4 Tree Trimming Safety Tips
Posted on: 23 August 2022
Well-trimmed trees have a striking beauty and elegance that will improve your home's curb appeal. Also, trimming helps eliminate diseased branches that can spread the infection to other neighboring trees. Some diseased trees may harbor pests and insects, such as rats, cockroaches, termites, ants, and mosquitoes. The pests can spread to your home and cause injuries or damage to your home's structures, such as the roof.
Tree trimming boosts the tree's productivity, which is important for trees that produce fruits or flowers. While the professionals will do everything for you, here are essential tree trimming safety tips you should know about.
Wear Protection Gear
Tree trimming involves using dangerous equipment, such as chainsaws, chippers, pole pruners, trimmers, and stump grinders. Hence, you must wear the appropriate protective gear during the process to avoid injuries. You must protect sensitive areas of your body, such as your eyes, head, and ear. You can do so by wearing a hard hat, gloves, safety glasses and shoes, high visibility clothing, and ear protection.
Ensure the Tools Are in Good Condition
Before trimming, you have to ensure your equipment is in good condition. For instance, you have to sharpen the trimming ax and knife. You also need to ascertain the chainsaw has enough oil and is functioning correctly. Failure to inspect your tools could inconvenience you or cause injury. For example, a blunt trimming knife won't cut off small branches accurately.
You will be forced to work for longer hours, and you might not do a perfect job like the professionals. Uninspected tools can also expose you to injuries. For example, if the ax handle comes off or you accidentally drop the chainsaw, you can injure yourself or someone nearby. Also, you may not have the proper equipment and skills to protect you from falling branches.
Consider the Weather
Trimming during harsh weather conditions, such as heavy rains, or strong winds, is a bad idea. Rain can cause the trees to become too slippery, making you prone to slipping. Also, strong winds can destabilize your ladder or the tree you are trimming, putting you at risk of falling.
After a storm, you should check the surrounding electrical poles and wires to see if they are touching the trees. Trimming such a tree can lead to electrocution, resulting in severe injuries and even death.
Demarcate Your Work Area
If you trim trees in a high-traffic area, you should demarcate the area to warn and prevent people from passing there. Large branches can fall unexpectedly and injure anyone passing underneath the tree. The falling twigs can also trip and injure passers-by.
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