Imagine, if you will, having $19 million.

A luxury car, harbour side mansion, or a round-the-world trip might spring to mind.

Unfortunately, $19 million is the total cost of claims in NSW for injuries – lacerations, amputations, brain injuries and the like – that occurred in the tree work industry between 2013 and 2016.

In the past four years, there have been more than 600 workplace injury and occupational disease claims for the tree work industry. The injuries are often serious, sometimes catastrophic and average $30,000 per claim. Major causes of incidents include the lack of planning related to working at heights and around power lines; the unsafe use of high risk machinery such as wood chippers; and the failure to assess the condition of trees and poor ground stability.

If you are in the tree work industry, watch our video safety alert for tips on working safety with trees, use our tree work guide to help you operate safety and avoid injury and conduct a self-assessment of your workplace.

When working with trees, planning is the key.