair their trees. As a homeowner, you should always see all tree workers with the required equipment including eye protection, ear muffs, gloves, and clothing that protects against chainsaws. In addition to that, when they arrive take a quick look at what the tree workers are wearing and take a look at their equipment. You should realize that every tree is different: a true arborist will know all the varieties of trees and the proper pruning techniques that apply to each one.
You might hear news about a tree worker cutting off his leg or hand with a chainsaw but if you ask tree service owners and arborists working today they will tell you that climbing equipment is actually the most dangerous thing. Falling from trees because of faulty rigging and climbing equipment or because the equipment is not being used correctly can be very dangerous. When used correctly however tree professionals can safely and efficiently remove large branches and branches from trees prune and remove them and manage just about any type of tree service-related project that comes their way. Tree pruning is also commonly done to reduce the size of the tree if the branches rub against houses or hang too low on sidewalks. As a homeowner you should be aware of these things when a company stops to repair its trees: If you notice that the crew workers don't have the right setup you should be very suspicious that they will do the job correctly and continue to use your service.
In this business there are a lot of scrupulous people posing as arborists and tree service companies so paying attention to the details can help. Being in the tree care business is dangerous which is why homeowners are advised to hire a professional tree service company rather than trying to complete their own tree care. They undergo appropriate training and certification which is ongoing before they are qualified to provide tree-related services. For more information see the fact sheet “Personal protective equipment requirements for tree work” from the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). As a homeowner before hiring a tree service company you should ask if they use all the necessary safety equipment and the right equipment to complete the job.
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