An unmistakable sign of age, but...

[MineralMan]

56. Very smart. Chainsaws are deceptively dangerous,

and safe use requires training and experience. Most young folks don't have enough of either, really. If you're hiring kids to do casual work, it's important to only have them do things that aren't particularly dangerous. Your liability if they are injured is real.

Tree work, especially, can be very dangerous. I've done a good deal of it in my lifetime, and am pretty good at assessing most tree work. You're right to insist on a professional tree service for it. They're insured and reputable companies have workman's comp insurance on their employees and train them properly. They have the right equipment, the right skills and there's someone with significant experience on every job.

Still, hiring young people on a freelance basis to do many jobs is a great idea. It requires some supervision and maybe a little training for them for things they haven't done before, but it's a good thing to do and helps them earn money and build self-confidence. I've done it many times, usually to assist me on jobs I know how to do. It's a great opportunity to help them learn while earning some money.