Understanding the Three Deadliest Hazards in Tree Care

Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

Tree care remains one of the most hazardous professions in the country. Whether crews are pruning, removing hazardous trees, clearing storm damage, or performing routine maintenance, the work demands planning, precision, and strong safety practices. Despite ongoing improvements in training and equipment, three accident types continue to cause serious injuries and fatalities: falls, electrical contact, and struck by incidents.

Falls account for about one third of industry fatalities according to the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). Climbers are involved in roughly half of these incidents, most often when they become unsecured even briefly or when an anchor point fails. Climbers also continue to fall with the tree due to hidden decay or structural failure, which highlights the importance of thorough inspections. Aerial lift falls also remain fatal events, usually when operators are not wearing fall protection or when their harness is not actually attached to the boom. Workers should always be properly secured and should never open platform gates while off the ground.

Electrical contact is one of the deadliest hazards in tree care and represents about 14 percent of fatalities. Nearly all of these incidents involve electric current, and about half occur when climbers make indirect contact with primary distribution lines. This often happens through conductive tools such as metal pole saws or when a cut branch or palm frond swings into an energized line while the climber is still holding it. Minimum approach distances must include the worker, the full length of their tools, and the path of falling or swinging branches. With a fatality rate of one in four, strict line clearance procedures are essential.

Struck by incidents also remain a serious risk. Nearly 10 percent of tree care fatalities involve workers being hit by falling or swinging branches, usually when cuts are made without warning or when ground workers enter an active drop zone. Clear communication and enforced drop zones are the most effective ways to reduce these incidents. Chippers also contribute to serious struck by injuries and account for almost 7 percent of fatalities. Many of these events occur when ropes or winch lines are caught in the chipper and strike the operator. Keeping ropes bagged or staged and positioning the chipper away from rigging areas can prevent these accidents.

In an industry where high risk tasks are routine, understanding the leading causes of severe incidents is essential. Safety must remain a consistent and intentional priority on every job.

Utilize regular safety trainings to ensure employees are properly trained on safe practices. Subscribe to Rancho Mesa’s weekly Tree Care-specific safety meeting emails to receive toolbox talk content.  

For questions about managing risk in the tree care industry, contact me at (619) 486-6437 or randerson@ranchomesa.com.

All percentages and incident trends cited in this article reflect TCIA’s most recent fatality and incident reporting for the tree care industry.