By Brandon Thompson, MBG Insurance | October 12, 2026
For tree trimmers and arborists in Missouri and Kansas, safety is part of every job. Chainsaws, falling limbs, climbing, aerial lifts and heavy equipment create serious exposures for your employees and your business. Consistently using appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) helps protect your crew—and can support your efforts to qualify for competitive insurance pricing.
But there is another part of the insurance process that business owners sometimes overlook: your website and social media can show an underwriter how your crew actually works. Photos and videos should clearly reflect the safety practices you describe on your insurance application.
Use the Right PPE Every Time
PPE should be a daily expectation whenever the work and hazards require it. That applies to owners, experienced climbers, new employees and ground crews.
Depending on the task, appropriate protection may include:
- Protective helmets suitable for the work.
- Eye protection and appropriate face protection.
- Hearing protection around chainsaws, chippers and other loud equipment.
- Chainsaw protective chaps or pants appropriate for the task.
- Appropriate gloves and protective footwear.
- Proper climbing, work-positioning and fall-protection equipment for the operation.
The equipment must fit properly, be maintained and be used correctly. OSHA’s tree-care guidance emphasizes assessing workplace hazards, selecting appropriate PPE and training employees to use it. Having equipment in the truck does little good when the person exposed to the hazard is not wearing it.
Make these expectations consistent. A quick cut, a small job or years of experience should never become an excuse to skip required protection.
Why Safety Matters for Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ compensation is an especially important coverage for tree businesses because employees face substantial injury exposures. Preventing injuries protects your people and helps control the losses that can affect future insurance costs.
PPE is one part of that effort. Training, equipment inspections, job briefings, safe work procedures and consistent supervision matter too.
A documented safety program can help your agent present your business to insurers that consider safety practices when evaluating accounts. Depending on the carrier, policy and applicable rating rules, your business may qualify for schedule credits or other available pricing advantages. These are not automatic discounts for owning helmets or posting a few safety photos.
For businesses that qualify for experience rating, workers’ compensation loss history also affects an experience modification factor. Preventing claims can support better results over time, but a good photo does not directly change that calculation.
What About General Liability Insurance?
General liability addresses different exposures, such as covered claims involving injury to others or damage to their property. A crew member’s work-related injury generally belongs under workers’ compensation rather than general liability.
PPE most directly protects workers. For general liability underwriting, insurers also want to understand how you protect customers, pedestrians and nearby property.
That makes your broader safety practices important: controlled work areas, appropriate rigging, safe equipment use and clear communication. Your insurance submission should explain how your crew manages both employee safety and the risks your work creates for others.
Underwriters Can—and Do—Look at Social Media
Your insurance application is not the only information an underwriter may review. Tree-care insurance professionals have specifically identified business websites and social media as sources underwriters use to evaluate operations and safety practices.
Consider a business that tells its insurer:
“We require appropriate PPE and enforce our safety procedures on every job.”
Now imagine its public videos show employees operating chainsaws without appropriate protection or working in an aerial lift without the required fall-protection system. Those images can raise questions about whether the written safety program is being followed.
An underwriter may request explanations, additional documentation or corrective action. Depending on the circumstances and the insurer’s guidelines, those concerns can affect pricing, available credits or willingness to offer or renew coverage.
Your online presence should give an underwriter confidence that your safety practices are real and consistent.
Make Proper PPE Clearly Visible in Job Photos
When sharing your work online, make appropriate PPE and safe procedures easy to see. This applies to your website, Facebook, Instagram, promotional videos and other public marketing.
Before posting, review the entire scene:
- Are workers wearing the protection appropriate for their tasks?
- Is climbing or fall-protection equipment being used correctly?
- Are ground workers and bystanders positioned safely?
- Are equipment operation and work practices consistent with your training?
- Does the caption accurately describe the work your business performs?
If a photo reveals an unsafe practice, address the practice with your crew. Choosing another image does not fix the underlying problem.
Use authentic photos of your team working safely. Training sessions, equipment inspections and job briefings can also help customers—and insurance underwriters—see the professionalism behind your work.
Can a Strong Safety Program Help You Get and Keep Better Rates?
It can help you compete for favorable terms. Tree-care insurers may consider documented training, safety programs and professional credentials when evaluating eligibility and available premium credits.
Give your agent evidence of the work you are doing, including:
- Written safety procedures and PPE requirements.
- Employee training records and safety-meeting logs.
- Equipment inspection and maintenance records.
- Relevant arborist credentials and safety certifications.
- Corrective actions taken after incidents or near misses.
- Current photos that accurately show your operations.
Maintaining those practices matters at renewal just as it does when applying for a new policy. Safety documentation and consistent daily habits can support continued eligibility for favorable terms, although premiums also depend on claims, payroll, the work performed and other rating factors.
No agent can guarantee the lowest rate or promise that a credit will remain forever. The goal is to give insurers a clear, accurate reason to view your business favorably.
Help Your Insurance Agent Tell Your Safety Story
If you invest in training, protective equipment and supervision, make sure your insurance agent knows about it before renewal. Explain your procedures, share your records and discuss changes in your operations.
For Missouri and Kansas tree trimmers and arborists, the message is straightforward: use appropriate PPE consistently, document your safety program and make sure your public photos reflect how your crew works every day.
At MBG Insurance, we help tree businesses present their operations to insurance carriers and review coverage options, including general liability and workers’ compensation. Learn more about our insurance for tree-care and tree-service businesses, or contact us to discuss your coverage and available pricing options.