Have you ever wondered why there is often such a drastic difference in prices between different tree services? I can answer this in three words: workers compensation insurance.

I know what you are probably thinking right now. You are thinking that before you hire a tree service (or any service provider for that matter) you always request a certificate of insurance (COI) to verify proof of workers compensation insurance. Unfortunately, thanks to what is known as a Ghost Policy, a COI does not mean the tree service actually has any real insurance protection for its employees.

A Ghost Policy  is a policy designed for a company with only one member (the owner) and no employees. It is an extremely cheap way for an individual to obtain a COI in order to win bids and projects that require workers comp insurance coverage.

The Ghost Policy, however, has opened a major loophole. Many tree services with employees still purchase this Ghost Policy by claiming either they they have no employees (and pay them off the books) or that their employees are sub-contractors, which is illegal given Federal and State law. By obtaining a Ghost Policy, a tree service is able to show you a COI while saving anywhere from $30,000 to well over $300,000 per year. This allows that service to offer much lower prices – hence the drastic variation in pricing between companies with legitimate insurance and those without.

But here is the incredible danger: by doing this, that service exploits its employees and puts you the client at great risk. If someone is injured on your property, you could be held responsible for medical and related costs.

The good news is that there are ways to avoid hiring such a service. Read our full article The Dangerous Truth About Ghost Insurance Policies to learn more.

Be sure to let us know what you think!

After a great deal of work, we are proud to announce that Colin has earned his “Certified Treecare Safety Professional” (CTSP) accreditation from the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). This is no small feat. As a matter of fact, there are only two tree services in the RDU/Triangle area that have this accreditation!

So you are probably wondering two things. First, how hard is it to become CTSP accredited? Second, what does this mean for you? So glad you asked!

To answer the first question, this certification requires experience, extensive training, and passing safety-related exams. In addition, CTSPs are required to fulfill 30 continuing education credits, which includes things like ongoing safety training, teaching safety-related classes, writing articles published in industry magazines, and so. But enough about this! What does hiring a CTSP accredited tree service mean for you?

The whole purpose of TCIA’s CTSP program is to decrease work-related injuries and fatalities in the tree care and tree removal industry. After all, this industry is one of the most dangerous in the U.S., ranked on par with the likes of logging and snow crab fishing. According to TCIA’s, “Accident Survey Results: 2008-09 Operations” an accredited member will experience 100% fewer accidents than the non-accredited non-members.

Having a CTSP on staff means that we at Leaf & Limb are committed to the highest level of safe working practices in all areas of our tree service operations. It means that we are devoted to following the latest technological advances and safety regulations affecting the field of safety in our industry. When you employ our services, or the services of any other CTSP certified tree service, you can rest assured knowing that you will have a safe, professional operation managed by highly skilled experts.

Once again, congratulations to Colin for all his hard work! His CTSP accreditation is invaluable to Leaf & Limb Tree Service and brings an extra level of safety awareness necessary to ensure that every tree care and tree removal project is completed with all essential precautions.

Be sure and check out our official press release on PRWeb and on our website.