Tree Surgery Accident Statistics UK: 2026 Facts, Data & Key Insights

Tree Surgery at Height: A High-Risk Arboricultural Hazard

Tree surgery — arboriculture — combines working at height with working with or near powerful cutting equipment, managing falling material, and working in natural environments where the worksite itself (the tree) is structurally variable and may be unpredictable. It is one of the few occupations where the working platform changes moment by moment as branches are removed and the tree structure is modified.

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the sector with the highest fatal injury rate of any industry in the UK — ahead of even construction. Within that sector, tree surgery represents a concentration of height, machinery, and environmental risk that places it among the most dangerous individual occupations in the UK.

For the broader context see our Falls from Height Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide.

Key Facts & Figures (Overview)

The Combined Risk Profile of Tree Surgery

Tree surgery presents a combination of hazards that is unique among work at height activities:

Height and tree structure instability: A tree's structural integrity is not uniform — branches and junctions that appear solid may be defective internally (hidden rot, decay, crack). Arborists working in trees cannot always verify the structural adequacy of the support they are relying on, and must apply the precautionary principle of treating all trees as potentially defective until assessed.

Falling material: As branches and sections are removed, they fall — either as controlled pieces during rigging operations or as unexpected drops from cuts made above. Both the climber and ground workers are at risk from falling material. Crown size, piece weight, and the trajectory of falling material must all be assessed before any cut is made.

Chainsaw use at height: Chainsaws used in tree surgery at height present a cutting hazard that is absent from most other work at height contexts. A chainsaw kickback, accidental contact, or equipment failure during a fall can transform a survivable fall injury into a fatal one. Arborists who use chainsaws in trees must hold appropriate chainsaw qualifications (NPTC/City & Guilds) and use chainsaw-specific PPE including chainsaw-resistant trousers, gloves, and face protection.

MEWP use in arboricultural environments: The use of cherry pickers and other MEWPs for tree surgery creates specific overturn risk — soft ground (common around the base of trees), uneven terrain, unstable ground conditions from root systems, and the lateral forces generated by cutting and rigging operations all contribute to elevated MEWP overturn risk in arboricultural settings.

Overhead power lines: Trees in urban and suburban environments often grow into or near overhead power lines. Working in trees near live power lines requires specific precautions — maintaining safe distances, using insulated tools, and in many cases arranging for the distribution network operator to isolate or cover the line before work begins. IPAF data identifies the electrical sector (which includes line-adjacent tree surgery) as one of the highest-risk categories for fatal MEWP electrocution.

MEWP Accidents in Arboriculture

IPAF global accident data consistently identifies arboriculture as the second highest-risk sector for MEWP accidents after construction. Key findings:

Training Requirements for Arborists Working at Height

The arboricultural industry has a well-developed training and qualification framework:

Tree climbing and aerial rescue: NPTC/City & Guilds unit CS38 (Aerial Tree Rescue) and related climbing units provide the foundation for safe tree climbing. Arborists working in trees must be trained in both climbing techniques and aerial rescue — the ability to perform a rescue from height is essential in a sector where workers regularly work in pairs.

Chainsaw operation: Multiple NPTC/City & Guilds chainsaw units covering ground-level operation, cross-cutting, and aerial chainsaw use. All chainsaw operators must hold the appropriate unit for the work they are carrying out.

MEWP operation: IPAF training (PAL card) for the specific MEWP category being used. For arboricultural MEWPs, site assessment must specifically address ground conditions and overhead electrical hazards.

First aid: Given the remote and hazardous nature of much arboricultural work, higher levels of first aid training than the standard workplace minimum are recommended and often required by employers.

Written by Working at Height Experts

This guide was produced by the team at Working at Heights Course, a UK provider of RoSPA and CPD-accredited online working at height training. For related data see our Falls from Height Statistics UK: The Definitive Guide, Working at Height Statistics UK, MEWP and Cherry Picker Statistics UK, and Work at Height Regulations Statistics UK.

Sources & References