The tree care industry is ranked among the most dangerous professions. We rank closely behind logging and commercial fishing. We are also one of the top five industries that OSHA targeted in their strategic plan because of our poor safety record.

The industry has done a lot. The tree care industry has participated in standards development, both voluntarily and through government regulation, to identify hazards and to improve safety. This is commendable.

TCIA, and previously NAA, developed tools to help companies with safety training, producing videos, Tailgate Safety Programs, Pocket Guides, and the Model Company Safety Program. We have held seminars, workshops, conferences, and committee meetings to share knowledge about safety developments and to encourage arborists to
embrace best practices. This, too, is commendable.

What we haven't done is make a significant difference in the overall industry's accident rates.  They are unacceptably high. This collective experience of the tree care industry reduces our credibility with the outside world and profoundly impacts insurance rates and other costs of doing business.

What we know is that we cannot keep doing what we have been doing, or the industry will not improve its record. We know that we must move beyond simply providing the tools for safety training.

The answer, we believe, is to create a Culture of Safety one company at a time. Most companies do not have the resources to hire a person specifically devoted to creating a safety culture and MUST have an alternative that will provide this leadership for their team. The Certified Treecare Safety Professional is a new individual certification program developed with the majority of TCIA member companies' needs in mind.

Providing direction on the use of tools, training safety leaders in every company, developing a coaching style within the employee team and establishing a culture of safety can lower companies' experiences of accidents. This requires management's commitment and buy-in to the investment in a safety culture.

If you have questions or comments, please email Peter@treecareindustry.org.