Safety protocols should account for everyone and everything on-site. This includes pedestrians walking through the work site.
and equipment will fit safely in the space. It’s also important to consider the gear that climb- ers will need in the canopy. “A climber will have to use specialized rigging equipment, which can include pulleys and rig- ging blocks to safely let down large wood at a controlled pace,” he added. When faced with a really tight or awkward site, Mairs’ reiterated: “The biggest tip I can give is to slow down at the planning stage.” He advises arborists to think carefully about how material comes down and plan where it will go. If you’re using machines, it can help to set machines up once and then work towards them rather than constantly repositioning them. Breaking material down into manageable sizes early on nearly always saves time later. Safety is another important part of the plan. Protocols should account for everyone and everything on-site. This includes pedestrians walking through the work site. “All safety protocols and gear will have to be communicated to every part of the tree crew, including the groundsmen and the climbers,” Williams said.
THE RIGHT MACHINES CAN HELP YOU SUCCEED Once a plan is in place, the next step is to choose the right equipment. Tight spaces require proper equipment that can access the area and still perform. “When it comes to planning small worksites that still need serious capability, we always encourage customers to work backwards from access,” Mairs said. “There’s no point spec’ing a big machine if you can’t physically get it to where the work is.” That could mean using smaller, more compact equipment that can fit through narrow entry points before being deployed on-site, such as Green-Tec compact lis or other similar ma- chines. Some larger equipment can still be used if they offer features like all-wheel steering which make a machine nimbler when working around close obstacles, Mairs said. Another option is to use machine attachments. When used correctly, some attachments can help make a machine more versatile. This al- lows crews to handle multiple tasks with fewer
Planterra specializes in confined spaces such as working among trees inside an animal exhibit at the Detroit Zoo.
18 | Spring 2026 ArborTIMES ™
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