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).
Back to the Incidents Overview
| Date of incident | 01/12/2021 |
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| Incident | left hand cut with chainsaw |
| Location of incident | Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires Argentina Map It |
| Age of impacted party | 48 |
| Outcome | Serious injury |
| Type of incident |
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| Type of equipment involved |
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| Type of injury |
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| Bodily injury to |
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| Action taken |
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| Involvement of contributor | Worker performing task |
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| Causes of the incident |
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| Description of incident | It was in an acacia tree. We had lost a lot of time, so we decided to cut a very large branch in one go. I anticipated that the tree would shake a lot, so I decided to finish the cut with one hand and hold on to the main trunk with my left (my second mistake). The branch broke before the cut was complete and dragged me down with the ropes. In the jolt my left hand came loose and the chainsaw grazed me. |
| Incident review and preventative measures | The main cause was the lack of proper training. Trying to cut such a large branch with a single cut was a serious mistake and using the chainsaw with one hand caused the total loss of control over the machine at the moment of the jolt, with the result that is visible |
| Upload pictures |  |
| Form completed by (optional) | German Ignacio Lopez |
| First | German Ignacio |
| Last | Lopez |