It’s important to understand how proper tree service will protect the health and safety of your trees, but it’s just as important to know how the tree care company is going to protect you from potential liability.

For this reason I generalize the tree companies into two categories:

• “Tree Guys”
• Arborists

“ Tree Guys ” will state or advertise that they are “Fully Insured” with liability and workers comp while not truly understanding what coverage is actually required. In most cases when we see “Fully Insured” advertised, it means nothing. There are only a very small number of tree companies in our area that have proper liability and workers compensation insurance.

Arborists  work very closely with industry associations, such as the International Society of Arboriculture  (ISA), Tree Care Industry Association  (TCIA) and CT Tree Protective Association (CTPA), to stay at the forefront of the tree care industry while meeting or exceeding safety and tree care standards. Arborists are passionate about their industry and delivering a level of care and professionalism that greatly exceeds the “Tree Guy” scenario. Additionally, Arborists commit to a level of training, certifications and licensing that is ongoing and shows a commitment to being an industry steward that best represents consumers and their landscape needs.

Many people are unaware that the tree care industry is one of the most dangerous professions out there. Tree care employees work at extreme heights while using dangerous tools, such as chain saws. The danger is compounded by working near power lines, busy roadways and other infrastructure obstacles. These working conditions place  tree work in the same category as logging, which is rated as the second most dangerous job in the USA and has a high risk of serious injury and/or death.

With all these risks in mind, you can see why having a company that’s properly insured should be at the top of your list. This is also why you should make sure that a tree care company has up-to-date industry certifications and licenses. This ensures that employees are properly trained and that they use the latest industry standards to mitigate the risks involved in tree care.

In most cases, consumers tend to lump tree care companies in with landscapers – after all, they both do “tree work,” right? But there’s a big difference – landscapers do not usually work in the high-risk situations listed above and are certainly not insured properly to cover these risks.