The jobsite dictionary · Lawn & Tree Care
🦺 Lawn & Tree Safety
40 lawn & tree safety terms with how to say them in Spanish, an example from the job, and audio. From ChambaTalk's free lawn & tree glossary.
Marked terms are safety-critical: the app translates them with their urgency intact.
- aerial lift AIR-ee-ul LIFTcanastilla kah-nahs-TEE-yah Safety-critical
The bucket truck or towable lift for high tree work; harness clipped inside, outriggers down, never near lines.
Outriggers down and level before the aerial lift goes up. — Estabilizadores abajo y nivelados antes de subir la canastilla.
Also: plataforma elevadora (general)
- bee sting BEE stingpiquete de abeja pee-KEH-teh deh ah-BEH-hah Safety-critical
Stings happen around hedges and ground nests; know who on the crew is allergic and where the epi-pen is.
Wasp nest in that hedge — flag it and tell everyone before we trim. — Hay avispero en ese seto — márcalo y avísale a todos antes de recortar.
- blade off before reaching under BLAYD AWF bee-FOR REE-ching UN-dercuchilla apagada antes de meter la mano koo-CHEE-yah ah-pah-GAH-dah Safety-critical
Engine off and spark plug wire or key out before hands go anywhere near the deck — blades coast and fingers don't grow back.
It's clogged? Blade off before reaching under — kill it and pull the key. — ¿Se tapó? Cuchilla apagada antes de meter la mano — apágala y saca la llave.
- buddy check BUD-ee chekrevisión entre compañeros rreh-bee-SYOHN EN-treh kohm-pah-NYEH-rohs Safety-critical
Watching each other for heat symptoms and gear problems through the day; nobody works alone in tree removal.
Buddy check at every water break on days like this. — Revisión entre compañeros en cada descanso de agua en días así.
- call 811 KAWL AYT-wun-wunllamar al 811 yah-MAHR al OH-choh OON-oh OON-oh Safety-critical
The free utility-locate call required before any digging — stumps, edging, planting; gas and fiber don't forgive.
No stump grinding until 811 marks the yard. — No se muele el tocón hasta que el 811 marque el terreno.
- carbon monoxide KAR-bun mon-OK-saydmonóxido de carbono moh-NOK-see-doh deh kahr-BOH-noh Safety-critical
The gas engines make; never run blowers, mowers, or pressure washers inside a garage or enclosed trailer.
Don't warm the machines up inside the enclosed trailer — carbon monoxide. — No calientes las máquinas dentro del tráiler cerrado — monóxido de carbono.
- chainsaw chaps CHAYN-saw CHAPSchaparreras para motosierra chah-pah-RREH-rahs pah-rah moh-toh-SYEH-rrah Safety-critical
Cut-resistant leg protection that must be worn any time a chainsaw is running on the ground.
No chaps, no chainsaw — put them on before you start it. — Sin chaparreras no hay motosierra — póntelas antes de arrancarla.
Also: chaparreras anticorte (general)
- chock the wheels CHOK thuh WEELZcalzar las llantas kahl-SAHR lahs YAHN-tahs Safety-critical
Block the trailer wheels on any grade before unhooking or loading.
Chock the wheels before you drop the trailer on that driveway. — Calza las llantas antes de soltar el tráiler en esa entrada.
- cone off KOHN awfponer conos poh-NEHR KOH-nohs Safety-critical
Set cones around the truck, trailer, and work area when parked on or near a road.
Cone off the trailer before anyone unloads. — Pon los conos alrededor del tráiler antes de que alguien baje equipo.
- drop zone DROP zohnzona de caída SOH-nah deh kah-EE-dah Safety-critical
The area under a tree where cut limbs and the trunk will land; nobody stands in it while cutting is happening.
Clear the drop zone before he makes the next cut. — Despeja la zona de caída antes de que haga el siguiente corte.
- eye protection AY proh-TEK-shunprotección para los ojos proh-tek-SYOHN pah-rah lohs OH-hohs Safety-critical
Safety glasses or a face shield; string trimmers and chippers throw debris hard enough to blind.
Eye protection on before you crank that trimmer. — Ponte la protección para los ojos antes de arrancar esa desbrozadora.
Also: lentes de seguridad (general)
- first aid kit FURST AYD kitbotiquín boh-tee-KEEN Safety-critical
The stocked kit that rides in every truck; everyone needs to know where it is.
The first aid kit is behind the passenger seat. — El botiquín está atrás del asiento del copiloto.
Also: botiquín de primeros auxilios (general)
- fuel away from heat FYOOL uh-WAY frum HEETgasolina lejos del calor gah-soh-LEE-nah LEH-hohs del kah-LOHR Safety-critical
Refuel cooled-down machines only, on the ground, never on the trailer bed or near a hot muffler.
Let it cool before you fuel it — gas on a hot muffler is a fireball. — Déjala enfriar antes de echarle gasolina — gasolina en un mofle caliente es una bola de fuego.
- hearing protection HEER-ing proh-TEK-shunprotección para los oídos proh-tek-SYOHN pah-rah lohs oh-EE-dohs Safety-critical
Ear muffs or plugs, required around mowers, blowers, and chippers all day.
You're on the blower today — hearing protection all shift. — Hoy te toca la sopladora — protección para los oídos todo el turno.
Also: orejeras / tapones (general)
- heat exhaustion HEET eg-ZAWS-chunagotamiento por calor ah-goh-tah-MYEN-toh pohr kah-LOHR Safety-critical
Dizziness, heavy sweating, and weakness from working in the heat; the step before heat stroke.
If you feel heat exhaustion coming on, get in the shade and tell me. — Si sientes que te está dando agotamiento por calor, métete a la sombra y avísame.
- heat stroke HEET strohkgolpe de calor GOHL-peh deh kah-LOHR Safety-critical
The emergency stage: confusion, no sweating, collapse. Call 911, shade, cool with water — do not wait it out.
He stopped sweating and he's confused — that's heat stroke, call 911 now. — Dejó de sudar y está confundido — es golpe de calor, llama al 911 ya.
- hydrate HAY-drayttomar agua toh-MAHR AH-gwah Safety-critical
Drink water regularly through the shift, before you feel thirsty.
It's 98 out — hydrate every time we move the trailer. — Hay 98 grados — toma agua cada vez que movamos el tráiler.
Also: hidratarse (general)
- kickback KIK-bakcontragolpe kohn-trah-GOHL-peh Safety-critical
The saw bar jumping back toward the operator when the tip of the chainsaw touches wood wrong.
Never cut with the tip — that's how you get kickback. — Nunca cortes con la punta — así es como te da el contragolpe.
Also: rebote (general)
- ladder angle LAD-er ANG-gulángulo de la escalera AHN-goo-loh deh lah es-kah-LEH-rah Safety-critical
One foot out for every four feet up, feet on solid ground, and never lean a ladder on a branch you're cutting.
Fix that ladder angle before you go up with the shears. — Arregla el ángulo de la escalera antes de subir con las tijeras.
- lift with your legs LIFT with yor LEGZcarga con las piernas KAHR-gah kohn lahs PYEHR-nahs Safety-critical
Back straight, load close, knees do the work — the back injury you avoid is the career you keep.
Lift with your legs on those mulch bags, there are eighty of them. — Carga con las piernas esos costales de mulch, son ochenta.
- lightning LAYT-ningrayos RRAH-yohs Safety-critical
Thunder means stop: off the mowers, out from under trees, into the trucks for 30 minutes after the last strike.
That was thunder — lightning rule, everybody in the trucks. — Eso fue un trueno — regla de rayos, todos a los camiones.
Also: relámpagos (general)
- no riders NOH RAY-derzsin pasajeros seen pah-sah-HEH-rohs Safety-critical
Nobody rides on mower decks, trailer fenders, or truck beds — one seat, one person.
No riders on the zero-turn, not even across the parking lot. — Sin pasajeros en la zero turn, ni cruzando el estacionamiento.
- poison ivy POY-zun AY-veehiedra venenosa YEH-drah beh-neh-NOH-sah Safety-critical
Leaves of three — the vine that blisters skin on contact; long sleeves, gloves, and never in the chipper (the smoke and chips spread the oil).
That fence line is full of poison ivy — gloves and sleeves, and bag it, don't chip it. — Esa cerca está llena de hiedra venenosa — guantes y manga larga, y a la bolsa, no a la chipeadora.
- power lines POW-er laynzcables de luz KAH-blehs deh LOOS Safety-critical
Overhead electric lines; keep ladders, pole saws, and tree limbs at least 10 feet away, and treat every line as live.
That limb is hanging over the power lines — we call the utility, we don't touch it. — Esa rama está encima de los cables de luz — le hablamos a la compañía, no la tocamos.
Also: líneas eléctricas (general)
- rollover ROHL-oh-vervolcadura bohl-kah-DOO-rah Safety-critical
A mower tipping over on a slope or edge — the way riding-mower operators get killed; bail uphill if it starts to go.
That pond bank is a rollover waiting to happen — push mower only. — Esa orilla del estanque es una volcadura esperando pasar — solo podadora de empuje.
- ROPS ROPSarco antivuelco AHR-koh an-tee-BWEL-koh Safety-critical
The roll bar on a riding mower or tractor; stays up, and the seatbelt goes on with it.
ROPS up and seatbelt on any time you're on a slope. — Arco arriba y cinturón puesto siempre que andes en pendiente.
- shade break SHAYD braykdescanso en la sombra des-KAHN-soh en lah SOHM-brah Safety-critical
The mandatory rest in shade with water during heat; scheduled, not optional, on 95-plus days.
Ten-minute shade break every hour once it hits 95. — Descanso de diez minutos en la sombra cada hora cuando llegue a 95.
- silica dust SIL-ih-kah DUSTpolvo de sílice POHL-boh deh SEE-lee-seh Safety-critical
The dust from cutting pavers or stone edging dry; wet-cut or wear a respirator — lungs don't heal.
Wet-cut those pavers — silica dust is not something you walk off. — Corta esos adoquines con agua — el polvo de sílice no se quita caminando.
- snake SNAYKvíbora BEE-boh-rah Safety-critical
Watch for them in tall grass, ivy beds, and wood piles; back away, never grab or stomp.
Snake by the shed — leave it alone and work the other side first. — Hay una víbora junto a la bodega — déjala en paz y trabaja primero el otro lado.
Also: serpiente / culebra (general)
- spotter SPOT-erseñalero seh-nyah-LEH-roh Safety-critical
The person watching and directing while a truck backs up or a tree comes down; the operator's second set of eyes.
Nobody backs the chip truck without a spotter. — Nadie echa en reversa el camión de chips sin señalero.
Also: guía / banderero (general)
- steel-toe boots STEEL-toh BOOTSbotas con casquillo BOH-tahs kohn kahs-KEE-yoh Safety-critical
Required footwear around mowers and heavy loads; sneakers don't stop a blade or a dropped log.
No steel-toe boots, no mowing — that's company policy. — Sin botas con casquillo no hay podadora — es política de la compañía.
Also: botas de seguridad (general)
- struck-by STRUK-baygolpeado por gohl-peh-AH-doh pohr Safety-critical
The hazard class that kills in tree work: falling limbs, swinging loads, backing trucks. Eyes up, ears open, radio on.
Every struck-by starts with someone standing where they shouldn't — stay out of the drop zone. — Todo golpe empieza con alguien parado donde no debía — fuera de la zona de caída.
- sunscreen SUN-skreenbloqueador bloh-keh-ah-DOHR Safety-critical
Sun protection cream; reapply at lunch on all-day outdoor work.
Grab sunscreen from the truck before we start the front yards. — Agarra bloqueador del camión antes de empezar los jardines de enfrente.
Also: protector solar (general)
- thrown object THROHN OB-jektobjeto proyectado ob-HEH-toh proh-yek-TAH-doh Safety-critical
Anything the blade or trimmer line launches — rock, wire, glass; walk the area first and keep bystanders 50 feet away.
A thrown object from a mower goes through a car window — stop cutting when people walk by. — Un objeto proyectado por la podadora atraviesa la ventana de un carro — deja de cortar cuando pase gente.
- traffic vest TRAF-ik VESTchaleco reflejante chah-LEH-koh rreh-fleh-HAHN-teh Safety-critical
High-visibility vest, required any time the crew works near a street or in a parking lot.
Median work means traffic vests and cones, no exceptions. — Trabajo en el camellón es chaleco reflejante y conos, sin excepciones.
- trailer ramp TRAY-ler RAMPrampa del tráiler RRAHM-pah del TRAI-lehr Safety-critical
The gate the machines roll on and off; straight up the middle, nobody standing below it, latched before driving.
Never turn on the trailer ramp — mowers go off the side. — Nunca des vuelta en la rampa del tráiler — las podadoras se van de lado.
- two-person lift TOO PER-sun LIFTcarga entre dos KAHR-gah EN-treh dohs Safety-critical
Anything past about 50 pounds — mulch pallets, big root balls, rolled sod stacks — gets two people or a machine.
That B&B tree is a two-person lift minimum. — Ese árbol con cepellón es carga entre dos como mínimo.
- two-tree rule TOO-TREE roolregla de los dos largos REH-glah deh lohs dohs LAHR-gohs Safety-critical
Stay back at least twice the height of the tree being felled — the escape distance when a tree comes down.
Everyone outside two tree lengths before he starts the back cut. — Todos afuera de dos largos del árbol antes de que empiece el corte de atrás.
- walk the property WAWK thuh PROP-er-teerecorrer el terreno rreh-koh-RREHR el teh-RREH-noh Safety-critical
Scan the lawn before mowing for toys, rocks, wire, hoses, and dog mess — everything the blade will find otherwise.
Walk the property first — last week we ate a sprinkler head. — Recorre el terreno primero — la semana pasada nos comimos un aspersor.
- widow-maker WID-oh MAY-kerrama colgada RRAH-mah kohl-GAH-dah Safety-critical
A broken or dead limb hanging loose in the canopy that can fall without warning.
There's a widow-maker in that oak — nobody works under it until it's down. — Hay una rama colgada en ese encino — nadie trabaja abajo hasta que la bajemos.
Also: rama muerta colgante (general)
Open this glossary in the app — search, favorites, and every term offline.
Lawn & Tree Care
Get your crew on it
Create your account, make a crew, and text the invite code to your people — they join free. Everything is unlocked for your first 14 days; the glossary is free forever, account or not.
Create your free account Try the glossary — no account
Every new account gets Pro free for 14 days. No card needed.