Why DIY Tree Removal Is Dangerous

The decision to remove a tree may be an aesthetic choice, or it may be a necessity due to its declining health. In either case, you should have professional tree removal in Cambridge to take care of it rather than trying to cut down the tree yourself. Rather than saving money with a DIY job, you are more likely to compound the problem and cost yourself even more in the long run. Here are some of the potential dangers involved in doing it yourself.

Property Damage

When you cut the trunk or limbs of a tree, they may not fall the way you expect them to. Parts of the tree could fall towards your house or your car and cause damage when they hit. A tree could crash through the roof of your home or car or smash through the windows. Then you have to pay to have the damage repaired.

Injuries

Parts of a tree are very heavy. If they fall unpredictably and hit you, it could result in a serious injury. A tree trunk or one of the limbs hitting you in the head could cause a traumatic brain injury. If it hit you in the chest, you could suffer broken ribs or a punctured lung. Even a fracture to one of the bones in the extremities could be serious. You could have an open fracture in which part of the bone sticks out from the skin or a comminuted fracture in which the bone breaks into many pieces.

Besides parts of the tree falling on you, there are other ways you could be injured by DIY tree removal. For example, you may have to climb up on a ladder, which carries with it a risk of falling. The risk is greater if the ladder is not tall enough or is placed on uneven ground.

Power Lines

When the tree comes down, it may bring nearby power lines along with it. This can cause a power outage that affects not only you but your entire neighbourhood as well. Worse yet, sparks from the broken power lines may start a fire if they ignite the dead tree or other flammable material nearby. Coming into contact with a live wire, whether it is broken or still intact, could cause an electrical shock. You do not necessarily have to come in direct contact with the wire to receive a shock. For example, if you are using a ladder made of a conductive material, and the ladder touches the wires, the current may flow down the ladder and through your body to go into the ground.

Chainsaw Handling

If you are new to using a chainsaw, you may not be prepared for a kickback, which is a backward movement toward the operator. Even if you are familiar with using a chainsaw, it may not always behave the way you expect. For example, it can become unpredictable if it hits an unseen nail or bolt in the tree that you didn’t know was there.

Fines or Legal Trouble

Before you attempt to cut down a tree, you have to get the proper work permit. You may also need to get your neighbour’s permission if part of the tree is on his or her property. Failure to do so could result in fines. If you attempt to remove a tree without knowing what you are doing and someone else gets hurt, you could be legally liable for his or her injuries.

Call Us for Tree Removal in Cambridge

At Martin’s Tree Service, we have the experience to assess the risks involved with removing a tree. We make the precise calculations necessary to avoid injury or property damage and complete the job in a timely manner. Find out more about our tree removal services.