Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET
Description: Safety in arboriculture goes beyond following procedures and wearing personal protective equipment—it requires developing a mindset that prioritizes risk awareness, hazard recognition, and proactive decision-making in every aspect of tree care. This session will explore how arboriculture professionals can build and maintain a strong safety culture while performing tasks such as tree pruning, removals, climbing, chainsaw operation, and working around aerial lifts and heavy equipment. Participants will examine the role of communication, situational awareness, job hazard assessments, and individual accountability in preventing workplace injuries and near misses. Emphasis will be placed on recognizing changing jobsite conditions, identifying potential hazards before work begins, and empowering team members to speak up when unsafe conditions arise. Attendees will gain practical strategies for incorporating safety into daily operations, strengthening team safety practices, and fostering a culture where safe work habits become second nature.
Presenter: Born and raised in the Dayton area, Jotham Smith is the service leader for Centerville Public Works. Jotham is an ISA Certified Arborist and Ohio Chapter scholarship recipient. He began working in a local garden center at the age of 17 while taking landscape management courses at the county’s vocational school. He employs best management practices while leading his horticulture team in Centerville. Jotham is a third-generation beekeeper.