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).

2022-09-20
Chainsaw cut to the neck
Cut body part
Fatal
Huntington WV United States
2022-09-28
struck by broken limb / laceration
Cut body part, Struck by tree part
Minor injury
new hope pa United States
2022-10-15
Chain Saw Cut - Left thumb.
Cut body part
Minor injury
Northern Ireland Killinchy United Kingdom
2022-09-22
Laceration to left hand
Cut body part
Serious Injury
Milwaukee Wisconsin United States
2022-10-05
Live oak twig rammed up nostril
Struck by tree part
Minor injury
Work site California United States
2022-03-24
Snapped leader/main anchor of a young Acer tree
Fall from height
Close call
Berlin Berlin Germany
2022-09-23
Serious rope burning
Other, Struck by equipment
Serious Injury
Hamilton New Zealand New Zealand
2021-10-31
Fall From Height
Fall from height
Serious Injury
Robeline Louisiana United States
2021-03-03
Wrong cut
Minor injury
Arraial d'Ajuda Porto Seguro Brazil
2021-05-03
Fall from height
Minor injury
New Zealand
2021-08-19
Chainsaw hit wrist during limb cut
Cut body part
Serious Injury
Sarnia Ontario Canada
2021-01-12
left hand cut with chainsaw
Cut body part
Serious Injury
Mar del Plata Buenos Aires Argentina
2020-07-30
Fall From Height
Fall from height
Serious Injury
Norfolk United Kingdom
2020-02-28
Struck on cheek while feeding wood chipper
Struck by tree part
Minor injury
Scotland Motherwell/glasgow United Kingdom
2019-07-01
Broken pinky, cuts to the hands, loss of feeling in 2 fingers
Cut body part
Minor injury
United States
2019-10-01
Smashed Hand
Cut body part, Tree failure
Serious Injury
Traverse City Michigan United States
2019-05-03
Failed to couple chipper correctly
Close call
Close call
Hamilton New Zealand
2019-05-13
Aerial rescue from tree whilst working on powerlines
Fall from height, Other
Serious Injury
Tilba Nsw Australia
2019-04-06
Equipment failure
Equipment failure
Close call
Greenville SC United States
2019-07-18
Bee nest
Close call
Minor injury
Devon United Kingdom
2018-10-10
Cut chainsaw boot
Close call, Cut body part
Close call
Port Coquitlam BC Canada
2017-10-12
Handsaw cut to left hand, partially severed tendon
Cut body part
Serious Injury
Port Coquitlam British Columbia Canada
2017-09-28
Loss of control in directional felling
Tree failure
Property damage
Vancouver BC Canada
1991-05-05
Yale Cordage Wire Core Flip Line
Equipment failure
Serious Injury
Atherton California Canada
08/10/2023
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Fall from height
Minor injury
Hamilton New Zealand