Article written in collaboration with ArborMaster.
In the tree care industry, there is one school of thought that says if you are going to do a job more safely, then you are going to do it slower, and that is going to negatively impact your income and profits.
“That’s not true at all,” says Ken Palmer, president of ArborMaster, a Connecticut-based firm that specializes in training for the tree care industry. “Once you become proficient at doing a job differently, not only will it be done more safely, but you will also increase your efficiency.”
These firms and others that have invested in a good safety training program typically see a dramatic decrease in incidents and a corresponding increase in productivity. “You have to be patient,” says Palmer, “because it takes time to transfer training into workplace performance. Properly trained employees will all be performing much better within a few months.”
Bringing in outside help can be the answer for a tree care company with productivity/safety issues. A variety of different things could be causing the problem, and when you are in the middle, it is sometimes difficult to see them.
“A consultant that asks the right questions and has the knowledge and experience to focus on your particular problem can be helpful,” says Palmer. “Sometimes it’s as simple as becoming aware of what is causing the safety incidents. That awareness can lead to the solution.
“When it comes to safety, there are no shortcuts,” continues Palmer, “no making things up as you go along. Every company needs to have its own approved work methods.
That means training employees to acquire the skill to do the work the way the company wants it done. And making sure the entire labor force — both new and experienced workers — understands “that’s the way we do it here.”
Palmer also points out that a tree care company can have all the right materials in place and properly trained employees, “but that doesn’t mean everyone makes the correct choices at every jobsite. You need to regularly evaluate what they are doing.”
At a time when margins are tight within the tree care industry, a good safety plan has never been more important. “Those companies that truly engage in workforce training can expect fewer safety incidents, increased productivity and an improved bottom line,” says Palmer.
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Palmer cites a couple of examples from his many years of experience in workforce training:
- In the first 10 months after an electric power company took its tree-trimming work in-house, there were 10 accidents. Once the crews participated in a six-day ArborMaster training course that focused on climbing, cutting and rigging, there was a significant change in safety awareness. After a six-month learning period, the company went accident-free the next year. The result was an overall cost reduction of 30 percent in tree-trimming costs.
- A large tree care company had been tracking productivity of three experienced climbers for two years when the trio participated in an advanced arborist training program. After the first three months of using the new techniques, each worker gained an average of 30 percent in productivity. The course included chain-saw safety, climbing techniques and job briefings.