Why Safety and Professional Standards Matter in Tree Surgery | Simpson Arboriculture

When choosing a tree surgeon, it’s natural to compare quotations and availability. But there’s another factor that’s just as important – choosing a contractor who works safely, professionally and to recognised industry standards.

Tree surgery is one of the UK’s most hazardous occupations. Working at height, operating powerful machinery and managing heavy timber requires specialist skills, careful planning and strict safety procedures. That’s why it’s important to choose a contractor with the right qualifications, insurance and industry accreditation.

At Simpson Arboriculture, safety isn’t simply something we talk about – it’s at the heart of everything we do.

Working to British Standard BS3998

Wherever appropriate, we carry out pruning work in accordance with BS3998:2010 – Tree Work: Recommendations, the recognised British Standard for tree work.

BS3998 provides guidance on best practice for pruning, crown reductions, crown lifting, crown thinning and other arboricultural operations. Rather than removing more of a tree than necessary, it promotes work that maintains the tree’s health, structural integrity and long-term value.

Following these recommendations helps to:

Promote healthy tree growth.
Reduce unnecessary stress or damage to trees.
Improve the long-term structure and lifespan of trees.
Ensure work is completed using recognised arboricultural best practice.

Every tree is different, and there are occasions where BS3998 may not apply, such as tree removals or emergency works. However, wherever it is relevant, we aim to follow these recognised industry standards.

Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor

Simpson Arboriculture is proud to be an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor.

The Approved Contractor scheme is the UK’s leading accreditation for professional tree surgery businesses. It’s not simply a membership – companies must undergo a rigorous independent assessment to demonstrate high standards across every aspect of their business.

Assessments include areas such as:

Quality of tree work.
Health and safety procedures.
Staff training and competence.
Equipment maintenance.
Environmental practices.
Customer service.
Business management and legal compliance.

Regular reassessments ensure these high standards are maintained.

For our customers, it provides reassurance that you’re choosing a contractor who has been independently assessed and recognised for delivering professional arboricultural services. For more information on choosing a tree surgeon, please see the Arboricultural Association’s leaflet: Tree Work- Choosing your Tree Surgeon.

Qualified and competent arborists

Tree surgery requires much more than simply operating a chainsaw.

Our arborists hold recognised NPTC and LANTRA qualifications for chainsaw use and other specialist tree work. These qualifications demonstrate that work is carried out safely, competently and in accordance with current industry standards.

Every member of our operational team is also trained in arborist-specific first aid, ensuring they’re prepared to respond quickly should an emergency ever arise on site.

Ongoing training remains an important part of our commitment to maintaining high professional standards.

Fully insured for complete peace of mind

We understand that inviting contractors onto your property requires trust.

That’s why Simpson Arboriculture carries £10 million Public Liability Insurance, giving our customers confidence that they’re protected while work is being carried out.

When choosing any tree contractor, it’s always worth checking that they have appropriate insurance in place before work begins.

Thorough planning before every job

Safe tree work begins long before the first chainsaw is started.

Every site presents different challenges, whether that’s nearby buildings, roads, overhead utilities, public access or neighbouring properties.

Before work begins, we carry out a site-specific risk assessment for every job, allowing our team to identify hazards and plan the safest method of work.

Alongside these assessments, our teams have access to a comprehensive range of generic risk assessments covering common arboricultural activities, including:

Chainsaw operations.
Woodchipper operations.
Working at height.
Rigging and dismantling operations.
Manual handling.
Traffic and pedestrian management where required.

This combination of planning and preparation helps ensure work is carried out safely, efficiently and with minimal disruption.

Regularly inspected equipment

Professional tree work relies on specialist equipment that must be maintained and thoroughly inspected to ensure it remains safe and fit for purpose.

Where applicable, our lifting equipment is inspected in accordance with the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).

Equipment used for lifting people, such as climbing ropes and associated climbing equipment, is subject to a thorough examination every six months. Other lifting equipment, including items such as cranes and forklifts, is thoroughly examined every twelve months, unless more frequent inspections are required.

These regular inspections, alongside routine maintenance and daily pre-use checks by our teams, help ensure our equipment remains safe, reliable and ready for the job.

Why choosing a professional contractor matters

Unfortunately, not every tree contractor works to recognised industry standards.

Choosing a qualified, accredited and fully insured arboricultural contractor helps reduce the risk of:

Unsafe working practices.
Damage to your property.
Poor-quality pruning that affects tree health.
Unnecessary tree removal.
Liability issues if something goes wrong.

While the cheapest quotation may seem attractive, professional tree work is an investment in both the safety of your property and the long-term health of your trees.

Our commitment to safe, professional tree care

At Simpson Arboriculture, we’re committed to delivering tree work that is safe, responsible and completed to the highest professional standards.

From domestic gardens and private estates to commercial developments and large-scale forestry projects, our experienced team approaches every job with careful planning, recognised qualifications and a genuine commitment to safety.

If you’d like advice about your trees or would like to arrange a free quotation, you can get in touch with us via our website form.