Before anyone climbs a tree or gets up on your roof, ask how they will work at height, whether they are insured, and what they will do about power lines. Tree work and gutter cleaning both put people off the ground with tools in their hands, and most of what goes wrong on these jobs starts with a rushed setup. A good tradie will answer all six questions below without blinking.
Every NQ job is fully insured, and the quote is free with no obligation, usually back within one business day.
Six questions to ask before the work starts
- Are you insured? Ask for public liability cover. If someone is hurt or your house is damaged, that is what pays.
- How will you get up there? Safe Work Australia says tree trimming or removal work should not be done from ladders. Climbing gear, a roof anchor or an elevated work platform are the proper ways up, depending on the job.
- Are there power lines near the tree? If lines run near or through the canopy, keep well clear and get advice from Ergon Energy before anyone starts. Only people trained and authorised for that work should go near them.
- Where will it fall? Branches and gutter muck come down fast. Ask where the drop zone is, and move cars, kids and pets out of it.
- Have you written down how you will do it safely? For some jobs that is a SWMS (safe work method statement). More on that below.
- Who cleans up? Green waste, gutter sludge and offcuts should be gone when the crew leaves. Ask before the job, not after.
Does a tradie need a SWMS for tree work or gutter cleaning in Queensland?
Sometimes. In Queensland, a SWMS has to be in place before high risk construction work starts (Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011, s 299). Work with a risk of a person falling more than 2 metres is on that list, and so is work near energised power lines, next to a road in use, or where powered mobile plant is moving around.
The catch is that it has to be construction work first. Pruning or removing a tree on its own is not listed as construction work, so the SWMS rule may not apply. Clearing trees to get a site ready for building is construction work. Routine cleaning is not construction work either, so it depends on the job.
Even when the law does not demand one, writing the job down before it starts is good practice, and builders and principal contractors often ask for a SWMS either way.
Why Mackay jobs need extra care
Mackay yards are full of big tropical trees: poincianas, figs, mangoes and palms. They grow fast in the wet, drop heavy fronds and branches, and often sit close to the house, the fence or the service line. On a high-set Queenslander, the gutters can be well over 2 metres up. Add summer heat, sudden storms and wet roofs, and the setup matters as much as the cutting or the cleaning.
How NQ Outdoor Solutions handles it
We are a local Eimeo-based crew covering Mackay and surrounds within about a 50km radius, fully insured, with public liability cover on every job. We look at the job before we quote, and if a tree is too close to power lines for us to touch, we will tell you straight.
Nathan also runs Fair Dinkum Docs, which writes SWMS and safety paperwork for Queensland tradies, including a SWMS for tree pruning and removal. If you are a tradie who has been asked for a SWMS and does not have one, that is the place to start.
For the services themselves, see tree removal and trimming in Mackay and gutter cleaning in Mackay. You can also request a free quote or call Nathan on 0459 896 327.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a tradie before tree removal?
Ask whether they have public liability insurance, how they will get up the tree, whether there are power lines nearby, where the branches will fall, whether they have written down how they will do the job safely, and who takes the green waste away.
Can tree trimming be done from a ladder?
Safe Work Australia says tree trimming or removal work should not be done from ladders. Climbing gear or an elevated work platform are the safer ways to work up a tree.
Does a tradie need a SWMS for tree removal in Queensland?
It depends on the job. Pruning or removing a tree on its own is not listed as construction work, so the SWMS rule may not apply. Clearing trees to get a site ready for building is construction work, and if that job has a fall of more than 2 metres, live power lines nearby, a road in use next to it or moving plant, it is high risk construction work and needs a SWMS before it starts.
What should I do if my tree is near power lines?
Keep well clear and get advice from Ergon Energy before anyone starts. Only people trained and authorised for that work should go near the lines.
Where can a tradie get a SWMS?
Fair Dinkum Docs, run by Nathan Kilkelly of NQ Outdoor Solutions, writes SWMS and safety paperwork for Queensland tradies, including a SWMS for tree pruning and removal.
Want it done safely? Get a free, no-obligation quote, usually back within one business day.
By Nathan Kilkelly, Owner, NQ Outdoor Solutions. Last updated 2026-11-05.