Cutting down a tree as a homeowner, or hiring a friend with a chainsaw and a truck entails at least ten potential dangers that should be considered before committing to the risky job.
Here are 10 such dangers of removing a tree yourself:
- Property damage - Tree removal can lead to unexpected property damage. Trees will fall in unforeseen directions, as will flying branches or debris, potentially damaging your property. If you undertake the task yourself, you likely won't have insurance coverage for these incidents. A professional will eliminate the risk of these damages because of their years of experience removing trees with industry, best management practices.
- Being struck - Falling trees or branches are heavy and can not only hit you, but can also strike other people on the ground, including bystanders, risking severe injury or even worse, death.
- Rotting wood, roots, and vines -
- Trees decay from the inside out, making it almost impossible to tell if you are dealing with a rotting tree. Any fungus or mushrooms at the trunk is a clear indication of rot or decay in the tree, posing the risk of a spontaneously collapsing tree and making the entire task all the more dangerous.
- Not only can rotting make for a fragile tree, but dead or broken branches due to an imperfect root system can lead to branches dropping at even the slightest shifts in the tree's balance.
- Vines can also alter the direction of a tree's fall and even pull down the surrounding trees and branches.
- Falling - You, the tree, or any limbs/branches can fall at any time. Gravity is not your friend here! As you go higher, the risk of an untimely descent to the ground increases, especially if your ladder needs to be secured or you need a harness. The stability of the remaining branches diminishes as you remove more, and the tree could fall in an unexpected direction at any moment.
- Fire Starters - Cutting trees down, especially pine trees, makes them dry and brittle, increasing their likelihood of being fuel for a fire. This fire hazard increases if the tree involved is close to a house.
- Toxic Fumes - When cutting down a tree near your property, you must consider the potential for the tree to emit toxic fumes. In such cases, it's crucial to use proper ventilation gear or, better yet, consult a professional who can ensure your safety.
- Electrocution - Not only could you be electrocuted by a power line or telephone pole, but one faulty strike at the tree could cause a whole blackout!
- Injuries from tools - Some bad kickback from the chainsaw or improper use of tools (i.e., using a chainsaw above the head where you have less control of its movement) can result in serious injuries or even amputations.
- Improper equipment - Tree removal requires a lot of serious equipment, including cranes, wood chippers, chainsaws, and specific protective gear. Lacking any of this equipment or using last-minute replacements could be a recipe for disaster.
- Wildlife - Hitting a wasp nest or disturbing other critters in your tree can lead to unforeseen pain, including multiple stings, bites, rashes, etc.
So, there you have it; maybe removing a tree is more complex than you previously thought. Not to mention, trimming the tree and removing it is only half the job. A lengthy clean-up process awaits you once the tree is out of the ground. If you want to approach tree removal correctly and save yourself lots of time, energy, stress, and pain, seeking a tree removal expert is highly advisable. Contact the best tree removal service in the area today for a free estimate!