The recent snow and ice storm that made its way across parts of Oregon has left a warzone of fallen trees across roadways and residential areas. If the storm debris has impacted your property, you may be wondering if you should call an arborist or start clearing the trees yourself.
Wide-scale tree damage cleanup requires specific equipment and expert training working in high places.
Potential Dangers of Post Storm Tree Removal
While you may consider yourself handy with a chainsaw, a professional arborist has the training to properly handle the many different scenarios that may arise in this highly risky situation. The following are just a few of the risks that are involved in major downed tree removal.
- Electrical wires downed during the storm can create an extremely hazardous situation. Professional arborists have the training to be aware of potentially dangerous situations and know how to avoid causing them. They know the proper way to cut large limbs and trees to avoid the risk of landing limbs near electrical lines.
- Limbs hanging overhead can create a hazardous situation for workers trying to remove trees on the ground. A professional arborist is trained to be aware of potential dangers from overhead broken tree limbs. They stay alert and take the necessary steps to reduce the risk of removing limbs that are underneath.
- Using a chainsaw to cut large limbs and fell trees is hazardous work. It requires advanced training to avoid injuring yourself while operating the chainsaw. When trees have fallen due to snow and ice, they can pin other trees under them. Cutting any of these limbs without considering the potential tension release can send a tree or limb into the direct path of the chainsaw operator. This can cause serious injury and even death.
- Cutting trees that are on the ground can also be risky. Saw bars can become embedded in the dirt or hit unseen rocks or other debris and cause the chainsaw to kickback, risking injury to the operator.
- Cutting fallen tree trunks away from their root plates can be a high-risk situation. Once the pressure is released, the roots that remain in the ground may pull the remaining trunk pack towards the hole. This has the potential to trap anything in its path under the ground.
- The terrain where trees and large limbs fall can often be treacherous. Hillsides and uneven terrain can make handling a chainsaw even more hazardous.
- Attempting to do any type of chainsaw work alone is extremely risky. Arborists work in crews so that there is someone who can help in case of injury or being trapped beneath a tree.
Hire a Professional Arborist
Removing fallen trees and large limbs is a job that is best left to a professional. An arborist has the experience and proper equipment to safely clear and remove fallen trees and large limbs that are left in the storm’s wake. Contact Quality Tree Service to schedule an appointment with one of our tree specialists.
