You see this all too often in central Virginia communities – someone’s up on an old-growth tree that’s towering over buildings or stretching out dozens of feet into the sky. You look closer and the person — or multiple people — happens to be working without gloves, goggles or anything else. These brave horticulturalists may even be using decades-old chainsaws, working without appropriate harnesses or safety gear, and taking many unnecessary risks to try to get trees or branches to fall correctly.
The Philosophy of Small and Local Businesses
It’s understandable that many of these areas have a culture of supporting small local business by awarding a variety of business contracts to firms that may be composed of just one or several people. There’s nothing wrong with providing such support, as long as things are done properly. However, for high-risk trades and professions, you must also be realistic and work hard to ensure work safety.
It may be fine to hire your neighbor down the street to paint the house, move appliances, landscape buildings on the ground or even take on certain types of utility work. But what gets really dangerous is when your neighbor down the street is handling high-risk jobs like arborist work, not only without proper licensing and insurance, but without basic physical safeguards in place.
So again, although it’s not wrong to hire a local firm to take care of dead trees or limbs, here are some things you should look for, regardless of who you hire:
- Contractors who are appropriately licensed
- Proper insurance for hazardous jobs
- Harnessing equipment for high tree work
- Chainsaws and equipment that are in good condition
- Workers should wear items like goggles and hard hats
In most cases, you’re not going to be able to sit down with the contractor before the job is done to talk about their strategy for timbering or anything else. But if you hire someone who has all of the above, there’s a pretty good chance they know what they’re doing, because they’re doing things the right way and investing in all sorts of practical safety support.
Tree firms don’t need to have a lot of fancy vehicles and machinery. But they do need to have practical safeguards in place to make sure their jobs don’t end up endangering themselves or others.
Local Virginia Injury Lawyers Helping Those Who Need it Most
Residents in the state of Virginia who are injured in a workers’ compensation-related accident, car accident or any other kind of unfortunate situation can contact the lawyers at MartinWren, P.C. We have experience helping central Virginia families secure the money that an injured family member needs for the costs of care and recovery. Let us help you to make sure your voice is heard in court.
Call 434-817-3100 or complete a Case Evaluation form
