38 attendees gathered on January 4, 2013 at the Oakland Community College in Auburn Hills, MI to attend the Tree Care Academy Chipper Operator Specialist Workshop.

TCIA's new Chipper Operations Specialist workshop uses a nationally recognized curriculum to train tree care employees in hazards as well as accepted practices for brush chipper operation and other loosely associated tasks.  The training program, built for crew members who often do not receive formal training opportunities, seeks to increase employee involvement with overall safety compliance and self-policing.

Upon passing the exam, the 38 attendees will become TCIA Tree Care Academy Chipper Operations Specialists, establishing a "Culture of Safety" and by example, encouraging all tree care professionals to promote safety within our industry. "As a member of the green industry, I certainly appreciate the dedication for the safety of the tree care professional by these associations and chipper manufacturers," says Dawn Thierbach, TCIA’s Great Lakes Regional Outreach Coordinator.

This workshop was hosted by the Arboriculture Society of Michigan, taught by Jeff Thierbach and featured a Chipper Safety Demonstration by Vermeer. The workshop was in partnership with Altec, Bandit, Morbark and Vermeer, in cooperation with the Tree Care Industry Association.

View all upcoming TCIA training and workshop events at our Training Center here.