Arborist / Utility Tree Worker

Utility Arborist

**Company:** Tree Works **Location:** Halifax, Nova Scotia **Job Type:** Full-Time **Department:** Vegetation Management / Line Clearance **Reports To:** Geoff Talbot **Pay Range:** 20-35 CAD per hour

About Us

Safety is the number one priority and a core value. The company’s "Safety Always" philosophy dictates that all injuries are preventable and working safely is a strict condition of employment. No job is worth risking injury, ensuring the ultimate goal remains getting everyone home safe

Position Summary

Tree Works Limited is seeking an experienced Utility Arborist to join our Vegetation Management team. This role is responsible for maintaining safe and reliable clearance between vegetation and electrical infrastructure through pruning, removal, and hazard tree assessment, in compliance with CSA Z62.3 (Vegetation Management for Electrical Utilities) and ANSI A300 pruning standards.

Key Responsibilities

* Perform line clearance tree trimming and removal near energized distribution and/or transmission lines
* Conduct hazard tree assessments and identify risk trees within the right-of-way (ROW)
* Apply directional pruning and natural target pruning techniques per ANSI A300 standards
* Maintain strict adherence to minimum approach distances and electrical safety protocols per CSA Z62.3 and provincial Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) regulations
* Operate and maintain equipment including chainsaws, chippers, and bucket trucks
* Communicate professionally with property owners regarding trimming/removal work
* Accurately document work performed, including GPS/GIS data entry where applicable
* Respond to storm and emergency vegetation management events as needed
* Work collaboratively within a crew structure (climbers, ground crew, bucket operators)
* Follow all provincial OH&S and company safety policies at all times

Required Qualifications

* ISA Certified Arborist credential
* ISA Utility Specialist certification preferred
* Minimum 1 year of line clearance or utility vegetation management experience
* Valid Class 5 Driver's License with air brake endorsement
* Chainsaw safety/certification (e.g., Nova Scotia forestry safety certification)
* Current WHMIS certification
* Standard First Aid/CPR certification (required)
* Strong understanding of electrical hazard awareness and minimum approach distance requirements
* Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions and at heights
* Clean driving record

Preferred Qualifications

* Experience with GIS/work management software - ArcGIS
* Crew lead or supervisory experience
* 3 years experience
* Class 3 drivers license with condition 15
* Experience working storm cleanup

Physical Requirements

* Ability to lift 50lbs, climb, and work from bucket trucks or aerial devices
* Comfort working at heights and in confined or rugged terrain
* Ability to work extended hours, including on-call/storm response as needed

A utility arborist's day is shaped a lot by weather, season, and whether they're doing routine line-clearance work or emergency storm response.

**Morning (7:30 AM)**

* Report to the yard or a job site, often before sunrise in summer to beat the heat
* Safety briefing / tailgate meeting — review the day's job sites, hazards (traffic, terrain, wildlife, weak limbs), and PPE checks
* Inspect trucks, chippers, chainsaws, climbing gear, and bucket trucks
* Review work orders — which spans of line need trimming, which trees were flagged by inspectors or reported by customers

**Mid-morning to afternoon (job execution)**

* Travel to job sites, often multiple per day
* Set up traffic control or work zones if near roads
* Assess each tree for clearance needs relative to power lines — utility arborists follow strict clearance standards (specific distances depend on voltage)
* Perform the actual work: climbing, aerial bucket truck operation, or ground-based pruning using pole saws
* Directional pruning
* Chip brush, haul debris, clean up sites
* Coordinate with a ground crew for safety spotting, traffic control, and debris removal

**Throughout the day**

* Constant hazard awareness: live wires, dead limbs, weather changes, wildlife
* Communication with homeowners or property owners about trimming near their trees
* Documentation — noting completed work, any hazard trees flagged for removal, GPS/mapping updates for the utility's vegetation management system

**End of day**

* Return equipment to the yard, refuel and clean chainsaws/chippers
* Log hours, completed spans, and any incident reports
* Debrief on tomorrow's sites

**Variations worth knowing**

* **Storm duty** - pay incentives

Utility arborists specialize in maintaining vegetation around power lines and other utility infrastructure

**Technical/Safety Knowledge**

* Understanding of electrical hazards — minimum approach distances, conductor awareness
* Knowledge of ANSI Z133 (safety standards) and ANSI A300 (pruning standards)
* Familiarity with line clearance pruning techniques (directional pruning, natural target pruning)
* Species identification and growth-rate knowledge to plan trim cycles
* Understanding of right-of-way (ROW) management and easement rules

**Certifications**

* ISA Certified Arborist, and ideally ISA Utility Specialist certification
* Class 3 and condition 15 drivers license, clean drivers abstract
* First Aid/CPR, and often electrical safety training specific to the utility

**Physical & Practical Skills**

* Comfort working at heights, in bucket trucks, and/or climbing
* Chainsaw and chipper operation/maintenance
* Stamina for outdoor work in all weather conditions

**Judgment & Risk Awareness**

* Strong situational awareness
* Ability to assess tree health/structural risk (identifying hazard trees, decay, weak unions)
* Calm decision-making under pressure

**Soft Skills**

* Communication — utility arborists frequently interact with public
* Documentation skills — accurate record-keeping for compliance and liability
* Teamwork — most work is done in crews (climber, ground crew, bucket operator)

**Regulatory/Compliance Knowledge**

* Familiarity with state/local utility vegetation management regulations

Benefits:

* Casual dress
* Dental care
* Extended health care
* Flexible schedule
* RRSP match
* Vision care