A Day in the Life of an Arborist
An interesting read on a typical day in the life of an Arborist and some of the challenges that they face and overcome with the help of Niftylift products. (Written by Norfolk-based tree surgeon: Dr Stump)
Wednesday 10 March 2021
A day in the life of an arborist hosts a different challenge every day, it’s one of the perks of the job and makes everyday tasks interesting. At Dr Stump, we live and breathe the Norfolk countryside. One day we could be navigating a tight city centre alleyway to access overgrown Leylandii, the next we may be in the depth of rural Norfolk felling a diseased or unsafe tree.
What are our everyday challenges?
Seasonality always plays a huge role in how our days pan out, the weather often dictates whether it’s safe to carry out the work planned for that day. Naturally, there are times when it is just too dangerous to be 40ft up an Ash tree with a chainsaw. During the winter months, there is a much higher likelihood of being called out for emergency service jobs due to stronger winds, torrential rain and colder temperatures.
We’re available 24/7, responding to emergency calls about fallen trees and blocked access is - albeit a dangerous situation - very much an exciting part of the job. Tasked with making areas safe and accessible after a tree has fallen takes skill and patience in order to complete this in a timely manner.
Whilst winter can prove to be a challenging and demanding few months, throughout the more forgiving seasons the work often involves trimming trees and overgrown shrubs to promote or inhibit growth. Having an in-depth knowledge of native trees' seasonal growth is imperative to being a tree surgeon.
And what about the rest?
1. Nurturing nature
An arborist's job is not just to fell trees, but also to nurture them. After all, without trees, we wouldn’t have a job. Besides providing the human race with oxygen, trees also create habitats and environments for different species to succeed, as well as cleaning the air.
Nurturing jobs include crown reduction, pollarding, crown lifting, crown thinning, deadwood removal, and felling to preserve healthy trees from a diseased tree in their range.
2. Completing the paperwork
Before any work takes place we’ve got to get the paperwork right and complete a comprehensive risk assessment before we can begin. Whilst working as a tree surgeon is exciting and challenging, there’s no hiding the fact that it can be a dangerous job as well, especially if specific procedures are not followed and it is not tackled in the correct manner.
Therefore ensuring overhead utilities are managed, public and private highways are closed when the work is carried out and any nearby buildings are cleared for health and safety reasons is of the utmost importance before arriving on site.
3. On-site safety
Maintaining safety during the working day is crucial, not only for the safety of yourself but everyone around you and on your team. From the carabiner and rope to the wood chipper and chainsaw, using the very best equipment is our number one priority to improve safety measures at work.
This includes the platform technology that we use. We’re fortunate to be able to see the county we love and live in from a rare perspective, but in order to do this safely, we need to ensure we’ve chosen the correct platform.
We always use Niftylift platforms for tree work such as reductions and dismantles, the platform has to be able to move frequently and cover large distances. Allowing us to access those hard to reach trees.
We choose Niftylift, not only for their additional safety feature that allows the operator to descend quickly should an emergency situation arise, but also due to the large battery capacity that allows us to continue the day uninterrupted without the need for charging. Niftylift’s ‘Bi-Energy’ system of battery and petrol means that with the use of alkylate fuel, the reduction of hydrocarbon emissions by 99% helps to protect the environment and our staff. The petrol engine, however, is a great back up for those long days.
On top of this, the quiet Honda engine is near silent, allowing for better communication on-site as less noise is being generated from the ground, allowing the operator and ground crew to effectively communicate without the need for radio communications and fewer disturbances for surrounding wildlife.
4. Housekeeping
Indeed, finishing the day with a tidy up is arguably up there with being one of the most important jobs and the sign of a good arborist. Knowing how to dispose of waste correctly and leaving the area as clean and tidy as it was when you arrived is key, not only from a client's point of view but also for a proud tree surgeon.
Well, that just about sums up a day in the life of an arborist working at Dr Stump. Although each day is never the same, they’re definitely always interesting. Now, time to get home and put our feet up before the next challenge.
For more information on Dr Stump and their Aborcare services, please visit their website: www.drstump.co.uk.