Insurance & Compliance

Understanding the safety, insurance, and operational standards behind professional tree work.

K&J’s EMR

Certificate of Insurance

FAQ’s

What does a 0.82 EMR mean?

A 0.82 EMR places K&J Tree Service significantly below the industry average, reflecting our ongoing commitment to safety, preparation, training, and operational discipline.

For homeowners, municipalities, institutions, and commercial property managers, EMR can serve as an important indicator of how professionally a company operates behind the scenes.

A lower EMR does not simply reflect insurance performance. It often reflects the quality of a company’s systems, culture, equipment, leadership, and day-to-day operational standards.

This section should visually reinforce:

  • professionalism

  • operational maturity

  • organization

  • safety culture

Understanding Certificates of Insurance

Many homeowners correctly ask tree contractors for a certificate of insurance before work begins. However, receiving a certificate alone does not necessarily confirm that the contractor is properly insured for tree removal operations.

A certificate of insurance is primarily a summary document showing:

  • policy dates

  • coverage limits

  • insurance carriers

  • named insured information

What many customers do not realize is that the certificate itself may not clearly identify whether hazardous tree removal, crane operations, or arboricultural work are specifically covered under the contractor’s policy.

Because tree work is considered high-risk, insurance classifications and policy exclusions matter significantly.

We have encountered situations where property owners received a certificate of insurance from another contractor, only to later discover the policy did not properly cover tree removal operations after damage occurred during the project.

Experiences like this reinforce the importance of understanding not only whether a contractor is insured, but whether the policy appropriately covers the work being performed.

Questions Homeowners
Should Ask:

Are crane operators covered if cranes are being used?

Does this policy specifically cover tree removal?

Is workers’ compensation coverage active?

Is the company performing the work under the same legal business name listed on the certificate?

Are subcontractors being used?

Are coverage limits appropriate for the sale of work being performed?

Is the policy current active?

Can additional insurance documentation be provided if requested?