TreeActions

Donald F. Blair’s family roots in arboriculture date back to 1911. Don’s father, Millard F. Blair was one of the pioneers in the first generation of 20th Century arborists who dedicated their lives to developing “tree skinning” into a respected multi-disciplined profession. Although Don’s career in arboriculture dates back over 60 years to “forced child labor”, he has been fully engaged in tree care as an adult since 1971. 

With a solid background in residential/commercial arboriculture, Don Blair has been a pioneer in his own right in the advancement of the profession through his efforts in the design of improved tools, ropes, rigging devices, safety equipment and climbing gear. He is internationally renowned for his innovations in Arborist Skills such as climbing, rigging for removal, aerial rescue, safe work practices, and effective methods for training arborists. 

An accomplished author, and photographer, Blair has published many articles on topics related arboriculture. Don Blair is the author of the landmark text and reference book: Arborist Equipment, ISA, 1995.

For 50 years, Blair has been a featured presenter at arborist association conferences, seminars and workshops throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia on the same topics that he has written about.

b. Tree Health Management issues including diagnosis of insects, disease and cultural practices such as irrigation, compaction, and tree maintenance malpractice. Specifications for standard maintenance practices such as pruning, soil manipulation, support, and removal. Tree and plant identification.                    

c. Tree Protection in pre-planning, planning, construction, and post-construction phases. Design and/or on-site supervision of the installation of tree protection systems including fencing, location of staging areas, trailers, material storage, etc.                                                                                                                          d. Hazardous Tree and Risk Assessment. For privately or publicly owned trees. Historic trees are a specialty. Served Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Foundation as consulting arborist for 11 years.

Scope of Expertise: Product liability issues involving tree equipment: personal protective equipment, climbing gear, chainsaws, pruning tools and cordage. Specialty equipment including but not limited to: aerial lifts, brush chippers, cranes and stump grinders. 

Personal injury and fatalities related to tree failures and tree maintenance practices and violations of safe work standards including but not limited to ANSI Z133, CFR 1910.269 and CFR 1910.266.

Appraisal of tree losses due to weather events, improper work practices, trespass, vandalism, arson, vehicular including damage due to airplane crashes.

Excellence in Practical Arboriculture Award                                                 2007*

Author’s Citation                                                                                             2001

Distinguished Chapter Award                                                                       2001

Honorary Life Membership                                                                           2000

Distinguished Chapter President’s Award                                                    1990

Special Tree Trimmers Jamboree Award presented by competitors         1982                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Award of Commendation                                                                        1995         
Award of Appreciation                                                                             2002                 
President’s Award                                                                                     2009                                   

Honorary Life Membership 2014

Award of Merit                                                                                               1990

President’s Award                                                                                          1987

Gold Leaf Award                                                                                            1984

President’s Award                                                                                          1984

Award of Achievement                                                                                   1983

Knight of the Garter                                                                                       1983

All around Champion. Tree Climbing Competition Second Place                1978

Charter Founding Member                                                                              1979

Award of Merit*                                                                                                2002 

Safety Award Commendation                                                                         1987

* The Award of Merit is the NAA’s highest award for achievement and service to the profession

Marine Corps League “Marine of the Year”                                                       2015

Honorary Member, 27th Regt. “Wolfhounds”                                                    2004

State of Maryland Award of Appreciation                                                         1995

Boy Scouts of America Award of Appreciation                                                 1988

Evergreen Park Award of Appreciation                                                              1980

Donald F. Blair, Ken Johnson, Robert Phillips. 

RIGGING April, 1991

56 Minutes. This 2-part video training program addresses Basic and Technical rigging methods, equipment and safety. Hazard Tree Evaluation is also discussed. In addition to the video there is a detailed study guide. My duties in this video included: on-screen host, site selection, equipment selection, hazard tree evaluation, script consultation and review of the study guide. I also wrote the introduction. 

National Arborist Association April, 1989

Assisted in production, appeared in video and demonstrated several rescue techniques.

Z133.1 Accredited Standards Committee                                              

Vice-Chairman 2001 to 2017

This is my third five-year term in this capacity.

Member of Committee 1989 to 2017

ANSI standards are consensus standards because they are developed by industry spokespersons representing a broad constituency within that industry. On August 20, 2001, I was appointed vice-chairman of the committee. From 1989 until 2008, I represented the California Arborist Association. In 2008 a structural change in the committee changed my affiliation to the Supplier Category.

A300 Accredited Standards Committee                                                      1991 to 1996

The A300 standards are concerned with the proper execution of tree maintenance operations such as pruning, cabling, and fertilization. A charter member of the committee, I represented the American Society of Consulting Arborists from 1991 until 1996. In the years since formal membership, I have served as a consultant on call to answer questions and to review standards drafts to the sub-committee on Cabling/Bracing.

Sacramento, California

California Arborists Association Representative                                              1979-1984

Chaired by Richard G. Alvarez, the Article 12 committee used the same concept of broad industry representation and consensus to review and bring the State of California’s tree worker safety standards up to that of the Z133.1 standards which had gone into affect at that time. The standards were reviewed and up-dated in 1984.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONSULTING ARBORISTS                            member since 1982 member status: Active                                                                                                      Committees served: ANSI A300 representative                                                         1991-1996

CALIFORNIA ARBORISTS ASSOCIATION                                               
member since 1971 current status: Honorary Life member
Offices held: Vice-president, president-elect, president (1975-1979).                                   
Committees served: Safety, Jamboree, and Program.                                                                    
                                     Represented CAA on ANSI Z133 Committee  1990-2008

International Society of Arboriculture. 

Board Member Representing MAC-ISA                                                                        2003-2009

General Chairman, 2000 Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD                             1996-2000

Committees served: Arbor Day, Tree Trimmers Jamboree, Certification, Safety, Best Management Practices, Governance Task Force, International Tree Climbers Competition, ISA Safety Committee, Chair Ad Hoc Annual Conference Audit Committee.                                                                                Years active: 1976-present 

MID-ATLANTIC CHAPTER, ISA
 member since 1989       
Current Status: Regular member                                                                                                                   
Offices held: Board member, Vice-president, President-elect, and President 2000-2001
Committees served: Tree Worker Certification, Long Range Planning. General Chairman, 1997 and 2002 Chapter Meeting, General Chairman: ISA Annual Meeting Baltimore 2000.  2001 Chapter Annual Meeting Committee. Elected to Board in 2020.

WESTERN CHAPTER, ISA                                                                       
member since 1971               
 Current Status: Honorary Life Member                                                                                                                         
Offices held: President (1989-1990), Immediate past president, president-elect, vice-president, and Board member.                                            Committees served: Commercial Arborist, Commercial Exhibits (Annual Meeting), President’s Task Force, Annual Meeting Chairman (1987), Annual Meeting Chairman (1984), Charter member of the Certification Committee, Membership, Jamboree, Historian, Safety, and Arbor Day.

NATIONAL ARBORIST ASSOCIATION  Changed name in 2003 to: Tree Care Industry                                 
Association (TCIA)      member 1982-present
Committees served: Safety, Education, Insurance, 10-foot Rule, and Hearing Conservation Amendment. Entered into agreement in 1997 to develop Arborist Skills Training Programs and Videos.
2013 (January to November)  Worked on 75th Anniversary Project culminating in Museum of Arboriculture Display at TCI Expo, Charlotte, North Carolina,
PUBLICATIONS (partial list)

Arborist Equipment., International Society of Arboriculture,                                                 1995                         291 pages, hard back.  Reference addresses for the first time the selection, care and maintenance of arborist equipment. Illustrated by Robert Shetterly.                                                                          Mentioned in the Author’s Citation Award,                                                                              2001 

Handbook of Arborist Supplies, Sierra Moreno Mercantile Company,                                1986   

Frequent contributor.                                       1975 - 1990

                            

Published by Tree Care Industry Association

Since 1991, I have authored many articles on topics related to arboriculture on topics as diverse as: arboriculture history and future challenges, business opportunities, employee relations, rigging, blocks, ropes, extreme technical rigging challenges, climbing belts, safety.                                                                                                                      

Series of Articles on History of Arboriculture                                                                           2013

Chipper Safety: Ball and Blair                                                                                                  2009 

Moonlighting at Monticello                                                                                                       2008

Authored and photo illustrated numerous feature articles covering such topics as rope, rigging and pesticide application. I also provided photography for at least 12 cover illustrations.

Rigging For Removal                                                                                                           1989

Aerial Rescue Avoidance                                                                                                     1989

Most recent contributions: A Life in Trees                                                                            2009         Big Brother Really Is Watching   2019 

Portsmouth, New Hampshire 2002

Short laboratory course by Dr. Alex Shigo on tree biology

University of New Hampshire                                                                                  1983

Short course by Dr. Alex Shigo on decay processes in trees.

University of California, Berkeley Campus                                                              1975

Short course entitled: Urban Tree Systems, Their Design, Planning and Management.

Instructor: Russell Beatty

San Mateo College                                                                                                  1973

Semester course entitled: Arboriculture. Instructed by Richard Marling, Sr.

Foothill College                                                                                                        1972

Two semesters entitled: Ornamental Horticulture. Instructed by Mr. Patterson

Mountain View High School                                                                                    1971

Graduate

Articles Written by Donald F. Blair and Published in TCI Magazine 

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

It’s Jamboree Season (History of the Tree Trimmer’s Jamboree)

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair

Remembering Alex ShigoBy Donald F. Blair

NOVEMBER 2008Moonlighting at MonticelloBy Donald F. Blair

Chipper Accidents Are More Common Than ReportedBy John Ball, CTSP, and Donald F. Blair

By Donald F. Blair CTSP

The ’70s: A Time of Change For the Science of Tree Care, the Equipment, the Country and the NAA

By Donald F. Blair CTSP

By Donald F. Blair CTSP

By Donald F. Blair CTSP

Business (This article first appeared in the November 1992 issue of TCI Magazine.)

By Donald F. Blair CTSP

By Dr. John Ball CTSP and Donald F. Blair CTSP

*Co-written with Dr. John Ball South Dakota State University (SDSU)

 |        Nonfatal Incidents Involving Aerial Lifts and Ladders: Us versus Them        By John Ball, Ph.D., BCMA, CTSP and Donald F. Blair