The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) conducted an analysis of 62 civilian tree care-related accidents reported by the media from January 2017 to June 2018. TCIA is a trade association that promotes professional tree care and discourages homeowners from taking unnecessary risks caring for their trees themselves.
While these numbers are not representative of all – or even most – tree care accidents involving non-professionals, they provide insight into the types of hazards homeowners are likely to encounter while attempting tree work.
The findings were grim: Forty-one of the accidents (66 percent) were fatal.
The median age of the victim was 43, and the oldest victim was 85. The youngest reported victim was a 2-year-old toddler who was 50 feet away when the tree his father was cutting fell the wrong way, tragically, striking and killing the child. Four of the 41 victims, including the 2-year-old, were uninvolved bystanders.
Most homeowners were struck by a tree while attempting to fell it, or were hit by limbs, wires or chain saws. Others fell or were electrocuted. Chart A provides more details on the accidents.
In two-thirds of all cases where it could be determined, the victims undertook hazardous tree work with nobody to spot them, nobody to assist them and nobody to advise them when it might have been prudent to stop and seek out an expert.
A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best course of action to care for and maintain the trees and shrubs in your landscape. Contact the Tree Care Industry Association, a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture since 1938. TCIA has more than 2,400 member tree care firms and affiliated companies. All member tree care companies recognize stringent safety and performance standards and are required to carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance, where applicable.
TCIA has the nation’s only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the “Find A Tree Care Company” program. You can use this service by calling 1-800-733-2622 or by doing a ZIP Code search on www.treecaretips.org.
Editors: If you would like additional information or digital photos, please contact TCIA via 1-800-733-2622 or marketing@tcia.org.
TCIA arborists, safety and business professionals are also available as sources for tree-related articles and issues: 1-800-733-2622 or tandersen@tcia.org.