Hazard alert for tree trimmers has ‘tips to live by’

October 27, 2025

Olympia, WA — The deaths of 11 landscaping services workers in a four-year period has prompted a hazard alert from the Washington State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program.

The alert states that most of the workers were tree trimmers who died as a result of a fall. It details three cases, all of which took place between 2020 and 2024. It adds that struck-by injuries are another common cause of death in the landscaping industry, and pushes for “proper policies, training and equipment.”

The alert provides two “tips to live by”:

Develop and enforce policies in your accident prevention program: This program requires tree trimmers to perform a site-specific job hazard assessment and make a safety plan before any trimming or removal begins. The APP should emphasize the use of top-quality, reputable and arborist-certified equipment and techniques, especially for lifelines and rigging.

Have a qualified arborist or Certified Tree Care Safety Professional: These professionals can make decisions about safety and controlled tree trimming and removal practices, as well as directly supervise workers involved in tree work. They also provide initial and recurring training in hazard identification; fall protection; safe use of equipment; and Section C of ANSI Z133-2017: Manual Tree Felling Procedure.

The alert includes links to an OSHA fact sheet on safe tree trimming and a Solutions for Tree Care Hazards chart.