Trees add immeasurable value to your property but maintaining them comes with a cost. They need pruning, sometimes heavy trimming, or removal.

“We know hiring professionals to do some of these tasks goes against that independent streak some of our consumers have,” said John Gasstrom, CEO of Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “But trimming and removing trees can be dangerous and even deadly. Before attempting any work yourself, please understand the dangers.”

The most common types of serious tree trimming accidents are:

Electrocution

You can be seriously injured or killed if you come into contact with an electric line. It’s easy to misjudge the height of a tree or length of a branch. If there’s a chance power lines might be involved at all, always call your electric utility first and its experts will come out and advise you. Even when you think there’s room, if the wind blows a limb into a power line as you’re trimming it, you can be electrocuted.

Falling

You can be seriously injured or killed if you fall from a tree. Pruning branches or trimming out dead or overgrown limbs sometimes requires getting into the tree. Always make sure you are using appropriate safety harnesses and ropes. Before climbing, inspect the tree to make sure no power lines run through or near the tree.

Being struck

You can be seriously injured or killed if you are struck by falling trees or limbs. Cutting large limbs and trees can be tricky. Improper cutting can cause the tree to fall where you hadn’t planned. Always have two escape routes planned ahead of time in case the tree starts going the wrong way.

A falling tree hits the ground with great force. Branches and limbs crack, bounce, snap and recoil, especially if dead wood is present. Snapped branches can be flung surprisingly far in multiple directions. Tie off limbs to be cut and lower them to the ground with rope. Never turn your back to a falling tree, and always wear a hard hat when trimming and cutting.

Overestimating

You can be seriously injured or killed if you overestimate your abilities.

“The most important safety reminder for any project is: Don’t get in over your head,” Gasstrom noted. “If your survival instinct is debating with your frugal independent spirit about the scope or trickiness of a cut, call a professional tree-trimming service to handle the job. The money you think you’ll save doing it yourself cannot buy back your health.”

Words of warning

Manufacturers put important safety messages on each piece of equipment and in the operator’s manual. Before using equipment for the first time, you should read and understand all safety messages.

• CAUTION means you need to be careful. Follow the directions on the sign or you could get hurt.
• WARNING is more serious and means you need to follow the directions on the sign or you could be badly hurt or killed.
• DANGER is the most serious safety message. If you don’t follow the directions, you will be seriously injured or killed.