Tree Lopper & Arborist Insurance

Why Insurance Is Essential for Tree Loppers and Arborists

Tree lopping and arborist work is one of the most hazardous trades in Australia. Every day, businesses and sole operators in this industry are exposed to risks involving chainsaws, heavy branches, falling trees, powerlines, and working at heights.

While skill, training, and equipment reduce danger, accidents can still happen. A branch can fall unpredictably. Machinery can fail. Property can be damaged. And in serious cases, people can be injured. When these events occur, your business can be held legally responsible, and the financial impact of a single claim could be devastating.

Insurance for tree loppers and arborists is designed to provide financial protection for these risks. It covers legal liability, property damage, injury to third parties, and in many cases, the theft or damage of equipment. Without adequate cover, your livelihood, assets, and even personal finances could be at risk.

Core Covers for Tree Lopping and Arborist Businesses

A comprehensive insurance package for this industry usually includes:

Public Liability Insurance

Covers third-party injury and property damage caused by your work. For example, if a branch falls onto a neighbour’s roof or a member of the public is injured by debris, liability insurance responds. Limits of $10 million or $20 million are common due to the severity of potential incidents.

Products Liability Insurance

Applies if any products you supply (such as mulch or timber offcuts) cause injury or damage. While not always a primary risk for arborists, it adds an extra layer of protection for unforeseen scenarios.

Commercial Property and Tools Cover

Protects your business premises, if you have one, and your tools. Chainsaws, climbing ropes, harnesses, stump grinders, and chippers are expensive to replace and are often targeted by thieves.

Plant and Equipment Insurance

Provides cover for large machinery, such as wood chippers, trucks, and trailers. These assets are central to most arborist businesses and are costly to repair or replace.

Workers Compensation

Legally required if you employ staff. Covers wages and medical expenses if workers are injured on the job. Given the high-risk nature of tree lopping, this cover is critical.rotection for unforeseen scenarios.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Important if you provide tree reports, consulting, or expert advice. For example, if you advise that a tree is safe but it later falls and causes damage, clients may allege negligence in your professional assessment.

Fleet or Commercial Motor Insurance

Covers utes, trucks, and trailers used to transport staff, equipment, and green waste. For businesses with multiple vehicles, a fleet policy can simplify management and reduce costs.

Common Claims in the Tree Lopping Industry

Tree loppers and arborists face a unique set of risks compared to other trades. Common claims include:

Falling branches damaging roofs, fences, or vehicles.
Injury to bystanders from debris or falling limbs.
Chainsaw accidents resulting in severe injuries to subcontractors.
Damage to powerlines during pruning or felling.
Theft of equipment from worksites or vehicles.
Workers Compensation claims from injuries at height or from machinery.

The severity of these claims often means they involve high costs, reinforcing why adequate insurance limits are necessary.

Subcontractor Use in Tree Lopping and Arborist Businesses

Many arborist businesses rely heavily on subcontractors. This may be due to fluctuating workloads, specialised skills, or the need for additional labour on large jobs. However, subcontractor arrangements can create insurance complexities.

Subrogation and Liability Transfer

If a subcontractor is liable, your insurer may initially pay the claim but then take legal action (subrogation) to recover costs from the subcontractor’s insurer. If your subcontractor is uninsured, you could be left carrying the cost.

Duty of Care

Engaging uninsured subcontractors can also be seen as failing your duty of care. Insurers may argue you contributed to the loss by hiring people without adequate protection. This could increase your financial burden in a claim.

Your Policy Protects You, Not Them

It’s important to remember that your insurance policy is designed to protect your business, not the subcontractors you engage. If a subcontractor makes an error that leads to damage or injury, insurers will investigate who is responsible. If liability falls to the subcontractor, your insurer will often seek to shift the claim onto them or their insurer.

Certificates of Currency

To protect your business, you should always check and retain a copy of each subcontractor’s insurance certificate before allowing them to work on your site. This certificate proves they have their own valid insurance. If they don’t, your business may become responsible for their mistakes, and your claim could be affected.

Best Practice for Arborist Businesses

Request and file Certificates of Currency for every subcontractor.
Ensure subcontractors carry Public Liability and, if relevant, Workers Compensation cover.
Clarify contract terms around liability responsibilities.
Include insurance requirements in written agreements.

By actively managing subcontractor use, you reduce your risk exposure and strengthen your position if a claim arises.

What Affects the Cost of Arborist and Tree Lopping Insurance?

Several factors influence premiums for this high-risk trade:

Business size and turnover: Larger businesses pay more due to higher risk exposure.
Scope of work: Felling large trees near buildings or powerlines attracts higher premiums than simple pruning.
Use of subcontractors: Heavy reliance on subcontractors can increase costs unless you show strong compliance practices.
Claims history: Past incidents influence how insurers view your risk.
Equipment value: Cover for chippers, trucks, and tools adds to premiums.
Height and location of work: Projects in built-up urban areas with high public exposure are priced differently to rural jobs, or holding tickets to work near power or transmission lines carry’s a different risk.

Risk Management Tips for Tree Loppers and Arborists

Tree lopping and arborist work comes with a mix of high-risk activities: working at heights, using powerful machinery, and operating close to property, vehicles, and members of the public. Insurers assess these risks carefully when setting premiums. Businesses that can demonstrate strong safety and risk management practices often benefit from lower premiums and better access to insurers willing to underwrite their work. Here are some practical risk management strategies that can make a measurable difference.

Conducting Pre-Job Site Assessments

Every job site is different. A large gum tree in a suburban backyard presents very different risks to clearing trees on a roadside or pruning near powerlines. Conducting a pre-job site assessment helps identify potential hazards before work begins. This might include uneven ground, overhead wires, weak tree limbs, or limited access for machinery. Documenting these assessments not only improves safety but also shows insurers that your business takes risk identification seriously.

Using Traffic Control Measures Near Roads

Tree work often takes place close to roads, driveways, or laneways. Branches, debris, or equipment can easily obstruct traffic or create hazards for passing vehicles and pedestrians. Proper traffic management plans, signage, and barriers keep both workers and the public safe. In many states, councils and road authorities also require approved traffic control plans before work can start. By implementing these measures, arborists reduce the likelihood of accidents that could otherwise result in expensive third-party claims.

Training Staff in Chainsaw and Machinery Operation

Chainsaws and other cutting tools are involved in a significant proportion of arborist injuries. Proper training, supervision, and refresher courses help reduce the chance of misuse. Staff should also be trained in emergency response procedures, such as dealing with kickback injuries or clearing blockages in chippers safely. Insurers look for evidence that training is ongoing rather than a one-off event when staff are first hired.

Maintaining Exclusion Zones

One of the simplest yet most effective risk controls is keeping people at a safe distance during tree work. Falling branches, flying debris, and machinery pose serious risks to anyone not directly involved in the task. Establishing and enforcing strict exclusion zones with barriers or signage ensures that bystanders, clients, and even other trades remain out of harm’s way. This step significantly reduces the likelihood of third-party injury claims, which are often the costliest for insurers to settle.

Bringing It Together

Risk management is not just about protecting workers; it is also about protecting the business. By systematically identifying hazards, investing in training, maintaining equipment, and enforcing safe work systems, arborists not only reduce the chance of accidents but also strengthen their position with insurers. Businesses that can provide evidence of these measures often enjoy lower premiums, fewer disputes in the event of a claim, and a stronger reputation with clients who value professionalism and safety.

Ensuring Staff and Subcontractors Are Qualified

Arborist work requires more than just experience with a chainsaw. Formal training and certification are essential for safe practices, particularly when using climbing gear, cranes, or stump grinders. Insurers will often ask about the qualifications of both employees and subcontractors. If a subcontractor is involved in an incident and does not hold the proper certification, liability could shift back to your business. Keeping up-to-date training records demonstrates compliance and reduces potential claim disputes.

Keeping Maintenance Logs for Machinery and Equipment

Chainsaws, wood chippers, elevated work platforms, and trucks are the backbone of an arborist’s toolkit. Regular servicing and documented maintenance reduce the chance of mechanical failure on the job. For example, a poorly maintained chipper could malfunction and cause injury or property damage. Keeping detailed logs shows insurers that equipment is being managed responsibly, and in the event of a claim, maintenance records can help prove that negligence was not a factor.

Implementing Fall Protection Systems

Working at height is one of the most dangerous aspects of tree lopping. Falls from ladders or harness systems can result in serious injury or death. Using industry-standard fall protection systems such as harnesses, ropes, and anchor points is critical. Businesses should also conduct regular inspections of climbing gear to ensure it remains in safe working condition. Insurers are highly sensitive to fall-related risks, so demonstrating a structured approach to fall prevention can improve both safety outcomes and insurability.

Sole Traders vs Companies

Sole Traders
Many arborists operate as sole traders with a ute, trailer, and tools. For these operators, insurance remains essential. A single accident, such as a branch damaging a client’s home, could wipe out personal savings without liability cover. Public Liability Insurance for sole traders is usually the starting point, with tool and vehicle insurance often added.

Companies with Employees
Larger businesses employing climbers, ground crew, and machine operators face broader exposures. In addition to liability and equipment cover, Workers Compensation is mandatory. Companies also need policies tailored to multiple vehicles, depots, and subcontractor management. Premiums increase with size, but so does the need for robust protection.

How Bluewell Can Assist

At Bluewell, we understand the challenges faced by arborists and tree lopping businesses. We:

Work with insurers who specialise in high-risk trades.
Tailor cover to suit sole traders, partnerships, and larger companies.
Help you manage subcontractor insurance compliance.
Provide access to competitive premiums by demonstrating your risk management practices to insurers.
Support you at claim time, ensuring you are not unfairly burdened with liability that belongs to subcontractors or other parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

While not legally required in all cases, most clients and councils demand proof of Public Liability Insurance before hiring you.

$10 million is common for small operators, while larger businesses or council contracts often require $20 million.

No. They need their own insurance. Your policy covers your business, not theirs.

Yes. Tools and plant cover can protect chainsaws, grinders, trucks, and chippers against theft, fire, or accidental damage.

If you provide written tree reports or professional advice, consider adding Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Maintain a clean claims history, use qualified staff, and keep evidence of subcontractor insurance, this might not reduce your premium, but would have limit claims, which would increase your future premium. Some operators might consider carrying more financial risk themselves by increasing their excess.

Most Public Liability policies can cover accidental damage to underground services if you were not aware of their location. However, insurers usually expect you to check plans and take reasonable steps to avoid damage, most commonly, using a Dial Before You Dig service, or having explicit written directions from a site manager or engineer. If you knowingly cut through services without proper checks, your claim could be denied.

Working close to powerlines is considered high-risk. Some insurers exclude this work unless you have the right qualifications and safety protocols in place. You must disclose this activity when arranging cover so your broker can place you with an insurer that accepts the risk.

All the providers we work with offer 12 month policies. Some have mid-term cancellation charges. Discuss with your broker what your expectations are.

Prior to this occurring, you should disclose to your broker or insurer you store items in your vehicle. Depending on the situation this would likely fall under two policies, one being any damage to your vehicle, the other for the tools themselves. Discuss your options with a broker today.

Protect your business, your equipment, and your reputation with tailored insurance solutions. Whether you are a sole operator or run a team with multiple subcontractors, Bluewell can help you secure cover that matches your risks.

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