It should be obvious that the combination of ladders and chainsaws is a potentially dangerous one, and that extreme caution should be exercised when using the two, but there are still people out there who think they are above the laws of both physics, and health and safety.  A video emerged online of a man performing some amateur tree surgery using both the aforementioned pieces of equipment.  He was straddling the branch he was cutting off, and had at least ensured he was sitting on the part that was to be left attached to the tree, but had not thought about what would happen to the branch when it fell.  The large piece of wood swung back into his ladder, which had been left leaning against the tree, breaking it apart and sending it crashing to the floor.  He was then left stranded up the tree with nothing but a chainsaw for company, but laughter in the background of the video suggests he was rescued quite quickly, no doubt after some teasing from his friends.

Tree surgery should really only be carried out by trained professionals, who have all the equipment needed to ensure a safe path to the ground for the limbs being cut off.  Normally, a rope would have been tied to the branch that could be used to take it safely down, without damaging anything in its path, but this precaution had not been taken here.  Additionally, tree surgeons always harness themselves in, so that if a ladder does fall they can still descend safely.  Any ladders used to access a tree are tied to the trunk to stop them moving or falling, even if they are hit by falling branches.  The same ladders are also inspected regularly to ensure they are fit for purpose; the ladder in this example was clearly compromised or it would not have snapped so dramatically on impact.

Anyone attempting some minor tree surgery at home, should make sure they are well prepared and working with several other people who can help out and get assistance, if necessary.  Ladders should be secured to the tree and be footed by another person while the surgeon is climbing up.  The type of ladder used should be determined by the ground conditions and although orchard style tripod ladders are specifically designed to allow access to the crown of a tree, they may not be available in the moment.  The ladder used should have wide stabiliser bars at the base, to stop any sinking into soft ground and a model with adjustable legs makes it easy to level the ladder off at the ground, so the climb is as easy as possible.

If there are any big heights involved, then a safety harness is essential.  A harness should be attached securely to the main part of the tree (and may need to be moved as work is carried out) to provide a safety net for the person up the tree.  Many tree surgeons don't always use a ladder on their jobs, finding it much easier to access tight spaces using ropes and harnesses to ascend to the correct height.  This method removes any potential ladder issues as none are used.  Some trees may require a ladder to access part of it, with the rest being reached by ropes, but it takes years of training to gain the skills and experience necessary to assess the situation and choose the right access equipment – if there is any doubt call in the professionals.