“Luck Runs Out,
But Safety Is Good For Life”

So says a post on the Tufts Tree Service LLC Facebook page. It could be owner Brandon Tufts’ guiding principle.

In search of safety-training guidance, Tufts pursued his Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) credential in 2023, a full 10 years after starting his company, a second-year TCIA member company based in Oswego, New York. But that was only because he didn’t have the time to do so earlier. Tufts runs a 24/7 emergency service, is frequently out of state, works 20 to 40 crews – many doing utility work – and provides nearly 30 other tree-related services. His company headquarters moved recently to upstate New York from Texas and added a new satellite office in Georgia.

He appreciates the fact that TCIA’s CTSP credential is designed to help trainers, or “coaches,” develop and nurture a safe work environment at their companies.

“It’s kind of a necessity for us at this point. There are so many people involved, and we need to implement better safety practices,” says Tufts, who adds that he wants to set a high safety standard.

He notes that CTSP benefits include an increased knowledge base just through taking the course, and more credibility with clients who can rest assured Tufts will provide a safe working environment, follow OSHA regulations, adhere to line-clearance protocols and always wear quality personal protective equipment (PPE).

Tufts says the crews often hear the comment, “We like the way you guys operate on our job site.” Also, a climber noted that he loves working with the safe equipment the company provides, Tufts says.

“One thing I’ve learned is to make sure we spend money on good equipment,” says Tufts. “Just go ahead and spend the money, because at the end of the day, the crews appreciate it, and it’s a huge safety factor.”

In business 10 years, Tufts considers himself a newcomer to the tree industry.

“When I started, it was lucky if you had a hard hat on. We were just dirty young men in T-shirts removing trees. We started out with a truck and a trailer. I had a couple of mentors, but there are not a whole lot of people, when you’re involved in that kind of structure, who provide that same culture of safety, a business mentality and (who are concerned with) liability.

“When you have a young man just trying to make some dollars out of a trailer, you don’t end up at a seminar, or on a webinar or at ArborFest,” he says. “It’s kind of a rite of passage, you have to experience that. And if you get lucky, you find the other side of the business.

“We always want to be recognized as a safe-working company, and while we are not immune from accidents, we love continuing our education and growing our safety culture. I am grateful to be where we are in life, and to be a person who sees value in others within our company,” he says.

For more information about the CTSP program and upcoming workshops, visit tcia.org/CTSP.

Tamsin Venn is founding publisher of the former Atlantic Coastal Kayaker magazine and author of the book “Sea Kayaking Along the New England Coast,” and has been a contributing writer to TCI Magazine since 2011. She lives in Ipswich, Massachusetts.