Occupational Accidents

The Tree Care Industry Association develops safety and education programs, standards of tree care practice, and management information for arboriculture firms.

The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) reports on occupational tree care accidents for 2012. Last year the media reported 128 accidents, 84 of these were fatal.

Super Storm Sandy was a significant contributor to these fatal accidents, with six out of 10 occurring between November 1st and December 31st, while crews on the east coast area worked storm cleanup.

A total of 16 were stuck-by-tree fatalities, six were the fallers, four were other crew-members, and it could not be determined what the remaining six were doing at the time of the accident. In all but one instance, it was the tree being removed that killed the worker.

The 13 struck-by-tree-limb fatalities lacked enough detail for further analysis. The same can be said of the 12 fall-from-tree fatalities, except that in two instances the tree failed with the climber in it. In the nine fall-from-aerial-lift accidents, four can be attributed to equipment failure, and one resulted from a tip-over.

These numbers support the need for tree care companies, where employees are professionally trained and prepared for worst-case scenarios.

Peter Gerstenberger, an arborist for TCIA, said, ''Unfortunately for the industry overall, serious accidents seem to be increasing. We need to transform the industry and create a safety culture that will keep all tree workers safe in an inherently hazardous occupation.''

For more information about the TCIA, please visit tcia.org.

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