PPE Series
Big Bleed Prevention Essential Summer Safety for Arborists By Jason Collins
In arboriculture, the threat of a big bleed injury is always present — one wrong move with a chainsaw, one skipped safety check, and a routine job can become a life-threatening emergency. These injuries are fast, severe, and often preventable. Yet during the summer, when heat push- es workers to strip off gear or rush through tasks, the risk only grows. Picture this: an arborist, sweating through the afternoon heat, opts to forgo their chainsaw pants for a lighter pair of work trousers. Midway through a felling cut, their saw kicks back and catches their thigh. Without the protective fibers designed to jam the chain, the blade tears into soft tissue. In seconds, a severe arterial bleed begins — one that can be fatal without immediate intervention. Scenarios like this are not rare. They are the result of everyday decisions to prioritize comfort over protection. Pre- venting catastrophic injuries starts with the right personal protective equipment (PPE), proper training, and
the discipline to prioritize safety even in uncomfortable conditions. This ar- ticle outlines the most common sum- mertime safety mistakes arborists make and offers expert advice on how to stay cool while staying protected — because in this line of work, preven- tion is everything.
WHY BIG BLEEDS HAPPEN — AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM One of the most common causes of serious injury on the job is a failure to wear the proper personal protec- tive equipment (PPE). Gloves, har- nesses, non-slip boots, and chain- saw-resistant pants are all designed to reduce the risk of deep cuts and blunt force trauma. But in summer, many arborists admit to leaving gear behind to stay cool — an understand- able impulse that can prove fatal. Sales team member Louisa Brothers of Arbortec , parent company of Tree- hog and a leader in global arborist safety gear, warns that this is not a job where corners can be cut. “It is a dangerous job that they’re un- dertaking every day they go out,” she said. “Even if they’re on the ground working with the chippers or they’re up in the trees, it’s a risk every time.”
Bleed control first aid trauma kits are essential when working around chainsaws and chippers.
ArborTIMES™ Summer 2025 | 27
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online