Davis Family Arbor Services (DFAS) COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols and Compliance
Davis Family Arbor Services (DFAS) COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols and Compliance
Updated April 3, 2020
DFAS is still open for business during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and will continue performing tree care services as needed, especially those services related to public safety and invasive insect control.
“Safer-at-Home”
Under Governor Kevin Stitt’s order that all residents are “Safer-at-Home,” and all nonessential businesses in Oklahoma to either close or remain closed until April 30 to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Essential services, including tree care/landscaping work that is done to protect the public health, are exempt from the safer-at-home order and under the guidance from the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Oklahoma Department of Commerce we have implemented the following guidelines.
We Perform “Essential Services”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, “essential critical infrastructure workers” include service providers who provide services that are necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation, and essential operation of residences and other buildings or structures.
Many of the work tasks we perform have been identified as essential activities that protect public safety and essential operations, including:
- Removal of a dangerous or hazard tree
- Pruning dead, dying, broken/hanging, or dangerous limbs
- Treatment for invasive insects or diseases which if left untreated would rapidly destroy a tree, causing a hazard (for example, Emerald Ash Borer, Spotted Lanternfly, Asian longhorned beetle, Oak Wilt disease, and Dutch Elm disease)
- Clearance for utility lines, cell towers and communication infrastructure, and road safety
- Cabling or bracing a hazardous tree
- Mitigating storm damage, removing fallen trees, and responding to tree service emergencies
- Treatments to reduce the spread of dangerous and deadly diseases through pests such as ticks, mosquitos, or fleas
- Assessment of hazard trees or pest issues for the purposes of removal or treatment as describe above
On the other hand, some of our typical work activities are considered non-essential and may be scheduled for a later date. This includes:
- Shrub trimming or pruning
- Routine tree pruning
- Routine tree removal when no abnormal safety issues exist
- Vista pruning (to open up your view)
- Tree or shrub planting or transplanting
- Fertilization
- Pest management that does not involve invasive pests, borers, or diseases that can rapidly destroy trees or landscapes
Precautions We’re Taking
To protect the safety of our clients and ourselves we’ve put policies and procedures in place to eliminate the need for human contact during this time. All arborists on staff have extensive training and experience maintaining our safety program. As it happens, the safety precautions for this type of work include many of the same personal protection equipment (PPE), protocols, and equipment used for sanitizing against coronavirus. As a result, we are already trained and have well-prepared ourselves to keep our clients safe during this stressful time.
For Quotes and/or Work at Your Location
We have implemented a no client contact policy and are using technology to maintain safe distances (“social distancing”).
On the DFAS website, https://davisfamilyarbor.com we have a request a quote page that allows you to submit detailed information about the work that you’re requesting, you can also email pictures of the affected trees and/or landscape. We have the abilities to utilize, our drones and other technology to zoom in and see detailed views of your landscape; about 40% of the time this is enough to provide a quote without even stepping foot on your property.
We have a state-of-the-art proposal and invoicing system that is completely paperless. We send proposals, certificates of insurance, videos, additional tree care information, any other documentation that you may request via email, and the system allows electronic acceptance of those proposals. We also send invoices by email and accept credit cards online.
When a site visit is required, you can mark or tag the trees to be removed or pruned prior to us arriving. We can then document the site and take pictures, as well as text, email, or talk with you on the phone to finalize the details.
All of our vehicles are equipped with hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes which the operator uses to sanitize themselves and wipe down all handles, the steering wheel, driver’s compartment, phone, tablet, etc. at each visit. Additionally, each vehicle is being sanitized as necessary each morning before leaving.
If you prefer to show us something in person (and, of course, at a safe distance), please let us know. We will text or call when we arrive so as to not go to the front door. You can then come out to show us what you want to have done and ask questions from a safe distance.
Our Enhanced Safety Protocols
DFAS has put the following safety protocols in place to combat the spread of coronavirus:
- We have implemented a no client contact policy for quoting and tree work.
- The shop and each vehicle is equipped with hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.
- Our daily morning safety meetings include reviewing CDC, Federal, and State recommendations for sanitizing and safe distances.
- If anyone at DFAS does not feel well they have been instructed to stay home and seek the proper medical advice from their doctor.
- Crews are kept at 3 to 4 persons so we are well below the group size recommended by the CDC.
Contact Us
Our hours remain the same, and we can be reached by text, phone, email, and our online form. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Text or call:
918-514-2689 - Brad Davis
918-513-2452 - Jessica Davis