Big Bleed Prevention
Essential Summer Safety for Arborists
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In arboriculture, the threat of a big bleed injury is always present — one wrong move with a chainsaw, one skipped safety check, and a routine job can become a life-threatening emergency. These injuries are fast, severe, and often preventable. Yet during the summer, when heat pushes workers to strip off gear or rush through tasks, the risk only grows.
Picture this: an arborist, sweating through the afternoon heat, opts to forgo their chainsaw pants for a lighter pair of work trousers. Midway through a felling cut, their saw kicks back and catches their thigh. Without the protective fibers designed to jam the chain, the blade tears into soft tissue. In seconds, a severe arterial bleed begins — one that can be fatal without immediate intervention.
Scenarios like this are not rare. They are the result of everyday decisions to prioritize comfort over protection. Preventing catastrophic injuries starts with the right personal protective equipment (PPE), proper training, and the discipline to prioritize safety even in uncomfortable conditions. This article outlines the most common summertime safety mistakes arborists make and offers expert advice on how to stay cool while staying protected — because in this line of work, prevention is everything.
Why Big Bleeds Happen — And How to Prevent Them
One of the most common causes of serious injury on the job is a failure to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Gloves, harnesses, non-slip boots, and chainsaw-resistant pants are all designed to reduce the risk of deep cuts and blunt force trauma. But in summer, many arborists admit to leaving gear behind to stay cool — an understandable impulse that can prove fatal.
Sales team member Louisa Brothers of Arbortec, parent company of Treehog and a leader in global arborist safety gear, warns that this is not a job where corners can be cut.
“It is a dangerous job that they’re undertaking every day they go out,” she said. “Even if they’re on the ground working with the chippers or they’re up in the trees, it’s a risk every time.”
Heat Can Be Deadly — For More Than One Reason
Extreme heat adds a layer of urgency and discomfort that affects decision-making. Workers may remove gloves or hard hats, skip leg protection, or ignore critical safety checks just to cool down. But comfort should never come at the cost of blood.
Hannah Maidstone from the business development team at Arbortec explained the misconception she often sees: “For a lot of people, there is a misconception that the heat is a good enough reason not to wear [PPE]. But if you think of it from a safety aspect, would you rather keep your leg and protect your life, and just be a bit warmer?”
Environmental hazards like dehydration and heatstroke are also more likely in summer, especially when PPE is worn incorrectly. OSHA reported at least 479 heat-related worker deaths in the U.S. since 2011 — many of which could have been prevented with hydration, breaks, and breathable gear. According to the administration, arborists should drink at least one liter of water per hour when working in the heat.
Common Mistakes That Lead to Big Bleeds
Many serious injuries begin with small decisions. In summer, those mistakes often include:
- Skipping PPE due to heat
- Failing to inspect equipment before use
- Rushing to complete tasks quickly
- Wearing ill-fitting or inappropriate gear
- Lacking proper trauma supplies on site
Each of these compromises can lead directly to big bleeds — whether from a saw, a fall, or flying debris. Chainsaw kickback, for example, can cut deeply into an unprotected thigh in seconds. Without properly fitted chainsaw pants or boots, the blade meets nothing but flesh.
Prevention Starts with Proper PPE
Preventing major injuries depends first and foremost on PPE that is built for the job — and fits the worker correctly. Poorly fitting gear can be just as dangerous as no gear at all.
Maidstone emphasized the importance of mobility and comfort in PPE.
“The last thing you want to do is be restricted by your clothing because you don’t have that flexibility to get to that area in the tree,” she said. “It’s therefore going to put you at risk again because you’re limited.”
This issue is particularly acute for women in the industry, who have historically had few options.
“For years I have worn men’s trousers,” said Maidstone. “To have a pair of trousers that are designed for my body shape means that I now know I’m going to be safe because I’ve got PPE designed for my body shape.”
Maidstone is far from the only woman arborist that has dealt with this issue. In fact, tree surgeon for Rockleigh, Emily Allison recently spoke to the dangers of ill-fitting gear and the lack of women-tailored clothing in the industry.
Maidstone and Allison’s perspectives highlight how something seemingly as small as loose sleeves can lead to big bleeds around heavy machinery.
The PPE That Prevents Big Bleeds
Chainsaw Pants with Kevlar Lining
Kevlar-lined pants are a must when using a chainsaw. The fibers are designed to unravel and jam the saw’s mechanism, stopping it instantly before it can cut flesh.
“When the chainsaw comes down, the Kevlar fibers get stuck in the blade,” said Brothers. “It happens in seconds.”
Steel-Toe Chainsaw Boots
Proper footwear offers critical protection against chainsaw contact and impacts. Steel-toe boots with anti-piercing soles, ankle support, and strong tread help prevent both slips and serious injuries.
Hard Hats
A hard hat protects against falling limbs, tools, and impact trauma. Despite the heat, it should never be removed. Brain injuries and concussions are often the result of simple falls or dropped objects.
Cut-Resistant Gloves
Gloves provide grip and protection from sharp branches, rope burns, and lacerations. Arborists should avoid large cuffs that could get caught in chippers and choose wrist-cinching gloves instead.
Chainsaw Pants vs. Chaps
While chainsaw chaps are widely used, Maidstone cautioned that they can be dangerous if not worn properly.
“If you don’t do them up correctly, the buckles could break. [Then] they’re just as risky as not wearing PPE. Correctly fitted chainsaw pants are the best option.”
Tree Climbing Spikes and Harnesses
When working aloft, proper leg and foot support is essential. Tree spikes, climbing boots, and secured harnesses provide stability and reduce the risk of falls—another common cause of big bleeds.
First Aid Kit for Big Bleeds
Because the most common injury to arborists is laceration, it is imperative that arborists carry first aid and trauma kits. These kits should be stored in a location that is easily accessible, as the first few minutes of an emergency are critical.
Every arborist trauma kit should have the following:
- Tourniquets
- Pressure bandages
- Wound packing gauze
- Hemostatic dressings
- Bandages designed for chainsaw wounds
Hemostatic dressings and pressure bandages are vital because the risk of severe bleeding is high in this line of work. Controlling the bleeding and preventing shock is incredibly important, and having this kit on hand can be a lifesaver, especially in the case of deep lacerations like a chainsaw to the leg. Tourniquets should be applied within the first minute of the injury when needed, and hemostatic dressings can be used for heavy bleeding because the bandage usually contains haemostats, which are blood clotting agents.
“There is a lot more emphasis now on first aid kits and how to apply them,” said Brothers. “That’s progress — but every arborist still needs to carry the right tools and know how to use them.”
Final Cuts — Safety Over Speed
Big bleed injuries can happen in a split second, but the difference between life and death often lies in preparation. In summer, when heat exhaustion sets in and jobs start to drag, arborists may feel pressure to move faster or cut corners. That is when mistakes happen.
Pre-job safety checks, proper hydration, scheduled breaks, and correctly fitted PPE are not just good practice — they are lifesaving. While no job is risk-free, avoiding big bleeds is possible with the right habits, training, and gear.
When lives are on the line, prevention is the best protection.