Utah tree-care owner pushes for licensing and safety rules

A Salt Lake City tree-care owner is pressing Utah regulators and lawmakers to create the state’s first tree-care contractor license, with required safety training and certification. The effort targets an industry with one of the highest fatality rates in the country and could shift liability and safety standards for workers and homeowners.

Why it matters: - Tree-care work ranks among the most dangerous jobs in the U.S., with federal data putting the fatality rate for tree trimmers and pruners at roughly 110 deaths per 100,000 workers. - Utah currently requires no state license or certification to perform tree-care work, leaving homeowner safety and worker training largely unregulated. - Christy Hampton, founder of Clean Cuts Trees, is trying to close that gap with a licensing push that would require safety training and certification to enter the trade. - Hampton’s campaign could also shift risk away from homeowners when uninsured or unlicensed crews get hurt or cause damage on residential jobs.

What happened: - Hampton has formally asked Utah regulators to create a new specialty contractor classification for tree services. - The request goes to the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, or DOPL, which has authority over contractor licensing classifications. - Hampton is also preparing a legislative push and a public petition to require training, education, certification or a trade exam for tree-care workers. - The petition is not live yet, but Hampton said it will launch as the campaign builds.

The details: - The Tree Care Industry Association documented 243 tree-care fatalities from 2020 to 2023, or about 61 deaths a year, using news reports and federal records. - Falls and struck-by incidents, including falling limbs and equipment, account for about three out of four tree-worker deaths. - Utah already requires certified specialists for work near energized power lines under the state’s Overhead Line Safety Act. - Hampton argues the same safety logic should apply to the broader tree-care industry. - Under DOPL’s current licensing framework, a tree-care contractor license would require a business and law exam plus proof of insurance. - DOPL board members acknowledged the safety need, Hampton said, but indicated they can act only after clearer evidence shows consumers are at risk. - Examples include uninsured crews injured on a homeowner’s property or property damage that falls back on the customer. - Utah does not require a state-specific arborist license, and credentials such as the ISA Certified Arborist designation remain voluntary. - Hampton’s proposal would accept recognized training or certification through the International Society of Arboriculture, the Tree Care Industry Association or the Association of Tree Care Professionals. - Hampton said the multi-path approach would let workers qualify through classroom learning or hands-on field training. (Draft quote — pending approval.) - Hampton said many homeowners assume a “licensed” tree company means formal training, when in Utah it can mean only a business license. (Draft quote — pending approval.) - Hampton said unlicensed or uninsured work can leave homeowners exposed to liability, and some homeowners’ policies may not cover accidents involving unlicensed contractors. (Draft quote — pending approval.)

Between the lines: - The effort is framed as both worker protection and consumer protection, not as a move to limit small businesses. - Hampton is using Utah’s existing power-line safety rules as proof that the state already recognizes tree work can require specialized credentials. - Because DOPL cannot require schooling or certification on its own, the campaign likely needs legislative action to make training mandatory. - The proposal also broadens the policy debate beyond credentials alone and into liability, insurance and homeowner exposure.

What's next: - Hampton plans to take the proposal to the Utah Legislature. - Hampton also expects to formally launch the petition tied to the licensing campaign. - Any new license would still need state approval before Utah tree-care workers could face mandatory training and certification requirements.

The bottom line: - Utah may be one of the few states where one of the nation’s deadliest trades still has no statewide license, and Hampton is trying to change that before the next accident makes the case for her.