As the 2026 revision approaches, with updates for training and utility work, these standards will only become more robust. FALLS TO A LOWER LEVEL Slips may lead to sprains, but falls from ladders, trucks, and aerial lifts often re- sult in broken bones or long-term mus- culoskeletal injuries. Chambrelli em- phasized that most of these falls trace back to preventable human errors. “Falls to a lower level usually mean falls from trucks, ladders, or aerial lifts,” Chambrelli explained. “The truth is, most of them come down to human error — not clipping in, overreaching on a ladder, or neglecting to inspect steps and platforms.” LeVangie pointed out that overconfi- dence with equipment contributes to many of these accidents. Workers as- sume gear will protect them, but when it’s overloaded or misused, failure often occurs. “Anytime we can reduce our body’s power and let equipment do the work, injuries go down,” she said. “But often, people overload gear or ignore manu- facturer’s instructions, and that’s when incidents happen.” SHOCK LOAD & WHIPLASH Climbing accidents are not always due to falls. Often, they involve sudden jolts or swings that strain the spine. “When a climber slips off a limb and takes a swing into the trunk, that’s where we see whiplash and impact in- juries. Neck, back, even obliques are affected, depending on how they land,” said Chambrelli. LeVangie added that whiplash can oc- cur during everyday tasks, like bump- ing a helmet against a branch or truck door, snapping the neck back. Symp- toms of this injury may not appear un- til hours or even days later, when stiff- ness and pain set in.
While slips can cause sprains, falls from ladders, trucks, or aerial lifts are far more severe and often lead to fractures or lasting damage to the musculoskeletal system.
instructor, and co-founder/owner of Women’s Tree Care Climbing Work- shop ™ (WTCW), explained that fatigue plays a major role in accidents on the job. “So many injuries happen when people are tired,” she said. “Crews working long hours may rush through cleanup leaving logs, tools, or other debris on the ground. At the end of a long day, these seemingly harmless hazards can be the cause of a twisted ankle — or worse.” ANSI Z133, the foundational safety standard for arboriculture, reinforces the importance of readiness and cer- tain protocols. Chapter 3 (General Safe- ty Requirements) requires job sites to maintain accessible first aid kits, enforce communication protocols, and emergency readiness.
Jamie Chambrelli, safety manager with SavATree, noted that most worker’s compensation claims stem from “fall to the same level” incidents such as trip- ping over brush, slipping on sawdust, or stepping into holes. “Slips and trips can be anything from bad footing, poor tread on boots, or jumping fences to save time,” Cham- brelli said. “They sound small, but they account for the largest portion of claims.” Burley added that the impact of slips and trips is underestimated. Compa- nies often underreport these injuries to avoid insurance complications. And, as a result, sprains and strains remain hidden, making it harder to address them systematically.
Bear LeVangie, executive director, lead
28 | Fall 2025 ArborTIMES™
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