Not every arborist carries the same insurance, or the same risk. Here's what to check before anyone touches a tree on your property.
Tree work is inherently high-risk. Before allowing anyone to work on your property, it's worth knowing what to check: is the contractor appropriately qualified, insured and equipped to carry out the work? This guide covers what public liability insurance and workers compensation actually protect, what separates professional tree work from simply owning a chainsaw, and what to ask before any tree work begins.
If you've searched for an insured arborist near me, insurance is one of the first things worth checking, before you check price.
Large trees, chainsaws, climbing operations, heavy machinery, falling timber, and work around homes, vehicles, fences, power infrastructure, and neighbouring properties all create risks that need to be professionally managed. For homeowners, choosing a tree company shouldn't come down to price alone.
One of the most important questions to ask before allowing anyone to work on your property is simple: are they appropriately qualified, insured and equipped to carry out the work? A falling limb or section of timber can cause substantial damage to:
Professional tree companies plan their work to prevent these incidents, but appropriate insurance provides another layer of protection.
MidCoast Tree Solutions carries $20 million in public liability insurance. Public liability insurance covers property damage or personal injury that occurs as a result of the work — giving you a financial safety net if something goes wrong on site.
It's always worth checking a contractor's cover is current, rather than relying on their word for it. If you'd like to see ours, get in touch and we can provide it.
A professional tree company employing workers should also have appropriate workers compensation insurance arrangements in place. Tree workers routinely operate at height, use chainsaws and wood chippers, work around suspended loads, and operate heavy machinery.
Homeowners should be cautious about engaging operators who can't demonstrate appropriate insurance for the people doing the work. Using an uninsured or inadequately insured contractor can create unnecessary complications and potentially significant financial or legal exposure if something goes wrong.
Insurance is only one part of choosing a professional arborist. Professional tree work combines several things working together.
Understanding tree structure, rigging, dismantling techniques, and how different species respond during removal or pruning. Our team brings this experience to every job.
Purpose-built climbing systems, rigging equipment, wood chippers, excavators, grapple attachments, and other machinery used for land clearing and removals allow work to be carried out efficiently and with greater control.
Hazards should be identified before work begins, including structures, people, services, unstable trees, falling-object zones, and machinery interaction.
Where trees can't simply be felled, experienced climbing arborists can dismantle them progressively and use rigging systems to control sections of timber.
Professional contractors consider not only how to remove the tree, but how to access the site, move material, and complete the project while minimising damage to lawns, gardens, driveways, and surrounding infrastructure.
A significantly cheaper tree removal quote may look attractive at first. But it's worth asking why one contractor can be substantially cheaper than another.
Saving money on the initial quote can quickly become insignificant compared with the potential consequences of an incident involving an uninsured or inadequately insured operator.
Before engaging a tree contractor, it's worth asking for:
For larger or higher-risk projects, it's also worth requesting a Certificate of Currency rather than simply accepting that a contractor says they're insured.
The difference between professional arboriculture and simply owning a chainsaw can become very clear when something goes wrong. Before accepting the cheapest tree removal quote, it's worth asking one simple question: if something goes wrong, am I properly protected? A reputable arborist should be comfortable providing evidence of their insurance and explaining how they intend to safely undertake the work.
MidCoast Tree Solutions carries $20 million in public liability insurance, backed by qualified and experienced arborists. From hazard tree removal and tree pruning to land clearing and emergency response, our team approaches every job with the equipment, experience and insurance expected of a professional arboricultural contractor.
We work across the entire MidCoast, including Forster-Tuncurry, Pacific Palms, and Tea Gardens.
Call us today or request a no-obligation quote, and ask us anything on this list. We'll have the answers ready.
We'll visit your property, assess the trees, and give you an honest recommendation at no cost.
