How to Have Hearty and High-Reaching Trees

Three Signs the Electrocution Risk Is High and You Should Contact a Professional Tree Lopper

If you are lopping your own trees, you need to be aware of a number of different safety elements, and avoiding electrocution is one of them. If you're wondering if you should lop your own trees or leave it to a professional, here are some signs that the risks of electrocution may be high and thus your job may be best left to tree lopping professionals who know how to mitigate those risks.

1. There are power lines running through the area.

Before climbing into the tree to begin lopping or before approaching it with equipment, look to see if power lines are nearby. If there are lines running through the tree, including electrical, telephone or cable lines, you risk leaning against those lines whilst in the tree and electrocuting yourself. Similarly, lines above the tree can also present a risk.

2. You have to use equipment to reach the tree's branches.

In many cases, the use of equipment can increase your risk of electrocution while tree lopping. For example, imagine you are using a pruning pole. It is metal and thus conducts electricity well. If the pole hits a power line, it will immediately transfer the electricity through the pole and into your body.

Similarly, if you have to use a crane with a boom to lower the branches to the ground, the metal from the boom may hit a power line, transferring the electricity to anyone touching the boom, including people on the ground. This risk is exacerbated for inexperienced crane operators.

3. You are requesting to have the power shut off.

Potentially, having the power shut off seems like the ideal way to create a safe situation for lopping your own trees, but unfortunately, there are complicated forces at play, and as a result, they can be risks that you may not have anticipated. For example, imagine the power company uses a fuse switch on a pole-mounted transformer to turn off the power. Unfortunately, however, there is another nearby transformer that is still supplying power to the line. If something like this happened and you cut trees near the power line and accidentally touched it, you would be in real danger. However, if you turn to the professionals, they are used to cutting trees near power lines and know how to assess all the risks.

Lopping your trees can provide a number of benefits ranging from the safety of your property to the health and beauty of your trees. However, this job can be dangerous, and if you have a risk of electrocution for any reasons, you may want to contact a professional tree lopper.

 


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