Tree Surgeon Bexley

There is an enormous risk of damage to property, the trees or to life, for those in Bexley who try to do tree work themselves, or by using non-qualified personnel. However, tree work isn't a safe occupation, even for professional tree surgeons, who know about all the risks. In fact tree surgery is among the most hazardous jobs in the UK, with an average of three deaths and a hundred and forty serious injuries a year within the industry, so it's certainly not safe work for amateurs to do.

A damaged or neglected tree can also present a danger to life, with around 5 people per year being tragically killed by falling branches and trees in the United Kingdom. If you employ someone to do tree work and an injury, or damage to property occurs, you could be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions. These reasons are why it is very important to hire a competent tree surgeon to work on your trees. (The source of the above figures was HSE).

A skilled tree surgeon in Bexley should be a registered member of at least one of the two industry bodies found in Britain. The websites of both the AA (Arboricultural Association) and the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) allow you to check out the membership and professional status of any tree surgeon in Bexley. On this page you can check out membership of either of these bodies, which gives the tree surgeon in question, Approved ARB Contractor status.

If an issue crops up during the tree work, or after it's been finished you can communicate with these trade organisations for mediation assistance and for help and advice.

If someone offers you an estimate for any tree work and you're unable to find them on this directory list, you should politely decline their offer of work and find an approved contractor. When their professional memberships and accreditations have been meticulously checked, you should try and get at least three different quotations from various companies in the Bexley area. While acquiring these quotes you should ask the below questions, making it clear that you need the answers due to the risks of the work involved:

• What level of insurance coverage have you got? Your tree surgeon ought to be able to produce an insurance certificate covering at the least £5 Million public liability, as stated by the AA and ISA.
• Would I be able to to contact a person you have recently done work for, so that I can inspect your tree work? Independently checking any recent work is always recommended.
• Can you provide a written quotation? Verbal quotes alone aren't sufficient. Always try to get a written quote.
• Have you got documents to show that you have the recommended qualifications, membership of the ISA or AA, and also a certificate for basic chainsaw use from the NPTC? The NPTC/LANTRA certificate is required by law for any tree surgeon/operative who uses a chainsaw. Qualifications may include City & Guilds National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.

The written quotation should include easy to understand details about the tree work being undertaken. It should include specifics of any trees which may be protected in law, and the necessary steps to obtain permission to carry out work on them, and also state whose responsibility it is to remove tree branches, stumps and waste. Unless you're a commercial entity, you should also make certain VAT has been included on the quotation. You have a responsibility for employing only competent tradespeople to work on your trees and property, and it is extremely important to understand that. This is laid out by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities and sometimes liabilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."

PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Making enquiries into the possibility of any trees being protected, your chosen Bexley tree surgeon should make sure that any tree work can get the green light from the appropriate local authority. Even protected trees require maintenance so as to cut back old or dead wood and ensure public safety, so finding a tree has protected status doesn't imply that work cannot be carried out.

At least six weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority prior to any work being performed, if your property in Bexley is in a designated conservation area. However, tree trunks of less than 7.5 centimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5m from ground level are free from this requirement. If the thinning or pruning of a protected tree's branches are required to sustain and promote growth, written notice is also not necessary.

On site they'll perform a full assessment of your trees and determine the remedial treatment required and how the required outcome can be achieved with safety in mind. This will include a risk assessment of areas that could be impacted by falling branches, such as on your property, in public spaces, and on the properties of your neighbours. This stage will also ascertain the number of operatives needed and the level of protection required. To keep property and the general public safe from harm or damage, this will include both personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety precautions.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Before any cutting of branches, tree felling or climbing is started, barriers, safety measures and cones will be put in place to keep unauthorised persons away from the area where work is going on. If there's a risk of falling debris onto a public road, passing traffic might need to be stopped temporarily.

Different levels of protection will be needed by the tree surgeon according to what work needs to be carried out. When doing chainsaw work, they will at a bare minimum be wearing protective clothing to avoid cutting injuries to the hands, legs and torso. At all times, every operative involved in the work should wear hi-vis clothing, and head and eye protection.

Additional operatives will usually be needed to help in the removal of high branches and heavy sections of tree trunk, particularly if any working at height is involved, and where climbing equipment and ladders are being used. It's advisable to inform your next door neighbours of the need for unhindered access, as a truck or skip for removing the waste will be stationed as close to the work area as possible.

AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK - All of the waste materials will be transported away and the whole area cleared of any debris, when all of the tree work has been accomplished. A certificate of work done should then be put together by your tree surgeon, particularly where the trees are under a protection order, which will be signed off and a copy handed to you. If there were any public areas that needed safety measures, this will be taken away and pathways and roads will be re-opened.

If you have any complaints about or issues with the work, you should get them fixed straight away by first of all taking them up with your tree surgeon. If your tree surgeon is an approved member of a trade association, and there is any further dispute, you can obtain advice and help from the Arboricultural Association or the International Society of Arboriculture in order to reach an acceptable solution.

Locally based Bexley tree surgeons will most likely have the dialling code 020 and the postcode DA5. They'll operate in Bexley itself, in addition to nearby areas like Sidcup, Blackfen, Northumberland Heath, Wilmington, Coldblow, Dartford, Leyton Cross, Albany Park, Slade Green, Chislehurst, Welling, Barnehurst, North Cray, Bexleyheath, Hook Green, Crayford, and these postcodes: DA5 1GY, DA5 1DU, DA5 1NT, DA5 1LZ, DA5 1JD, DA5 1QT, DA5 2BD, DA5 1LE, DA5 1AA, DA14 5EY.

If you need this sort of assistance it's definitely a good idea to bring in an experienced tree surgeon. Bexley home and property owners can substantially benefit from the skills and expertise that are the trademark of a trained professional.

Accidents Through Tree Surgery

As was pointed out earlier, the work that tree care professionals in Bexley carry out, involves a considerable level of danger. When working on trees, there is a clear risk of injuries to both operatives and those on the ground, so all reasonable precautions should be implemented.

A large majority of fatal and major injuries are associated with the use of chainsaws, falls from trees, and being hit by a falling branch or tree, as stated by the HSE. The reality is that tree surgeons and arborists are more at risk of serious injury than workers involved in the construction industry.

The majority of accident claims, with regards to insurance, are for lifting injuries, being struck by objects (cranes, ropes, grapple hooks, branches, trees etc) and slipping from ladders.

All this demonstrates the importance of employing an experienced Bexley tree surgeon to do the work on your trees. In the tree care industry, many accidents are down to unskilled workers trying to carry out tasks that they aren't fully trained in, or equipped for. Consequently, to avoid this sort of problem, always try to use a reputable and experienced company that has been operating in the Bexley area for a good few years.

Tree Surgery - Safety Considerations

The safety issue is one of the main challenges when you're having tree surgery done, since if carried out improperly it can certainly be a dangerous and risky enterprise. Incapable or inexperienced "tree surgeons" in Bexley are apt to take shortcuts and just ignore recognised safety advice, with the result that there could be little or no protection from falling, in the shape of ropes, harnesses and platforms, not using eye or hearing protection, not roping off the area to safeguard passing pedestrians and vehicles, failure to put on cut resistant clothing (in particular leggings and boots), no head protection and falling timber and branches. Due to such incompetencies, most likely vulnerable are employees on the ground, facilities on the street, the home owners, the actual tree itself, fences and garden sheds, the tree surgeon (up the tree), the property or home, parked and passing vehicles, passers by.

The Use of Chainsaws

Probably the most commonplace piece of equipment used by tree surgeons in Bexley, the chainsaw is also the most dangerous in untrained hands. Because of their ease of use and portability, petrol powered chainsaws are the most popular with tree care professionals, although mains electric and battery models are available. For substantial tree work, the only realistic choice is to use petrol driven chainsaws, given that they're able to cut through tree limbs and trunks of any size, and are exceptionally robust and powerful.

A chainsaw is essentially composed of a rotating motor-driven chain which is armed with a set of sharp teeth that effortlessly cut through the bark of a tree and the inner wood. Besides what powers them, there are also a variety of styles of chainsaw for different procedures, rear-handled for work at ground level (must always be used with two hands), pole saws for long distance pruning and hard to reach branches and top-handled for working at height (and which can be used single handedly).

Although holding onto a rapidly spinning blade while precariously balancing up a tree is definitely not the safest job on the planet, it's rare to find a tree surgeon in Bexley who does not use a chainsaw in their daily activities. Being trained in the maintenance and safe use of chainsaws is a key requirement for any tree surgeon, and is vital before they can even be considered for approval by the ISA or the Arboricultural Association (AA).

There are a lot of different makes of chainsaw, but the most popular ones used by specialist tree surgeons in Bexley are Husqvarna, Stihl, Makita and Hyundai.

Conservation Areas & Tree Preservation Orders Bexley

You need to make certain that there is no Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on any of your trees in Bexley, before you carry out any serious work on them. To check whether any of your trees are covered by TPOs, get in touch with your local planning authority. If one or more of your trees have Tree Preservation Orders, you cannot carry out uprooting, cutting down, lopping, wilful destruction, removal, wilful damage or topping, without written consent from your local authority. Talk to your tree surgeon if you are concerned about this - they will be able to check all this out for you.

If your property is within a conservation area in Bexley, and propose to carry out any work on a tree with a trunk diameter of 75mm or more, you must give a minimum of six weeks written notice to your local authority. (Tags: Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) Bexley, Tree Preservation Orders Bexley, Tree Preservation Order Bexley).

Firewood & Logs Bexley

If you happen to be wanting to buy logs or firewood in Bexley, tree surgeons are frequently a great source for this useful commodity. As felling trees and chopping off branches is part of their daily routine, this is an obvious offshoot for an enterprising tree surgeon.

If you're lucky, you may find a tree surgeon in the Bexley area who gives branches and logs away free to collectors, these will usually be "green" and in need of drying out. Others will sell their logs in bags or by the tonne, and these will normally be fully seasoned and dried logs, that are ready for burning.

Logs which have been dried out for at least 12 months are ideal for burning on your log burning stove or open fire, and they should have a moisture content of less than 20%. Typically tree surgeons in Bexley will have supplies of assorted hardwood logs, and the benefit of these is that they give a long, sustained burn, providing three or four hours of heat. If you can get a small supply of softwood logs, these are terrific for starting a fire, and upon which you can throw your dry hardwood logs once the fire is roaring. (Tags: Firewood Bexley, Firewood Logs Bexley, Softwood Logs Bexley, Firewood and Logs Bexley).

Tree Removal Bexley

Trees can be beneficial, therefore the removal of a tree should be the final resort. Even so, there of course are genuine triggers for removing a tree from your premises or garden in Bexley. Among the common factors behind wanting to remove a tree are when: your tree is in the way of new construction project, you've got a dead/dying tree, your tree has grown too large, the tree has been damaged by windy weather, the tree is diseased, the tree presents a threat to safety or the roots of a tree are obstructing foundations/retaining walls.

Storm Damage Bexley

When you look at a strong, sturdy tree standing proud and tall in your garden it is difficult to picture it ever toppling to the ground. Certain varieties of trees can in fact live for hundreds of years and will happily do so in most situations.

Severe climatic conditions can however cause extensive damage to trees, and besides the danger of falling branches or tree limbs, trees can even fall to the ground completely in certain circumstances. The main weather related problem for trees is high winds, and as the number of violent storms and weather events in Bexley increases because of climate change, this type of damage is becoming more and more common. Heavy snowfall during winter can also be an issue, as can saturated soil resulting from floods or prolonged periods of rainfall.

To prune and remove any dead, dying or overhanging branches that may cause an issue in severe weather conditions, it's advisable to get a local Bexley tree surgeon to check out your trees on a regular basis.

Lightning rods, copper conductors, or other lightning protection systems are also recommended for taller trees, to prevent them being struck by lightning and to protect nearby buildings and property which might be vulnerable to side-flashes ("arcs") that result in more destruction, along with damage done to the tree itself. A tree which is struck by lightning can be killed or severely weakened, a weakened tree can be left susceptible to disease, decay or pests - not the happiest of situations! While you may not think that lightning is all that common in Bexley, every year something like 300 thousand lightning strikes are recorded throughout the United Kingdom.

Ask your local Bexley tree surgery firm what they can do to protect your trees from being damaged by storms and lessen the chances of serious consequences should an unstable tree fall down due to bad weather. (Tags: Storm Damage Prevention Bexley, Storm Damage Bexley, Storm Damaged Trees Bexley).

Tree Surgery Tasks Bexley

Bexley tree surgeons will likely help with vegetation management, air spading in Bexley, damaged tree cutting and removal, tree watering, root removal Bexley, crown cleaning, tree topping Bexley, arboriculture, brush cutting Bexley, monitoring of tree health, fruit tree pruning, crown lifting, hedge planting, the protection of trees from grazing animals, woodland clearances in Bexley, crown thinning, tree maintenance in Bexley, staking, tree surveys, tree felling, terraventing, crown raising, tree reshaping Bexley, commercial tree surgery, retrenchment pruning, tree pruning, tree fertilising in Bexley, tree transplanting in Bexley, tree cutting, hedge reduction and other tree surgeon services in Bexley, Greater London. Listed are just an example of the activities that are undertaken by a tree surgeon. Bexley professionals will be delighted to keep you abreast of their whole range of services.

Tree Surgeons Nearby

Also find: Slade Green tree surgeon, North Cray tree surgeon, Coldblow tree surgeon, Blackfen tree surgeon, Crayford tree surgeon, Northumberland Heath tree surgeon, Chislehurst tree surgeon, Barnehurst tree surgeon, Albany Park tree surgeon, Welling tree surgeon, Leyton Cross tree surgeon and more. All these towns and areas are catered for by tree surgeons. Householders in these localities can acquire tree surgery estimates by clicking here.

Tree Care Services Bexley

Find a Tree Surgeon in Bexley Here

• Bexley Root Grinding
• Bexley Wood Chipping
• Bexley Tree Bracing
• Bexley Air-Spading
• Bexley Tree Dismantling
• Bexley Crown Thinning
• Bexley Crown Reduction
• Bexley Tree Maintenance
• Bexley Tree Planting
• Bexley Tree Planning
• Bexley Tree Reduction
• Bexley Woodland Management
• Bexley Shrub Maintenance
• Bexley Stump Grinding

More Bexley Trades: Obviously, whenever you are having tree surgery done in Bexley, Greater London, you'll probably be in need of other garden related services, and aside from a tree surgeon in Bexley, Greater London, you might additionally need garden sheds in Bexley, driveways in Bexley, garden pond builders in Bexley, waste removal in Bexley, gate installation in Bexley, lawn mowing in Bexley, artifical grass in Bexley, garden wall construction in Bexley, landscapers in Bexley, garden clearance in Bexley, garden design and planning in Bexley, patio cleaning in Bexley, garden decking in Bexley, local SKIP HIRE in Bexley, weeding in Bexley, hedge cutting in Bexley, and other different Bexley tradespeople.

Tree Surgeon Jobs Bexley: Find Bexley tree surgeon jobs here: Bexley Tree Surgeon Jobs

For the best local Bexley information check here

Tree Surgery DA5 area, phone code 020.

Vegetation Control Greater London - Tree Management Bexley - Arboriculture Bexley - Woodland Management Bexley - Tree Surgery Bexley - Root Removal Bexley - Tree Care Bexley - 020 - Crown Lifting Bexley