Tree Surgery Accident Statistics UK: 2026 Facts, Data & Key Insights

Tree surgery — arboriculture — combines working at height with working with or near powerful cutting equipment, managing falling material, and working in natural environments where the worksite itself (the tree) is structurally variable and may be unpredictable. It is one of the few occupations where the working platform changes moment by moment as branches are removed and the tree structure is modified.

Tree surgery at height: a high-risk arboricultural hazard

Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the sector with the highest fatal injury rate of any industry in the UK — ahead of even construction. Within that sector, tree surgery represents a concentration of height, machinery, and environmental risk that places it among the most dangerous individual occupations in the UK.

For the broader context, see our Falls from Height Statistics UK guide.

Key facts & figures

• Highest fatal injury rate of any UK industry is in agriculture, forestry and fishing (per 100,000 workers) — ahead of construction (HSE).
• 23 fatalities in agriculture, forestry and fishing in 2024/25 — the second-highest absolute total of any industry (HSE).
• 13% of MEWP fatal and major incidents involve arboriculture — the second most common sector, tied with electrical (IPAF).
• 60% of all fatal MEWP electrocution incidents involve arboriculture and electrical combined (IPAF).
• Type 1b vehicle-mounted boom — the MEWP most used in arboriculture — is the most frequently involved category in MEWP accidents globally (IPAF).

Falls from height in tree surgery occur from tree climbing without adequate fall protection, MEWP overturns in arboricultural environments, and falls during rigging operations. Tree surgery also carries specific hazards from falling wood — logs, branches, and debris that can injure the climber or workers on the ground — in addition to the height risk. Overhead power lines are a further severe hazard: tree surgery near power lines requires specific precautions and, in many cases, utility company involvement. Chainsaw use at height adds a hazard dimension not present in most other work at height, where accidental contact with a running chainsaw during a fall is frequently fatal. The Arboricultural Association and NPTC (National Proficiency Tests Council / City & Guilds) provide the primary training and qualification framework for UK arborists.

The combined risk profile of tree surgery

Tree surgery presents a combination of hazards that is unique among work at height activities.

Height and tree structure instability: A tree’s structural integrity is not uniform — branches and junctions that appear solid may be defective internally (hidden rot, decay, crack). Arborists working in trees cannot always verify the structural adequacy of the support they are relying on, and must apply the precautionary principle of treating all trees as potentially defective until assessed.

Falling material: As branches and sections are removed, they fall — either as controlled pieces during rigging operations or as unexpected drops from cuts made above. Both the climber and ground workers are at risk from falling material. Crown size, piece weight, and the trajectory of falling material must all be assessed before any cut is made.

Chainsaw use at height: Chainsaws used in tree surgery at height present a cutting hazard that is absent from most other work at height contexts. A chainsaw kickback, accidental contact, or equipment failure during a fall can transform a survivable fall injury into a fatal one. Arborists who use chainsaws in trees must hold appropriate chainsaw qualifications (NPTC / City & Guilds) and use chainsaw-specific PPE including chainsaw-resistant trousers, gloves, and face protection.

MEWP use in arboricultural environments: The use of cherry pickers and other MEWPs for tree surgery creates specific overturn risk — soft ground (common around the base of trees), uneven terrain, unstable ground conditions from root systems, and the lateral forces generated by cutting and rigging operations all contribute to elevated MEWP overturn risk in arboricultural settings.

Overhead power lines: Trees in urban and suburban environments often grow into or near overhead power lines. Working in trees near live power lines requires specific precautions — maintaining safe distances, using insulated tools, and in many cases arranging for the distribution network operator to isolate or cover the line before work begins. IPAF data identifies the electrical sector (which includes line-adjacent tree surgery) as one of the highest-risk categories for fatal MEWP electrocution.

MEWP accidents in arboriculture

IPAF global accident data consistently identifies arboriculture as the second highest-risk sector for MEWP accidents after construction. Key findings:

• Arboriculture accounts for approximately 13% of all MEWP fatal and major incidents globally — tied with the electrical sector.
• Overturn is the most common type of MEWP incident in arboricultural settings — driven by the soft, uneven, and root-disrupted ground conditions typical of tree surgery sites.
• Electrocution is a specific risk where tree surgery MEWPs operate near overhead lines.
• The 1b vehicle-mounted boom (cherry picker) — the most common MEWP in arboriculture — is the most frequently involved MEWP category in fatal and major incidents.

Training requirements for arborists working at height

The arboricultural industry has a well-developed training and qualification framework.

Tree climbing and aerial rescue: NPTC / City & Guilds unit CS38 (Aerial Tree Rescue) and related climbing units provide the foundation for safe tree climbing. Arborists working in trees must be trained in both climbing techniques and aerial rescue — the ability to perform a rescue from height is essential in a sector where workers regularly work in pairs.

Chainsaw operation: Multiple NPTC / City & Guilds chainsaw units covering ground-level operation, cross-cutting, and aerial chainsaw use. All chainsaw operators must hold the appropriate unit for the work they are carrying out.

MEWP operation: IPAF training (PAL card) for the specific MEWP category being used. For arboricultural MEWPs, site assessment must specifically address ground conditions and overhead electrical hazards.

First aid: Given the remote and hazardous nature of much arboricultural work, higher levels of first aid training than the standard workplace minimum are recommended and often required by employers.

All work at height in arboriculture sits under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, which require employers to plan, supervise and carry out work at height safely using competent, trained people.

Sources & references

• HSE – Work-Related Fatal Injuries in Great Britain 2024/25 – press.hse.gov.uk
• IPAF – Global Safety Report 2025 – ipaf.org
• British Safety Council – Powered Access: What Does the Accident Data Show? – britsafe.org
• HSE – Work at Height: The Law – hse.gov.uk

Mark McShane

Working at Height & Health & Safety Training Specialist, Online CPD Academy

This guide was produced by Mark McShane and the team at Working at Heights Course, a UK provider of RoSPA and CPD-accredited online working at height training, part of Online CPD Academy.