A variety of professional titles exist for people who cut down trees, reflecting a specific context, purpose, and scale of work. Using the correct terminology is important in professional settings, as it precisely describes the individual’s training, goals, and area of expertise. The name depends entirely on whether the work focuses on managing entire forests for timber or caring for individual trees in populated areas.
Defining the Two Main Fields
The professional world of tree work is fundamentally divided into two disciplines: industrial forestry and arboriculture. Industrial forestry focuses on the large-scale management of forest ecosystems, typically in remote areas, centering on the sustainable harvesting of timber for commercial products like lumber and paper. Arboriculture, in contrast, focuses on the care and management of individual trees and woody plants within urban, residential, or public spaces. Professionals in this field prioritize the health, safety, and aesthetics of trees near people and structures.
Industrial Forestry Professionals
The commercial timber harvesting industry uses specific roles to manage large-scale tree cutting operations. The most general term for anyone involved in the harvest, transportation, and processing of timber is a Logger. This title broadly covers the entire operation, from the initial cut to the delivery of wood to the mill.
The person specifically responsible for cutting down the tree can be called a Feller or a Faller, depending on their method. A Feller primarily refers to the operator of heavy machinery, such as a feller buncher, which cuts and gathers multiple trees at once. A Faller is the person who manually fells trees using a chainsaw, a highly skilled role that requires precision and adherence to strict safety standards to control the direction of the tree’s descent. This work is characterized by its mechanical nature, involving specialized equipment to maximize output. The goal of these professionals is efficient timber production, driving the process of selecting, cutting, and processing trees into marketable logs.
Urban and Horticultural Tree Care Specialists
Professionals whose focus is on tree health and safety in populated areas use terminology reflecting a specialized, scientific approach. The most recognized title in this field is Arborist, a professional trained in the science of planting, managing, and maintaining individual trees. Arborists assess tree health, diagnose diseases, and perform pruning or removal to enhance the longevity and safety of trees near human activity.
A Certified Arborist holds a credential from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), confirming they have met experience requirements, passed a comprehensive exam, and adhere to a code of ethics. This certification requires expertise in tree biology, soil management, diagnosis of problems, and safe work practices. The person who performs the physical labor of climbing and cutting, often under the arborist’s direction, is known as a Certified Tree Worker or Climber Specialist.
To earn this ISA credential, an individual must demonstrate the skill and endurance to climb trees safely and perform work off the ground, along with specific training in aerial rescue, CPR, and First Aid. The less formal term Tree Trimmer is often used for workers performing basic pruning or removal, but it lacks the professional distinction and certification requirements of an arborist.
Essential Skills and Required Training
The demands of tree-cutting professions necessitate a mastery of specific, high-hazard skills and safety training. Chainsaw operation is a foundational skill, requiring proficiency in precise cutting techniques and an understanding of the physics of felling to control the direction of a tree or limb. Hazard assessment is a constant requirement, as professionals must continually evaluate the potential for “widow makers” (broken limbs caught overhead) or “spring poles” (bent saplings under tension) before starting work.
Training for Loggers
For loggers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates specific training under standard 29 CFR 1910.266. Employers must provide training on the recognition, prevention, and control of site-specific hazards, including the safe use and maintenance of all tools and machinery. This training also requires certification in First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to prepare for medical emergencies in remote locations.
Training for Arborists
Arborists and tree workers rely heavily on specialized techniques like rigging and advanced knot tying to safely lower large limbs or sections of a tree using ropes and friction devices. For climbers, knots such as the quick hitch or clove hitch redirect are used to secure tools and manage ropes within the canopy. The ISA certification process requires demonstrating knowledge in these areas, ensuring competency in climbing, rigging, and aerial rescue.
The Historical Context: Lumberjacks and Woodsmen
Many people still use the terms Lumberjack and Woodsman, reflecting the long history of tree harvesting and woodcraft. The term Lumberjack is primarily historical, referring to workers in the logging industry before the widespread mechanization that occurred around the 1940s. These individuals worked in remote camps, felling trees with simple hand tools like axes and cross-cut saws.
Their work was often seasonal and dangerous, sometimes involving floating logs down rivers to sawmills, known as log driving. This historical figure is now largely replaced by the modern Logger who operates machinery. The term Woodsman is a broader, less professional title for someone skilled in the forest or woodcraft, often associated today with competitive timber sports.
Modern Tools and Safety Equipment
Modern tree work relies on specialized equipment designed to enhance both efficiency and safety, with a clear distinction between the needs of forestry and arboriculture.
Forestry Equipment
Industrial forestry operations utilize massive machinery to handle the volume of work. The feller buncher is a tracked or wheeled machine that can rapidly cut and gather multiple trees into bunches for transport. The harvester is a sophisticated machine that not only fells but also delimbs and cuts the tree into standardized log lengths.
Arboriculture Equipment
Arboriculture, focused on confined spaces and individual trees, uses specialized climbing and rigging systems. These include climbing harnesses, ropes, lanyards, and carabiners for ascending and positioning in the tree. Ground-based equipment like the Port-a-Wrap or other friction devices are used for controlled lowering of heavy wood sections.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
In all tree-cutting professions, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense. This includes ANSI-compliant hard hats, often with integrated face shields and ear protection, to guard against falling debris and noise. Loggers and arborists must wear water-resistant, cut-resistant boots and clothing, specifically chainsaw-protective pants or chaps, which contain material designed to stop a saw blade upon contact.