Next time you receive a quote from a professional arborist, consider the following:

The insurance industry rates an arborist's tree climbing activity as hazardous as a mine worker or a high steelworker building a skyscraper. As a result of this rating, the premium costs for workers' compensation insurance can take five to eight percent of every sales dollar the arborist receives. This coverage is meant to protect both the working arborist and the homeowner.

A professional arborist will be pleased to provide clients with a copy of the company's Certificate of Insurance for public liability and property damage. This policy protects property owners in the event of a mishap. The cost of this policy, along with mandatory payroll taxes covering the employer's Social Security contribution plus state and federal unemployment taxes, will account for another 10 to 15 percent of that sales dollar.

If you have been wise enough to employ a professional arborist, you have engaged the services of someone who has met standards of excellence and proficiency in skills such as First Aid, CPR, Safe Work Methods and Procedures, Aerial Rescue, and working adjacent to the energized wires entering your home or building. They must also be aware of and adhere to all Federal OSHA safety requirements. They must pass applicable state criteria and be licensed to transport and apply any materials required in disease and insect control programs. The professional arborist has undertaken extensive training from other professionals, completed required correspondence courses, attended training seminars, and passed exams demonstrating their knowledge in all phases of arboriculture.

Modern equipment and tools represent a major financial investment by the company. Hand tools and power saws costing hundreds of dollars have an effective working life of only a few months before they must be replaced or overhauled. There are hidden costs involved with major equipment as well, since it must be housed and maintained properly in order to meet rigid safety standards. 15 to 20 percent of every sales dollar is spent on owning and maintaining equipment.

The reality is that trees not properly maintained can be dangerous. The professional arborist will have an investment of hundreds of thousands of dollars to care and preserve valuable trees and all things green.

Portions of this article provided courtesy of Tree Care Industry, The Official Publication of the National Arborist Association, Volume X, Number 6,
June 1999.