Tree worker incident database

Tree worker

incident database

Fill out our simple 'Tree worker incident form' and play your part in improving the safety of our industry with our crowd-sourced data.

The Arboriculture industry statistically is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. It is imperative that the health and safety within our industry keeps evolving. It is our responsibility as Arborists to implement the safe work practices on our job sites, to wear all relevant PPE, to train apprentices and new hires in the correct way without allowing bad habits and potentially dangerous techniques.

We need to analyze our own incidents, learn from them, and figure out where mistakes were made and how the incident can be avoided/prevented in the future. We have to share these stories and experiences with our colleagues, and if possible to an even broader audience through social media and industry events.

Our goal is to create the most comprehensive 'Tree Worker incident database' that includes close calls and injuries. This database outlines the type of injury, the cause, a detailed description of the incident, factors leading to the incident and what could have been changed to avoid the injury (in the opinion of the contributor).

List of logged incidents: 31
 Date of incident Incident Type of incident Outcome Location of incident
Cut rigging rope
  • Property damage
Property damageHamilton
New Zealand
  • Fall from height
Minor injuryHamilton
New Zealand
05/05/1991Yale Cordage Wire Core Flip Line
  • Equipment failure
Serious injuryAtherton, California
Canada
09/28/2017Loss of control in directional felling
  • Tree failure
Property damageVancouver, BC
Canada
10/12/2017Handsaw cut to left hand, partially severed tendon
  • Cut body part
Serious injuryPort Coquitlam, British Columbia
Canada
10/10/2018Cut chainsaw boot
  • Cut body part
  • Close call
Close callPort Coquitlam, BC
Canada
03/01/2019Tie in point failure
  • Fall from height
  • Tree failure
Minor injuryPrescott, AZ
United States
04/06/2019Equipment failure
  • Equipment failure
Close callGreenville, SC
United States
05/03/2019Failed to couple chipper correctly
  • Close call
Close callHamilton
New Zealand
05/13/2019Aerial rescue from tree whilst working on powerlines
  • Fall from height
  • Other
Serious injuryTilba, Nsw
Australia
07/01/2019Broken pinky, cuts to the hands, loss of feeling in 2 fingers
  • Cut body part
Minor injuryUnited States
07/18/2019Bee nest
  • Close call
Minor injuryDevon
United Kingdom
10/01/2019Smashed Hand
  • Cut body part
  • Tree failure
Serious injuryTraverse City, Michigan
United States
02/28/2020Struck on cheek while feeding wood chipper
  • Struck by tree part
Minor injuryScotland, Motherwell/glasgow
United Kingdom
07/30/2020Fall From Height
  • Fall from height
Serious injuryNorfolk
United Kingdom
08/24/2020Forearm cut with Pole Pruner
  • Cut body part
Minor injuryOakville, Ontario
Canada
11/13/2020Struck by
  • Struck by tree part
FatalAmarillo, Texas
United States
01/12/2021left hand cut with chainsaw
  • Cut body part
Serious injuryMar del Plata, Buenos Aires
Argentina
03/03/2021Wrong cutMinor injuryArraial d'Ajuda, Porto Seguro
Brazil
05/03/2021
  • Fall from height
Minor injuryNew Zealand
08/19/2021Chainsaw hit wrist during limb cut
  • Cut body part
Serious injurySarnia, Ontario
Canada
10/31/2021Fall From Height
  • Fall from height
Serious injuryRobeline, Louisiana
United States
03/14/202240 ft fall from tree
  • Fall from height
Serious injuryHomosassa, FL
United States
03/24/2022Snapped leader/main anchor of a young Acer tree
  • Fall from height
Close callBerlin, Berlin
Germany
09/20/2022Chainsaw cut to the neck
  • Cut body part
FatalHuntington, WV
United States
 Date of incident Incident Type of incident Outcome Location of incident