Title: After the storm: Dangerous Trees, Critical Thinking, and Making Them Safe

Summary: This workshop examines some of the tree hazards cleanup personnel face after a storm and the many challenges these hazards pose to workforce development, safety, skill and productivity. It is important to recognize the role of personal protective equipment, chain saw safety procedures, body positioning, and ergonomics in establishing safe work practices. In addition, an arborist must learn to manage the tension, compression and torsion forces associated with downed and storm damaged trees. This workshop will show how the stored energy created by these forces can be managed, controlled and released safely. Attendees will also learn effective strategies for teaching and reinforcing the methods and skills introduced in order to produce positive behavioral changes that maximize safety and productivity under stressful storm-cleanup conditions.

Kenneth Palmer, Certified Arborist, President, & Instructor, ArborMaster Training, Inc., ArborMaster, Willington, CT, United States

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