Are you a ... tree surgeon?

What you need to know

During the last 10 years 24 tree surgeons/arborists have been killed during tree work and nearly 1,400 have suffered an injury.

The key cause of these accidents are chainsaws, falls from height or being struck by falling timber / trees.

What you need to do

• Your employer must make sure you are trained and competent to do the work.
• You must maintain all equipment in good condition and report any faults to your employer.
• Use all personal protective equipment that your employers gives you and report any faults.

Key concerns for tree surgeons are:

• Working at height
• Working on the ground
• Lone working
• Working with chainsaws
• Aerial tree work

We recommend that you read these pages to find out what your employer's responsibilities are to you – or your own responsibilities if you are self-employed.