Wisconsin tree trimmer or arborist workers compensation claims occur every spring and summer. The work-related injuries are divided between single accidents and bad backs by heavy job duties over time.
Tree trimmers cut down dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Trimmers prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners, Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques. Trimmers work off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts as well as sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques.
Part of the job duties include operating boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools. They climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas and then cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, and/or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers. When necessary trimmers trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches. Trimmers prune, cut down, fertilize, and spray trees as directed by arborists. They must hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle. After they load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal. Collecting debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes or other tools, and remove tree stumps, and fallen trees and limbs is also part of the job.
A tree trimmer or arborist has one of the most physically demanding jobs anywhere. Trimmers must have the ability to coordinate or balance while sitting, standing, or lying down. The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs is imperative. The dynamic strength to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue. The manual dexterity to quickly move one’s hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects. Finally, the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects. It does not take an epidemiological study to show that tree trimming job duties over time will contribute to the deterioration or degenerative disc disease in lumbar and cervical spines. Low back herniated disc or neck bulging discs impinging nerve roots cause pain, numbness or tingling down legs or arms, called radiculopathy, very common in tree trimmers.
McCormick Law Office attorneys in Milwaukee, Wisconsin represent tree trimmers hurt on the job in workers compensation claims, getting benefits for lost wages and permanent disability. Believe in better.
