Safety Starts Here — and Never Stops
Utility vegetation management is inherently high-risk work. Enormous systems transmitting high voltages across great distances, field employees working alone in varied terrain and weather, and the constant exposure to hazards that demand immediate recognition and response. At ACRT, safety isn’t a program we run — it’s the foundation of our culture, the first item on every agenda, and the standard against which we measure everything we do.
Our commitment to safety runs deeper than compliance. It traces back to our founding — ACRT founder Dick Abbott served as chairman of the ANSI Z133 Safety Standards Committee for 15 years, helping develop the Tree Trimming Safety Standards still used across the industry today. However, that legacy of shaping industry safety standards isn’t history to us; it’s the standard we hold ourselves to every day.
Review some of our many safety initiatives below, or connect with our team today to start your next vegetation management project.
The ACRT SAFE Program
Our comprehensive safety management strategy is built around eight core principles that guide daily decision-making and field behavior at every level of the organization:
Personal Accountability — Our employees recognize their responsibility to identify at-risk behaviors and correct hazards. Many of our team members work independently in the field, making personal accountability essential to staying safe on the job.
Recurrent Training — Safety training isn’t one-and-done. Recurring training keeps our employees current on the safest practices, encourages self-awareness, and builds lasting competency in the field.
Employee Input — As times change, so do our programs. We actively welcome our employees’ expert insight on how to grow our work practices and strengthen our safety approach.
Recognizing Responsibility — Safety strategies become safe habits through leading by example. Our management team reinforces safe behaviors and holds the line on practices that put employees at risk — including Stop Work Authority when conditions warrant it.
Safety is Good Business — Being safe is the right thing to do. It also saves our clients money, reduces incidents, and strengthens the reliability of every program we support.
Injuries are Preventable — Staying safe means taking proactive action before incidents occur. When they do, it means fully understanding the corrective actions needed to prevent recurrence.
Ethical Responsibility — Our dedication to safety stems from genuinely caring about our people. We want every employee to return home in the same condition they left. That’s not a policy — it’s a commitment.
Communication — Consistent, clear communication across our organization ensures everyone is aligned on safety expectations, hazards, and best practices. Every day, every job, every meeting starts with safety.
Safety Infrastructure That Supports the Field
Our safety culture is backed by a dedicated operational infrastructure designed to keep safety active and visible across every region we serve:
Dedicated Safety Department — Our safety managers oversee safety across the ACRT family of companies, monitor trends and leading indicators, and work directly with field employees and operations leadership to keep safety front and center. They report to the President and meet regularly to drive consistent improvements.
Safety Committee — Our Safety Committee is composed of individuals from across the entire company, with monthly meetings overseen by a Safety Committee Chairperson. The committee advises leadership on risk, liabilities, and program effectiveness — improving training, updating safety policies, and promoting open discussion of health and safety issues. Representatives from each company’s Safety Committee meet annually with executives across the organization to share regional insights and advance safety goals company-wide.
Area Safety Representatives (ASRs) — ACRT has maintained its ASR program for more than a decade. ASRs serve as safety champions in the field — assisting with safety communications, conducting audits, identifying at-risk behaviors, supporting near-miss reviews, and mentoring team members who need additional support. They are the direct link between safety management and the people doing the work.
A Culture of Continuous Improvement
Safety at ACRT is not static. Our program evolves through data, feedback, and a genuine commitment to getting better:
Near-Miss Reporting — Near misses are leading indicators that reveal hazards and behavioral patterns before incidents occur. Our near-miss reporting has improved dramatically in recent years as employees recognize the value of surfacing risks early. Every report is an opportunity to prevent harm.
Safety Audits and Coaching — Routine safety audits, coaching, and performance monitoring conducted by our Safety Department and regional Safety Representatives drive accountability and ensure consistent alignment with client requirements and OSHA standards.
Daily and Weekly Safety Communications — Each year, ACRT delivers more than 300 safety communications, including Daily Safety Messages, Weekly Safety Briefs, Monthly Safety Tailboards, and Safety Stand Downs addressing current incidents, trends, and emerging hazards. All employees are required to complete these communications.
Driver Safety — All ACRT employees complete Smith System Driver Safety Training, reinforcing safe vehicle operation as part of our broader field safety commitment.
Why Our Safety Commitment Matters to You
When you partner with ACRT, you’re partnering with a team that treats safety as seriously as you do. Fewer incidents mean fewer service disruptions, reduced liability exposure, and stronger community relationships on your behalf. Our proactive approach is built into how we plan, train, and execute every program we support.
Safety is the foundation of ACRT’s independence promise: objective expertise, delivered by people who are trained to do the job right and committed to coming home safe at the end of every day.
