Tree removal is a topic that comes up a lot in the building and construction industry. The construction company’s first task is to make the place safe and suitable for construction before groundbreaking occurs. There are also other incidences when trees or stumps may become a threat to an existing building. The only way out of such a mess is to involve removing experts and make the building safe again or improve its durability. Safety has always been a major concern, as this is a risky job. It even gets riskier when you have to protect other structures and still ensure that you do a clean job.

Sad statistics

A report compiled by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the US has more than 200 tree-related fatal injuries every year. Three people died from injuries sustained from tree felling in 2012 while another 120 people ended up with fatal injuries from logging and forestry-related activities. 83 tree maintenance injury-related deaths were reported by the same agency in 2011, while fatalities from forestry and logging were 125 the same year.
The cause of these injuries varies, and they can range from contact with equipment such as axes or chainsaws, transportation incidents, and falling from trees, to mention a few. The sad reality is that this report records only injuries that resulted in death. There are thousands of people who suffer small injuries. There is a big group that ends up with life-changing injuries from tree care and removal incidents. It is thus evident that the numbers could be higher if every injury was documented. Why all these risks?

Why this task is dangerous

Tools involved

There are several tools that you need for successful tree removal. Some of the most common include wood chippers, chainsaws, and an assortment of hand and power tools. A chainsaw or an ax can inflict serious injuries on the user’s hands or legs, even from a small distraction. There are protective gears, but they are not effective in some cases. A safety boot will not protect you from a cut from a chainsaw if it gets out of hand. People who have never used certain tools are at a high risk of suffering from injuries.

The tree

The tree that you want to remove may carry several hazards, which increase the risk of accidents. A rotten tree may be hard to predict the direction it will take when you get to the task. Dying or dead trees usually have unstable limbs and hollowed-out trunks, making it hard to control the power tools. You may also find that the tree is home to an assortment of poisonous insects that may attack the removers. Think about wasps and bees that will force the removers to seek medical attention. The removal company will assess the dangers of the tree before they embark on the tasks at hand.

The immediate environment

The removal company must assess the environment to develop the best approach to deal with the tasks at hand. A tree that is near electrical lines should be handled with loads of care as we understand the dangers of electrical short-circuits. The same applies if there are nearby structures that can be damaged by the tree. Experts in tree removal Dallas take their time to prepare the ground, create the right indentations on trees they want to remove, and then attach chords to direct the tree to the desired area.

What it takes to have a safe tree removal process

Access the trees safely

The person tasked with removal should have proper training and equipment to handle this task. The ideal person is someone experienced in this area. Lack of skills from even one of the team members can pose a threat to the task’s success. Hire a licensed expert to do an initial assessment and come up with a plan. Such a person should identify and point out the flaws on that tree. The expert will also assess the impact of wind or weather conditions on removing the tree in hand. The people tasked with accessing the tree should assemble and prepare safety equipment to be used during this exercise. Team members also ought to check out for others and mitigate dangers.

Felling the tree safely

This is done after the tree has been accessed and secured. Felling a tree is the riskiest part and it is a process that demands patience and skills to ensure that everyone involved is safe. It is thus important that every team member possesses the necessary standards and qualifications. The team needs to assess for defects such as decay or foreign objects that may affect the tree’s direction. The team will then work on a plan on how to fell the tree and where it should land. However, the tree can go the wrong direction, and it is thus important that every member be armed with an escape plan when that happens.

What happens when disaster calls?

The team may plan everything, but still, it goes south. Planning for safety and rescue when injuries occur should be included in the site management plan. The planners need to assess the site and determine if the injured individuals can be accessed quickly by emergency responders. There should be a plan to help injured ones in case the area has bad roads. The team should be armed with a first aid kit to cater to those injured during their work. The first aid kit should have extra tools for wild-life related injuries and remedies for insect stings.
Tree removal in the construction industry aims to make the ground ready or even increase the safety of an existing structure. Tree removal is a task that requires proper planning to ensure safety. Having the proper equipment, safety planning, and trained personnel are safety measures to ensure that everything is in order. However, it is important to note that every situation is different which means that what assessment should be based on the task at hand.