Pruning and removing trees can cost thousands of dollars, especially when tree care professionals are dealing with larger trees. As the industry continues to expand, growth opportunities are ripe for both tree care companies and the brokers who help insure them. While there’s plenty of upside in the arboriculture business, tree maintenance is nuanced work that comes with significant risks and challenges.
To address these risks, safety coverage for arborists is an absolute must. But, because the work can be complex and carry higher-than-average risks, a basic tree care insurance policy often has glaring gaps in coverage. To protect arborists and their employees, a specialized tree work risk management solution should cover the complete range of risks so arborists can traverse the treetops with confidence.
Challenges of tree pruning and removal
Pruning and removing trees is both difficult and dangerous, which is part of the reason it can cost so much money. Many people incorrectly assume that arboriculture and landscaping are synonymous; in reality, arborists are skilled, highly-trained professionals – like surgical specialists for trees. Arboriculture exists because landscapers aren’t generally equipped to handle the challenges of full-scale tree pruning and removal, which include more complex operations and an increased risk of injury.
Complex work
Though trimming or taking down a tree might seem like a straightforward endeavor, tree trimming and felling often require extensive planning and thought, particularly in densely populated areas, around utility lines or in places that experience harsh weather. Storms are becoming more intense, which can lead to falling trees, branches and other hazards that can injure arborists and bystanders. These factors can further complicate the work of arborists on a day-to-day basis.
While more utility companies are using buried lines to power their homes and businesses, most electrical lines are still above ground, and in many cases, compete with treetops and create additional challenges and safety risks for tree trimmers. Today, arborists must figure out how to tend to trees while navigating an extensive network of utility lines both above and below ground, facing exposure to countless hazards along the way.
Physical danger and injury risk
Every year there are more than 100 landscape and tree fall fatalities in the U.S. — 30 times the all-industry average. Non-fatal injuries among tree care workers are also common, with roughly 239 per 10,000, a rate that’s more than 2.5 times higher than the all-industry average. Falls, slips and trips alone account for 40% of fatal tree-trimming incidents. Meanwhile, contact with objects – such as branches, debris or equipment — is another top cause of injuries and fatalities among arborists. The unpredictable nature of falling tree hazards and the ever-present risk of injury due to human error make the physical dangers of tree care one of the greatest challenges for employers, employees and the industry at large.
Shortage of qualified arborists
The shortage of qualified arborists has been a significant challenge for tree care companies both in the U.S. and worldwide. The lack of trained arborists and tree care specialists not only makes it difficult for businesses to operate but can also increase liability risks and other risks due to human error. Growing demand, urban growth and more frequent severe storms can further complicate the work of arboriculture companies which may already struggle to find qualified tree care experts. To fill the labor gap, these companies may hire young, inexperienced individuals who can increase their overall risk profile. Though a robust training program, strict work standards and the use of personal protective equipment can help reduce risks, younger and less-experienced employees are generally more likely to suffer injuries or make mistakes on the job.
A wide range of other risks
As tree care grows more complex, so do tree pruning risks. Arborists are expected to operate in increasingly difficult conditions, work more quickly and expand the services they offer. As a result, they have an even greater need for specialized insurance coverage. With more than 100 million lawsuits filed in state courts each year, the persistent threat of liability risks looms large for arborists, both for third-party injuries and damage to third-party property. In addition, tree care companies must protect their employees, who are regularly exposed to hazards like falling tree limbs, pesticides, heavy machinery, harmful environments, transportation accidents and slips, trips and falls.
Need for specialized coverage
Arborists and other tree care professionals typically carry pruning and removal liability insurance, but simple tree trimming insurance may not cover much beyond arborist liability.
Specialized arborist insurance for tree care and removal should span the spectrum of risks pruning professionals can encounter on the job. Falling trees can cause injuries, death and damage to property belonging to the business, customers or other third parties. The vast variety of these risks can threaten the financial security of any arboriculture business, and only specialized tree service insurance can provide sufficient protection for arborists’ interests.
How TreePro can help
The complexities and dangers of the tree trimming and removal business clearly warrant specialized insurance, which brokers and arboriculture businesses can find in NIP Group’s TreePro program. Better tree coverage by design means coverage for the obvious risks, such as general liability and workers’ compensation, and the not-so-obvious ones, such as cyber liability, jobsite pollution and arborist errors.
As an example, basic tree removal liability insurance might not cover the cost of replacing a neighbor’s tree that was accidentally removed by an arborist who misjudged the property line. Or consider a situation where a newer employee makes a mistake and accidentally hits a hydraulic line, causing hydraulic fluid to spill on the customer’s property. If these exposures and others are excluded under a commercial policy, lawsuits and losses can upend an arboriculture business and cause company owners and their brokers unnecessary stress.
As the tree-trimming business continues its growth trajectory, brokers and arboriculturists can focus on growing alongside it knowing they’re backed by TreePro, the comprehensive risk management solution tailored to the unique needs of burgeoning tree care businesses.
