The work of an arborist is dangerous, especially when the service provider does not practice safety precautions. There is a reason why experts only recommend certified professionals to do the job. I have been working as an arborist for about 7 years and I can attest to the fact that it is a profession that requires a special breed of person. It takes a lot of effort and passion to become an acceptable climber, and mental alertness and awareness are essential for avoiding serious injury.
Turns out arboriculture is among America's most dangerous legal jobs, with certain types of mining and logging being even more hazardous. Falling is just one of the risks arborists face when climbing trees, supported by spurs, ropes and harnesses, with a chainsaw in hand. And even though there are more and more companies and cutters seeking safety training and certification, the profession of arborist is not regulated. Gardeners may have heavy branches or whole trees landing on them, and utility arborists are at risk of being electrocuted.
This is a great industry to be in if you want to travel abroad, as there is always a demand for good arborists around the world. But there is a professionalization in the industry, and a certified arborist is not as rare as it was in the early days of Al Miley. As a climbing arborist, you may be asked to lead the crew if you are the most knowledgeable or experienced. The job of an arborist representative is to meet with the company's customers, whether residential or commercial, and listen to their tree care needs, or provide professional advice and present suggestions and, perhaps, tree care management plans. According to findings published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, workers employed by tree care experts and licensed arborists were more likely to receive health and safety training and to wear personal protective equipment than those employed by companies that are not part of the professional network of arboriculture. In an hour or two, an experienced arborist can remove a 40-foot tree by slowly moving along the trunk and removing branches on its way up and down.
Every Arborist Gear has a “cycle to failure” meaning it has a limited lifespan before it stops meeting safety standards. Now I like climbing and am considering moving to Colorado in the not too distant future; becoming an arborist seems like it would be a good fit for me. It takes commitment and dedication to become an efficient climbing arborist, as well as listening to and learning from the people around you.
