Arboriculture and Safety: Transforming Tree Works with Digital Permits to Work

Arboriculture and Importance of Safety Permit-to-Work

As a bustling metropolis with limited land space, Singapore has always placed a strong emphasis on greenery and environmental sustainability. The city's commitment to transform into City in Nature has resulted in the creation of lush green spaces, with trees and plants lining the streets and adorning the city's parks and gardens. With a goal of planting one more million trees, the practice of arboriculture plays a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing Singapore's greenery, contributing to the city's unique charm and livability.

Essential Role of Tree Pruning, Felling, and Landscaping in Arboriculture and Horticulture

Tree pruning, tree removal (felling), and landscaping are essential parts of arboriculture, ensuring the health and safety of trees, as well as the safety of the public and property. Proper pruning techniques can help prevent tree failure and reduce the risk of branches falling onto people or buildings. Pruning can also improve the aesthetics of trees, promoting healthy growth and enhancing the overall beauty of a landscape.

Risks Involved in Arboriculture and Need for Safety Permit-to-Work

However, tree works can be a hazardous process for workers, particularly when working at height, hoisting tree trunks, or handling heavy machinery such as chainsaws. Workers in the arboriculture and horticulture industries may have received adequate training and equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to carry out these works, but there are still significant risks involved, including falls from height, electrocution, and injury from falling objects or dislodged tree trunks while hoisting.

Safety permits are critical in ensuring that workers are aware of the risks involved and have the necessary training and equipment to perform the job safely. However, arboriculture and horticulture workers face a unique set of challenges when it comes to safety permits. Traditional paper-based permit-to-work systems can be time-consuming and error-prone, leading to delays in work and putting workers at risk if they are not aware of the latest safety measures. Communication can also be an issue when using a paper-based PTW system, particularly when working in remote locations.

Customer Success Story: TKB C-E Contractor Pte Ltd and Hubble's Safety Management System

Digital permit to work systems can help to mitigate these risks and streamline the permit approval process. TKB C-E Contractor Pte Ltd (TKB), a pioneer general contractor for Singapore arboriculture, turned to Hubble Safety Management System - Permit to Work module to improve worksite safety. Hubble's digital permit to work module provides real-time visibility into the status of work permits and ensures that workers are authorised to perform specific tasks. Automated alerts and notifications to workers and supervisors help streamline the permit approval process, reducing the risk of errors and delays, as well as alerting workers to safety procedures, conflicting works, and potential hazards.

Hubble's app allows workers to access safety permits from their smartphones, eliminating the need for paperwork, which is particularly useful in the arboriculture and horticulture industries where work often takes place in remote locations. The system also ensures that all necessary regulations and standards are being followed when workers carry out tree pruning. Through the Hubble Safety Management System, TKB C-E Contractor Pte Ltd (TKB) can safeguard the health and safety of its workers, customers, and the public.

In conclusion, TKB C-E Contractor Pte Ltd (TKB)'s use of Hubble's PTW module for tree pruning is an excellent example of how technology can improve safety and efficiency in the workplace. They have shown commitment to the health and safety of their workers and the environment. Through their expertise in arboriculture and horticulture, Singapore's botanical gardens and parks are able to maintain its beauty and health. Schedule a demo with us today to see how Hubble Safety Management System can benefit your organisation!