A rotting branch is hanging over the fence. The homeowner is hovering, watching every move. One bad fall can mean a crushed fence, a smashed AC unit — or someone hurt. Before the first cut, you need the hazards written down, the drop zone marked, and the homeowner’s signature on paper. The Emergency Tree Removal Hazard & Drop-Zone Liability Sign-off is an 8-page mobile field kit that brings safety and control to a stressful job. Fill it in on site, in order, in about ten minutes — no signature, no cut.
What it is
This is a printable packet, a fillable phone version, and a tracking spreadsheet that work together as one on-site sequence:
- Job Details & How to Use — job info plus a plain step-by-step for the whole kit
- Hazard Assessment — tree condition and site hazard checklists, with a clear Low / Medium / High risk call and a stop rule for power lines
- Drop-Zone Plan & Diagram — a full-page grid to draw the property, the tree, the drop zone, cones, and the safe standing area, plus a set-up checklist
- Property Protection Checklist — a before-work photo walk, existing damage notes, and the protection put in place
- Homeowner Authorization & Sign-off — eight plain-language points the homeowner initials, the agreed price, and signatures before work starts
- Crew Safety Briefing & Log — briefing points, a gear check, and sign-in for up to 5 crew members
- During-Work Log — a timed work log, surprises and near misses, and a damage / injury record
- Completion & Final Walk-through — a clean-up checklist, a joint walk-through, and a final sign-off
The fillable PDF version is included — open it on your phone on site and tap-type into every field. No printer is required.
The Job & Cost Tracker (.xlsx, for Excel and Google Sheets) keeps the business side in the same system: a job and hazard log with automatic balance-due and totals, and a job cost calculator where labour, fees, and a margin quote calculate themselves. Demo data is included so you see it working in about a minute.
Why it was created
Emergency tree work is decided fast, under stress, often right after a storm — exactly when paperwork gets skipped and disagreements are born. A homeowner who never thought about the cracked fence panel or the leaning dead limb will think about both after the crew leaves. This kit was created to slow the first ten minutes down: name the hazards out loud, agree the risk level, draw where things will fall and where people will stand, note the damage that is already there, and get the authorization signed while everyone is calm. The crew briefing page exists for the same reason — on a hazardous job, “everyone knew” is not a safety plan; a signed briefing with a gear check is.
Who it’s for
- Tree service companies and independent arborists doing removal and storm-response work
- Crew leads who brief different helpers job to job and need the briefing on record
- Contractors who work near fences, roofs, AC units, and other property a bad fall can reach
- Homeowner-facing crews who want the price and the risks agreed in writing before the saw starts
How to use it
Work the pages in order on site. Complete the hazard assessment first and make the risk call honestly — the stop rule for power lines is not negotiable inside the kit’s logic: if the hazard is beyond the job, the record shows why work paused. Draw the drop-zone diagram with the homeowner nearby, walk the property protection checklist and take the photos, then collect the initials and signature on the authorization page. Brief the crew and have each member sign in. During work, keep the timed log — surprises and near misses included. Finish with the joint walk-through and final sign-off so the job closes the same day it opened.
This kit is a job-site record and sign-off tool, not legal advice — consult an attorney about your situation. Laws, permits, and utility rules vary by city and state.
Companion guide: Tree Removal Hazard Sign-Off: Software, Devices and Tools That Work With It
Get the kit
SAFETY AND CONTROL, SIGNED BEFORE THE FIRST CUT. Get the Emergency Tree Removal Hazard & Drop-Zone Liability Sign-off for $12.95, or find DealShore on Etsy.
Get free sample pages + new kit alerts — email contact@dealshore.com