•Adhesive bandages in multiple sizes •Sterile gauze pads and adhesive tape •Antiseptic wipes and ointment •Triangular bandages •Elastic wraps for sprains •SAM splint or equivalent rigid splint
•Finger splints •Sling materials •Instant cold packs •Neck brace •Tweezers and scissors •Disposable gloves •CPR mask or shield •Emergency blanket
Stretch before you climb. Simple yoga poses and stretches help arborists warm up, improve flexibility, and reduce the sprains and strains that often go unnoticed on the job.
First aid kits should be inspected regu- larly, restocked when items have been used, and kept in an accessible location. BUILDING A SAFETY CULTURE Safety doesn’t stop with gear or proce- dures; it lives in company culture. A strong safety culture empowers work- ers to speak up, share incidents, and take pride in doing things the right way. Burley acknowledged that underre- porting is common in the industry, but he also stressed that companies could change this: “When crews know they’ll be support- ed instead of punished for reporting an injury, that’s when real safety will begin.” According to Burley, a culture of safety starts with leadership modeling the be- haviors they expect from the crew. Dai- ly crew huddles, clear communication, and reviewing hazards together sets the tone. He emphasized encouraging workers to ask questions, and to truly listen to their concerns.
Burley also pointed out the importance of ongoing training: “Safety is a skill. Just like climbing or rigging, you get better with practice and repetition.” For LeVangie, safety is a personal journey. “Most tree workers don’t treat their bodies with care,” she said. “Stretching, yoga, recovery — these are as important as sharpening a saw.” She calls on the industry to view ar- borists as “industrial athletes” whose performance depends on preparation and recovery. Standards such as ANSI Z133 support this, offering guidance on hazard as- sessment, ergonomics, and resources for training. But the real change, said Burley, comes from crews and leader- ship embracing these practices as ev- eryday culture. PREVENTION TAKES PRIORITY Injury on the job — whether it’s slips, trips, falls, or worse — are preventable with awareness, proper training, en- forced standards, equipment and gear inspections, and company culture im- provements. Recognizing and address-
ing these risks is essential to sustain- ing the industry as a whole. Burley believes that improvement in tree care is attainable, highlighting the role of leadership in creating safer job- sites. “Almost all of our injuries could be mit- igated with proper SOPs and training,” he stressed. “Instead of just copying what the foreman has always done, we need to build consistency and stan- dards.” Chambrelli added the importance of footing, clip-in, and gear inspections: “It’s the simple steps that prevent the worst injuries. In an industry where rushing through a job is tempting, it’s important to remember that the basics save lives.” Start small and review the ANSI Z133 with your crew, regularly — a recom- mendation from all of the experts. Burley, Chambrelli, and LeVangie all agree that small steps toward aware- ness through proper training and procedures build a strong culture of safety.
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