The leading cause of lost time due to injury in arboriculture is struck-by incidents from falling branches. This is particularly pertinent in this field, where workers often operate under the risk of branches or other overhead materials dropping during pruning, cutting, or tree removal activities. Such incidents can result in serious injuries and, due to their unexpected nature and severity, often lead to significant time away from work.
While other types of injuries, such as slip and fall accidents or electrical shocks, are indeed dangerous and can cause time off work as well, the prevalence and severity of injuries resulting from being struck by falling branches stands out in arboriculture. Understanding and mitigating these risks through proper training, equipment use, and site assessment is crucial in enhancing safety within the profession.