Tree Climber

Rockvillemd; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Rockville is seeking a skilled Tree Care Specialist to maintain city parks, facilities, and rights of way. The role involves climbing trees up to 100 feet using ropes and saddles, rigging for removal, and operating diverse equipment under supervision.

Applicants should have a high school diploma and at least 3 years in tree care, with knowledge of ANSI standards and the ability to obtain a CDL within 30 days.

Qualifications

• High school diploma and 3 years in tree care, including climbing with rope and saddle.
• Knowledge of ANSI Z133.1, ANSI A300 standards and industry best practices.
• Ability to obtain CDL within 30 days of employment.

Responsibilities

• Inspect equipment daily (ropes, saddle, saws) and prune according to ANSI/Arborist standards.
• Remove hazardous trees and rig for removal using ropes and pulleys.
• Operate and inspect aerial lift truck and other equipment; assist with storm cleanup and events.
• Ensure safety and training compliance and coordinate with city staff.

Skills

Technical climbing

Defect identification

Team coordination

Oral and written instruction

Manual labor

Education

High school diploma/3 years tree care

Tools

Aerial lift operation

Ropes & saddle

Job description

This position is responsible for performing skilled tree maintenance at City facilities, parks, and along rights of way. The working conditions can be dangerous with the incumbents using rope and saddle, and climbing trees to heights which could exceed 100 feet. The work has standardized practices and procedures and is subject to general supervisory review by a Crew Supervisor – R&P II.

Please note: This position may also be hired as a Certified Tree Climber if the applicant meets the requirements necessary for that grade level.

• Inspects on a daily basis all personal equipment including ropes, saddle, and saws, etc.
• Performs pruning in accordance with industry standard, American National Standard A300 (ANSI) and National Arborist Association standards.
• Complies with ANSI Z133.l and A300 for tree care operations.
• Removes dead, dying, or hazardous trees from parks, facility grounds, and rights of way.
• Rigs hazardous trees for removal using ropes, block and tackle and pulleys.
• Uses and maintains a variety of equipment including aerial lift truck, dump truck, chipper, backhoe, chain saws and various hand tools.
• Inspects aerial lift truck prior to operation.
• Ascends trees using rope and saddle to heights which could exceed 100 feet.
• Assists other crews in pruning, chipping, and brush and storm damage cleanup.
• Quickly and efficiently cleans up tree debris after storm related events working in all weather conditions.
• Assists with special events as requested.
• Inspects occasionally work of contractors for compliance with the contract.
• Completes work orders.
• Assists other crews as needed, i.e., mowing. Leaf collection, flower installation, and general parks maintenance.
• Performs other duties as required.

Education and Experience:

High school diploma; and three (3) years of progressively responsible work in the tree care industry; plus experience climbing, using a rope, and saddling; or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Qualifications:

Possession of, or ability to obtain a motor vehicle class CDL operator's license as issued by the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles (or an equivalent license issued by the employee's state of residence) within 30 days of employment.

• Knowledge of associated tree care industry standards.
• Knowledge of all hazards associated with tree maintenance and with the use of associated equipment.
• Knowledge of operation procedures for aerial lift. Knowledge and understanding of overhead utilities, electrical conductors, and power lines.
• Knowledge of acceptable standards for pruning, cabling and bracing and associated tree maintenance.
• Skill in technical climbing with rope and saddle.
• Ability to identify defects and hazards associated with trees.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with coworkers, and City staff, and to communicate when necessary to the general public.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to do extremely strenuous manual work in all weather conditions.

Physical Demands

The work is heavy work, which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
• Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand
• Hearing 1: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
• Hearing 2: Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Talking 1: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Visual Acuity 1: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.
• Visual Acuity 2: Including color, depth perception, and field vision.
• Visual Acuity 3: Visual Acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.
• Visual Acuity 4: Have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
• Visual Acuity 5: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, operation of machines; using measurement devices; and/or assembly or fabrication parts at distances close to the eyes.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

Work Environment

This job is performed in an environment with heavy equipment and machinery that could result in bodily harm to co-workers or others.