Local experts recommend leaving some tree-cutting jobs to trained professionals
Following the death of a Vermont woman in New Hampshire last week
Updated: 10:47 AM EDT May 25, 2023
WHILE FRIDAY MORNING IN WEST CHESTERFIELD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, POLICE SAY 50 YEAR OLD MARIE COVEY OF STRATTON WAS USING A CHAINSAW TO TRIM A TREE WHILE DOING YARD WORK. NOW PART OF THAT TREE SPLIT AND KILLED HER. WELL, WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE SAFETY MEASURES ARE IN PLACE FOR CREWS THAT CUT TREES FOR A PROFESSION. NBC5’S LAUREN GRANATA JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ATTEMPT TO CUT DOWN ANYTHING BIG ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY. LAUREN YEAH. BRIAN AND LIZ, THIS MOST RECENT INCIDENT INVOLVING A VERMONT WOMAN MARKED THE FOURTH TREE RELATED DEATH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND ACROSS OUR REGION. IF YOU’RE GETTING READY TO CUT A TREE DOWN IN YOUR LAWN, EXPERTS SAY IN SOME CASES YOU SHOULD LEAVE IT TO THE PROFESSIONALS AT THE AVERAGE FULL GROWN TREE WEIGHS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1 TO 5 TONS, WHICH MEANS THE PROCESS OF CUTTING ONE DOWN CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THERE’S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HAVE TO BE AWARE OF WHAT’S ABOVE YOU. DJ’S TREE SERVICE BASED OUT OF COLCHESTER TAKES ON ABOUT A THOUSAND JOBS A YEAR AND REQUIRES ALL OF ITS EMPLOYEES TO UNDERGO CONSTANT TRAINING IN THE INDUSTRY. INJURIES ARE VERY COMMON. EVEN THE MOST PROFESSIONAL TREE COMPANIES HAVE HAVE ACCIDENTS. THE DEATH OF 50 YEAR OLD MARIE COVEY OF STRATTON, THE MOST RECENT REMINDER OF HOW CRITICAL SAFETY IS WHEN IT COMES TO TREE WORK. CHESTERFIELD POLICE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE SAY COVEY WAS USING A CHAINSAW WHEN A PORTION OF THE TREES SEPARATED AND STRUCK HER. NBC5 REACHED OUT TO CHESTERFIELD POLICE TO ASK IF COVEY WAS WORKING FOR A TREE CREW AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, BUT DID NOT HEAR BACK IN TIME FOR THIS REPORT. WHETHER IT’S A HOMEOWNER OR A PROFESSIONAL, WE, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY IT KIND OF HITS HOME AND MAKES US, YOU KNOW, THINK A LITTLE MORE BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT’S EASY TO TAKE FOR GRANTED, YOU KNOW, HOW JUST HOW DANGEROUS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE’RE DOING IS AS MORE NEIGHBORS GET READY TO TAKE ON YARD PROJECTS, THE VERMONT NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION IS WARNING HOMEOWNERS AGAINST TAKING DOWN CERTAIN TREES. THAT SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE EXPERTS. IF YOU’VE GOT A TREE THAT’S, YOU KNOW 3 TO 4IN IN CALIPER, WHICH IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DIAMETER, THAT’S WHEN I WOULD CALL IN A PROFESSIONAL. IF YOU DO PLAN ON TAKING IT DOWN YOURSELF, HAVE A PLAN, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. ON ASSESSING, YOU KNOW, THE LOCATION OF THE TREE AND AND DETERMINING WHEN YOU MAKE A CUT, WHAT DIRECTION IT’S GOING TO FALL. AND IF YOU DO HIRE A PROFESSIONAL, THE NURSERY AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION SAYS TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THE COMPANY HAS COMPLETED ITS ANNUAL CERTIFICATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF
Local experts recommend leaving some tree-cutting jobs to trained professionals
Following the death of a Vermont woman in New Hampshire last week
Updated: 10:47 AM EDT May 25, 2023
Tree experts in our region are discussing safety following the death of a Vermont woman in New Hampshire last week while she was cutting down a tree. If you’re getting ready to cut a tree down on your lawn, the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association says in some cases, you should leave the job to the experts.“If you’ve got a tree that’s three to four inches in caliber, which is a pretty significant diameter, that’s when I would call in a professional,” said Kristina MacKulin, the executive director of VNLA.The death of 50-year-old Marie Covey of Stratton is the most recent reminder of how critical safety is when it comes to tree work. Chesterfield police say Covey was using a chainsaw when a portion of the tree separated and struck her. NBC5 reached out to Chesterfield police to ask if Covey was working for a tree crew at the time of the incident but did not hear back in time for this report. If you do hire a professional – the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association says to double-check that the company completes its annual certification with the International Society of Arborists.
CHESTERFIELD, N.H. — Tree experts in our region are discussing safety following the death of a Vermont woman in New Hampshire last week while she was cutting down a tree.
If you’re getting ready to cut a tree down on your lawn, the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association says in some cases, you should leave the job to the experts.
“If you’ve got a tree that’s three to four inches in caliber, which is a pretty significant diameter, that’s when I would call in a professional,” said Kristina MacKulin, the executive director of VNLA.
The death of 50-year-old Marie Covey of Stratton is the most recent reminder of how critical safety is when it comes to tree work. Chesterfield police say Covey was using a chainsaw when a portion of the tree separated and struck her.
NBC5 reached out to Chesterfield police to ask if Covey was working for a tree crew at the time of the incident but did not hear back in time for this report.
If you do hire a professional – the Vermont Nursery and Landscape Association says to double-check that the company completes its annual certification with the International Society of Arborists.