Is there a branch from a tree dangling too close to your home? Do you need to get rid of dead tree branches? Whatever the need for tree trimming services, this is one kind of yard work you should never do on your own. Even if you have a little bit of experience with landscaping equipment, tree work is a job that's best left to the professionals.
The primary reason for this is that there are many safety hazards when trimming trees. The following tree trimming dangers prove why you should leave this job to the professionals.
Ladders
Tree trimming often involves working from heights. This usually means a ladder is necessary in order to trim branches that are up off the ground. But did you know that ladders are extremely dangerous? In fact, the World Health Organization lists the United States as the country with the most deaths resulting from ladders.
Ladders result in dozens of deaths each year, and most of them occur at 10 feet high or less. Non-fatal injuries are possible as well. These injuries can be so serious that they warrant a trip to the emergency room. Ladder injuries usually occur because the person using it did not get on or off the ladder correctly.
Others either lost their balance, stepped incorrectly, or over-reached while on the ladder. When trimming branches high up off the ground, a professional tree service has access to bucket trucks, aerial lifts, and other kinds of equipment so that they can safely do jobs up off the ground.
Sharp Tools
To trim trees properly and quickly, you need to use sharp tools such as chainsaws, pruning shears, hatchets, handsaws, and a variety of axes. When not used correctly, all of these sharp tools pose a safety hazard. This is especially true of chainsaws.
Each year, chainsaws cause hundreds of injuries, and many of these can be quite serious. Kickback injuries are the most common. Kickback occurs when the end of the guide bar comes into contact with an object and causes the chainsaw to jerk unexpectedly in an upward motion.
When using a chainsaw, it's important to never use one while on a ladder. If you don't have a lot of experience with a chainsaw or don't know how to use one properly, you should avoid using it in general. Professional tree trimmers have all the necessary experience when it comes to operating chainsaws and other sharp tools necessary for doing the job.
Noisy Machinery
You might not think that noisy machinery is dangerous, but it actually is, as it has the potential to cause hearing loss. This is especially true when you're exposed to noisy machinery for prolonged periods of time. Any noise over 85 decibels (dB) is considered harmful to your hearing.
According to hearing experts, exposure to sounds over 100 dB for just 15 minutes damages your hearing. The noise level of most chainsaws is 110 dB. If you do use loud machinery to trim your trees, you should always wear hearing protection. However, when it comes to tree trimming, the best way to protect your hearing is by letting the professionals handle it and staying inside.
More Dangers
Other dangers associated with tree trimming include working around power lines, coming into contact with poisonous plants, using a wood chipper, and getting hurt by falling branches and tree debris.
If your trees need to be trimmed and you want to avoid the dangers associated with tree trimming, contact County Tree Service. Along with professional
tree trimming, our experienced and reliable tree service provides tree care, tree removal, stump removal, and wood chipper services.