Falls
One killed, another injured in fall
One worker was killed and another seriously injured when they fell out of a boom lift October 27, 2025, in Rockland, Mass. The men were maintenance workers for a condominium complex and were trimming a tree approximately 40 feet up when they both fell. Both were taken to a local hospital, where the 72-year-old man […]
Worker injured in fall
A tree worker was injured in a fall October 27, 2025, in Mashpee, Massachusetts. The worker was 20 feet up when he fell. He was transported to a trauma center. No further information was available at the time of the CapeCod.com report.
Worker dies in fall
A climber died in a fall October 9, 2025, in Menahga, Minnesota. The tree worker had climbed the tree to cut the top when the base broke, causing him to fall with the tree and the tree to land on him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a Wadena Pioneer Journal report.
Homeowner injured in fall from ladder
A homeowner was seriously injured in a fall August 30, 2025, in Austin, Minn. Jesse Smith, an art teacher, fell from a ladder while cutting a tree that fell in his yard. He suffered extensive injuries, including broken ribs and a broken collarbone, according to a GoFundMe page as reported by KROC.
Lift operator injured in fall
A lift operator was injured in a fall August 20, 2025, in Streator, Illinois. The man was trimming trees from a bucket truck when he fell 15 to 20 feet. He was transported to a hospital by helicopter, but there was no report on his condition, according to a WLPO report.
STRUCK BY OR AGAINST
Man killed by felled branch
A man was killed by a cut limb October 4, 2025, in Peoria County, Illinois. Orin Richard C. “Rick” Burgess, 58, of Pekin, Ill., was on the ground clearing branches that had already been cut. Another man was cutting a nearby tree, and a large branch fell and hit Burgess on the head. Burgess died […]
Ground worker killed by cut limb
A worker was killed when he was struck by a cut tree September 16, 2025, in DeLand, Florida. A co-worker was in a bucket cutting a tree with a chain saw. He observed that the area below was clear and announced he was going to cut the tree. The 22-year-old victim then walked into the […]
Worker hit and killed by boom lift
A tree worker was killed when he was struck by a towable boom lift September 9, 2025, in Rockford, Michigan. The 43-year-old worker was trimming trees at a home when a boom lift “became unattached” and rolled down a hill, striking and dragging the man downhill. The man succumbed to a head injury, according to […]
Man killed by cut tree
A man was struck and killed by a tree he was cutting September 7, 2025, in Wallkill, New York. The man, from Livingston Manor, was cutting a tree in a wooded area when he was struck on the chest and arm. Emergency personnel performed CPR, but he was later pronounced dead, according to a Newport […]
Skid-steer operator killed by tree limb
A man died August 20, 2025, in Warren County, Mississippi, when a tree pierced the windshield of the skid steer he was operating, striking him and trapping him in the loader, according to a WJTV report.
CAUGHT IN OR UNDER
Tree worker injured by felled tree
A tree worker was injured when he was caught under a felled tree October 28, 2025, in Cheshire, Connecticut. The 67-year-old worker became stuck when the tree fell on him. He was hospitalized with unspecified injuries, according to a Patch.com report.
Worker loses foot in caught-in or -under
A tree worker lost his foot when it was caught in a rope May 21, 2025, in Wallace, North Carolina. Bryson Wilkinson, 18, was working as a ground-worker trainee when his leg became caught in the rope, according to a WECT/Gray News report.
Property owner killed by falling tree
A man was killed when he was struck by a tree May 13, 2025, in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Keith J. Symon, 79, of Iowa County, was cutting logs with a tractor and a chain saw on his property. When he did not return home, officials searched the 80-acre property and found him. Officials believe the […]
Worker killed when caught under palm fronds
A man died after palm fronds fell on him while he was trimming a palm May 10, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. Jaime Yepiz, 43, who had been in tree work for 12 years, was trimming the 50-foot tree when the skirt of fallen palm fronds pinned him against the trunk of the tree. The Phoenix […]
Homeowner pinned in tree and injured
A man sustained minor injuries and was rescued when he became pinned by a branch at height March 11, 2025, in Wichita, Kansas. The homeowner was working about 35 feet up in the tree when he became pinned under a branch weighing more than 300 pounds. Firefighters were able to lift the branch and lower […]
ELECTRIC SHOCK OR BURN
Lift operator seriously injured by electric shock
An aerial-lift operator was seriously injured when he contacted a power line October 31, 2025, in Anna, Ohio. The man was trimming trees in a towable lift when he reportedly grabbed the line, apparently thinking it was a support cable rather than a live wire, according to a WDTN report. He lost his hand and […]
Lift operator injured by electric shock
An aerial-lift operator was severely burned when he came in contact with power lines October 27, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minn. The operator was in the lift bucket using a chain saw when the incident occurred. The bucket was not operable and the man was unconscious, so firefighters responded to bring him down, according to a […]
Tree worker electrocuted
A tree worker died when he contacted a live power line while he was trimming a tree October 11, 2025, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Emergency personnel stated that the man died at the scene, according to a elVocero.com report.
Tree worker critical after contacting power lines
A climber was in critical condition after contacting power lines while trimming a tree October 8, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri. When emergency crews arrived, the man was hanging by his safety rope. He was lowered by Kansas City firefighters and transported to a hospital in critical condition, according to a KCTV 5 report.
Man burned by power line
A man was burned by electrical shock October 2, 2025, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The 23-year-old was trimming a tree when he came into contact with a 7,200-volt power line. He suffered burns to his back and chest and was unconscious for a brief period. He was taken to a local hospital, then flown to a […]
RESCUE
Worker rescued from lift
A worker was rescued from a lift August 18, 2025, in Indialantic, Florida. The worker became stuck when the lift malfunctioned, and fire crews rescued the worker, according to a Space Coast Daily report.
Worker rescued from lift
A worker was rescued from a lift August 9, 2025, in Burton, South Carolina. The worker was suspended 40 feet in the air when the lift tilted onto two wheels and was leaning against a tree. Firefighters worked for approximately 30 minutes to free the worker, according to a WTOC report.
Worker rescued from bucket truck
A worker was rescued when the lift he was in malfunctioned August 6, 2025, in North Canton, Ohio. The worker was stranded 75 feet up. Firefighters positioned a ladder truck so the worker could descend without injury, according to a CBS 19 report.
Worker rescued from broken lift
A worker was rescued from a hydraulic lift after it malfunctioned June 7, 2025, in Columbus, Indiana. The worker was stuck 30 feet up, but firefighters were able to find emergency-release instructions, which enabled them to safely lower the man to the ground, according to a WKKG report.
Worker rescued after becoming entangled
A worker became stuck 15 feet in the air after a lift he was working in broke June 3, 2025, in Salem, Ill. Workers on the ground were able to send up a rope, but on the way down, the stuck worker got his feet and ankles entangled in the rope, leaving him upside down. […]
