Families often purchase a house because its mature canopy makes it instantly feel like home. Trees are the largest defining feature in your landscape. For 20 years, Gunnison Tree has been helping homeowners take care of their long-term assets.
Certifications
Employees can advance to higher paying jobs with more responsibility by completing the certification process. One goal of the certification process is to ensure that employees are able to conduct and complete all tasks in a safe, efficient and productive manner. There are several milestones that can be completed by the employee. The first step in this process is to complete the Ground Person Certification. The employee can then choose between Trimmer, Tractor/bush hog operator, or Jarraff Operator Certification.
- Ground Person | The first step to becoming a Certified Ground Person is completing and understanding the Electrical Hazards Awareness Program (EHAP). The EHAP is a self-study program and a test must be completed and then reviewed by the employee’s general foreman. The Ground Person Certification is a detailed process that introduces or reaffirms basic on-the-job training needs for all employees. This training is mentored by the employee’s foreman and general foreman.
- Trimmer (Bucket/Climbing) | Before an employee can learn to operate a bucket or climb trees for trimming purposes, he or she must first spend time as a ground person and complete the Ground Person Certification. Trimmer training begins under the direct supervision of a foreman (who is technically qualified and Trimmer Certified) and the general foreman.
- Tractor/Skid Steer Operator | In addition to the Ground Person Certification, equipment operators train to perform the specific duties associated with running and maintaining the equipment. These two-person teams must communicate and work well together.
- Jarraff Operator | A Jarraff is a valuable and productive machine. A Certified Jarraff Operator may be required to travel and/or be part of a “split shift.” In many work areas a well-trained Jarraff crew can be more productive than other crews, so certifying a Jarraff operator is a high priority.
- Foreman | A foreman (Crew Leader) is Ground Person Certified, Trimmer or Operator Certified, and is recommended by his or her supervisor to manage a bucket, climbing, or equipment crew. In addition to a SAFE and responsible attitude, West Tree Service always looks for LEADERSHIP qualities in a foreman.
Full-Time Safety Staff
In order to be proactive in our approach to safety, West Tree Service has made a significant investment in TIME, PEOPLE, and EQUIPMENT over the past several years. We now send specially trained safety technicians into the field where crews are working. Employees are reminded to be safe by reviewing and discussing safety issues relevant to their jobs, tasks and worksites. Each day that West Tree Service crews are at work, the dedicated members of our safety team are also hard at work. On any given day, our safety specialists will:
- Conduct site safety visits and observations
- Conduct truck and crew safety audits
- Facilitate safety meetings
- Counsel and coach employees
- Provide training
- Provide certification testing
Safety Communication Methods
Each week, at least one Safety or Training Meeting is held in every area. These meetings may be called by West Tree Service management, the area General Foreman, a Safety Specialist, a customer representative or an employee. It is mission-critical to West Tree Service that we provide safety communication on a daily basis, that our team of managers and supervisors lead by example, and that we are responsible, and held accountable, for the safety of our employees.
- Sunday Safety Messages | Our Sunday Safety Messages are written weekly by members of our management team and sent to all areas to be shared with the employees. These messages are meant to stir emotions in the employees to begin their thought process about working safely at the beginning of each week, so they can work safely and return home free from injury.
- Safety Stand Downs | Once in a while, a method of communication called a “stand down” is used to immediately stop all work and gather employees to hear an important announcement. Sometimes these meetings are held to discuss a recent incident and are used as a “RE-FOCUS” meeting.
- Paycheck Mailers | These are simple safety messages mailed out with the paychecks as another “quick reminder” about a safety item that will soon require the employees’ attention. Some of these messages include reminders of
- Daylight Savings Time changes
- Upcoming holidays and safety during said holidays
- Seasonal reminders (working in heat/cold, etc.)
- School Starting/Ending (watching out for children)
