Tree Care Operators

Subsurface utilities, such as sewer lines, septic systems, water lines, gas/electric/heating oil lines, or tanks, can be damaged during tree removal. This damage can cause hazardous releases, explosions, or pressure main washouts of soil, resulting in primary property or bodily casualty and cleanup liability.

Tree care operations such as tree, brush, and stump cutting and removal can disturb soils, resulting in erosion and run-off of silt and sediment. This can impair the functionality of stormwater drainage systems and catch basins, impair water quality, cause ecological damage to streams, rivers, and aquatic systems, or impact adjacent properties.

Pesticides, fertilizers, fuels, and hydraulic oils can be classified as hazardous waste and require special disposal procedures. Pesticide wastes include rinse material from containers and spray equipment, leftover spray solutions, and excess pesticides. Improper handling and disposal can lead to soil, groundwater, or surface water contamination, causing cleanup and third-party liability. Also, improper characterization or disposal of wastes at non-owned disposal facilities can result in fines for the contractor or cleanup liability.

Equipment used at jobsites, such as cranes, chippers, power pullers, etc., uses fuels and hydraulic fluids. Releases of fuels, oils, and fluids resulting from accidental spills, leaks, or vandalism can discharge pollutants into the soil and groundwater and require cleanup. Additionally, cleaning equipment used at a jobsite can generate wastewaters, which must be appropriately handled because it could contain particulates and residual oils and fluids. If spilled or discharged inappropriately, wastewater can impact water bodies and result in cleanup or natural resource damage claims.

An accident or storage container breach during transportation or loading and unloading operations could cause a leak or spill of pesticides, fertilizers, or fluids from powered equipment and lead to environmental liability.

Over-application and drift of pesticides and fertilizer can threaten human health. When these chemicals are sprayed on trees, airborne chemicals can be breathed in, or the chemicals can settle on playgrounds, porches, laundry, toys, furniture, and more, exposing third parties to potential injury.

Storage at any owned/leased operational facility of pesticides, fertilizers, and automotive fluids for work site equipment and vehicles carries environmental exposure. Spills, improper storage containment, and exposure to rainfall can cause chemicals to run-off and contaminate surface water, groundwater, or soils, resulting in cleanup and natural resource damage claims. Storage of concentrated ammonia-based fertilizers may react with other stored incompatible chemicals if leaked or spilled and cause a fire which could release toxic fumes.