As an arborist, keeping safe on the field means understanding you’re always in the path of risk. It’s important to keep safety in mind at all times. Anything can happen and it doesn’t take much asking around to hear some graphic stories of what can go wrong when proper caution isn’t taken and when you don’t have the correct rescue equipment at hand.
Keeping Safe on the Field
You need a site safety check-in each day before everyone gets to work. Pick someone to call for help — and backup in case the first person gets injured. Does anyone know how to administer first aid? Do you have a first aid kit at hand? When you have to use it for nick or something more serious, you need to know where the first aid kit is. Everyone should know as those moments searching can mean the difference between life and death when there’s a serious injury. Check if your team have any allergies (i.e. bee stings). Often a person with an allergy will keep their epi-pen in with their own gear. This should be moved somewhere where it’s at hand for everyone to find it, such as in with the first aid kit. Have your vehicle facing out towards the exit so that if there’s a serious bleeding accident you put a tourniquet on the injured person, lift them in the vehicle and head straight to the hospital without any delays.
Anticipate What Could Happen Before You Cut a Limb
Keeping safe on the field means knowing what is going to happen when you cut a limb; And what could happen afterwards. Whether the tree is on the ground or standing, the limbs and the tree itself will react differently to your work. What might happen? Could a branch swing when first cut? Could it threaten to interfere with your climbing equipment? If the tree is on the ground, could it roll due to pressure or shifts in the centre of gravity? You should always know how a branch or a tree will react before you begin cutting, and take proper measures to reduce risks of a risky outcome, while still anticipating that they’re still possible.
If you have any questions about our range of products, you can always give us a call on 021 4965 132