Regulation, Technology, and Equipment Changes as a General Foreman
By Ira Signalness, General Foreman, Wright Tree Service There are many factors that come into play for utility arborists. The hazards while working near and around the power grid can make our side of the industry challenging, and in some cases, dangerous if work is not performed properly. One thing I find that never seems […]
Read more...Welcome, Division 80!
Toward the start of the fiscal year, Wright Tree Service (WTS) executed a plan to restructure our territory in the southern area of the U.S., which covered our Southwest Division. This restructuring created a new division that we’re very proud to welcome to the company, called Division 80. Historically, Southwest Division had a rich history of sustained growth and employee development, having […]
Read more...Florida Regional Safety Summit Recap
By Will Nutter, President and COO, Wright Tree Service This article was originally published in the September/October 2015 issue of Utility Arborist Newsline. In May, Duke Energy held a Utility Arborist Association (UAA) Safety Summit in Wildwood, Florida. More than 80 participants attended from the region, including contractors and several utilities. The goal of the […]
Read more...The Building Blocks of a Safety Leader
by Paul Mitchell, Safety Supervisor Many people are surrounded by co-workers who are willing to help them learn their trade. I’ve had the luxury during my career to learn from hundreds of guys around the country, and I’ve seen safety leaders of all different experience levels, personality types and titles. This led me to ask, […]
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From the Treetop: Jim Lorrigan
by Jim Lorrigan, Safety Manager I started with WTS 35 years ago, and as you can probably imagine, it was a much smaller company. Safety was talked about and expected but not nurtured and demanded as it is now. In some of the areas I worked, things like traffic control were almost seen as an […]
Read more...UAA Safety Committee Update 2015
By Will Nutter This article was published in the July/August 2015 Utility Arborist Newsline. Will Nutter is President and COO of Wright Tree Service. The UAA Safety Committee continues to gain traction in the short time it has been in place. Our two biggest connections to members have been through the UAA Facebook page and exposure […]
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From the Treetop: Kevin Fitzpatrick
by Kevin Fitzpatrick, Fleet Manager It is amazing how far we’ve come in the evolution of utility vegetation management (UVM) equipment and the industry as a whole. At the corporate office, there is a picture of Wright Tree Service founder John L. Wright taken after World War II, with his employees and their work vehicles. […]
Read more...Wright Tree Service Launches Second Safety Training Video
Wright Tree Service launched a new safety training video, “Drop Zone Safety Awareness: Pruning and Felling.” This video is the second in a series of safety training videos released by Wright Tree Service to encourage safe work practices. “Drop Zone Safety Awareness: Pruning and Felling” highlights proper procedures for pruning limbs and felling trees as […]
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Respect the Power Lines
According to the Tree Care Industry Association, 39 percent of all tree worker fatalities are caused by electricity, making it the leading cause of tree worker fatalities. In April, 40 Wright Tree Service (WTS) trimmers working on Xcel Energy property observed electrical safety demonstrations performed by Connexus Energy at the Xcel Energy facility in Whitebear […]
Read more...Compliant vs. Committed: What’s the Difference?
by Nathan Carlisle, Safety Supervisor Have you heard the quote “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching?” Too often, we are willing to take shortcuts to shave off a few minutes of a task. Many times, we are only compliant with rules and procedures when a supervisor is present. Daily […]
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