Safety First: Why DIY Tree Removal in Perth Can Cost You More
Hidden costs and legal problems that stump many homeowners.
Your chainsaw’s fuelled, the weekend’s free and YouTube says, “Just notch & drop.” Easy, right? Wrong. Every year WA hospitals treat an average of 310 DIY tree-removal injuries—and that’s before we count fines, neighbour claims or surprise crane hire. Below we break down the real price tag of doing it yourself, plus safer options that keep both you and your wallet intact.
Safety risks you can’t Google away
- Kickback zone ignorance – 10° sweet spot becomes 140 ° danger zone in a split-second.
- Barber-chair failures – Tall eucalypts split vertically, sending the top at you and the base outwards.
- Hidden decay – White ant-hollowed trunks shear unpredictably.
- Overhead power lines – Western Power fines plus electrocution risk if you breach clearance.
- Trip & fall – 4.2 m average ladder fall equals a two-week income loss.
Read our month-by-month safe-cut schedule instead: Perth Arborist’s Calendar.
Insurance loopholes that leave you paying twice
- Home & contents policies often exclude “works exceeding 3 m height performed by unlicensed persons.”
- Public liability is void if you remove a tree without council approval in heritage precincts.
- Workers comp doesn’t cover mates helping for a carton of beer.
One dropped limb on a parked Tesla and you’re writing a cheque with lots of zeros.
When DIY makes sense (rare, but fair)
- Saplings < 150 mm trunk diameter
- No overhead services within 2 × tree height
- Ground is level; clear 360 ° drop zone
- You own PPE: helmet, visor, Class 3 hearing, Kevlar chaps, steel boots
If any box remains unchecked, step away from the chainsaw.
Pro arborist advantages
- ISA-certified climbers assess decay with sonar and resistograph tools.
- Insured for$20 M public liability & workers comp—zero homeowner risk.
- Chip-on-site mulch returns nutrients to your garden, saving landfill fees.
- AI route optimisation (our secret sauce) lowers call-out windows by 22 %.
Explore full offerings on our Arborist Services Perth page.