Overview

This article focuses on general hazard awareness, safety tips, and regulatory guidelines associated with tree-trimming and includes Occupational Safety and Health Administration/Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA/VOSH) requirements and resources.

Tree-Trimming, Not for Amateurs

Ice storms, high winds, hurricanes, tornados, and nor’easters are a few examples of weather events that may create challenges for state agencies, especially with respect to damaged or fallen trees. Grabbing a chainsaw and getting to work is not the best solution for the average employee. Only trained employees should be allowed to perform tasks.

Potential Injury Types

Tree-trimming activities carry the risk of potential injuries, including electrocutions, amputations, lacerations, burns, falls, crushing injuries, and strains/sprains. Hazards to consider include slips, trips, falls; insect and animal bites; poisonous plants; being struck by various objects; vehicular traffic; machine guarding, hand and portable power tools, and environmental conditions. It is important to protect employees from these hazards because they may be present in any combination or even all at once.

Standards and Statutes

There is no single standard providing guidance for all aspects of tree-trimming operations. Various standards, industry best practices, and manufacturers’ instructions are designed to educate and protect employees assigned to tree-trimming tasks and should be reviewed prior to undertaking these operations. Guidance can be found in the following standards and statutes, including but not limited to:

OSHA/VOSH 29 CFR

• 1910.67, Vehicle Mounted Elevating and Rotating Work Platforms which establishes criteria for using platforms as personnel carriers;


• 1910.68 Manlifts which provides safe operation information;


• 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure which identifies what employers must do to protect employees exposed to high noise environments;


• 1910.106, Flammable and combustible liquids which provides information for the protection for employees working with flammable and combustible materials such as fuel;


• 1910.133, Eye and face protection which identifies appropriate eye and face protection for flying debris;


• 1910.135, Head protection which provides direction for protecting employees from overhead/impact hazards;


• 1910.136, Occupational foot protection which identifies appropriate footwear requirements;


• 1910.138, Hand protection which provides information regarding protection for employees’ hands;


• 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) which applies to service or maintenance of hazardous machinery;


• 1910.151, Medical Services and first aid which outlines requirements for prompt medical attention in case of serious injury;


• 1910.212, Machinery and Machine Guarding which covers general requirements for all machines and provides requirements for guarding moving parts of machinery;


• 1910.242, Hand and portable powered tools and equipment which covers requirements for safe operating conditions;


• 1910.243, Guarding of portable powered tools which establishes guarding requirements;


• 1910.265, Sawmills which provides additional operating and personal protective equipment (PPE) considerations for activities such as wood chipping;


• 1910.266, Logging operations which identifies safety practices for all aspects of logging operations;


• 1910.268, Tree-Trimming electrical hazards which establishes minimum working distances from energized conductors;


• 1910.332 & 1910.333, Electrical which cover protection requirements for workers exposed to electrical hazards and avoidance of unsafe conditions.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

• ANSI A300, Standards for Tree Care Maintenance Operations;


• ANSI Z133.1–American National Standard for Tree Care Operations—Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining, and Removing Trees, and Cutting Brush;


• ANSI/and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), American National Standard for High-Visibility Safety Apparel and Headwear 107-2004 standard.

• Code of Virginia; §59.1-406-414, Overhead High Voltage Line Safety Act;


• Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Work Area Protection Manual, Standard and Guidelines for Temporary Traffic Control.

Getting Started

The most important step in the tree-trimming process is a preliminary site assessment. Survey the job area to determine the hazards present and what controls need to be implemented before starting the job. Assessments should be conducted daily for the duration of the job. Common hazards associated with tree-trimming activities that should be evaluated include:

• Electrical hazards (overhead power lines)


• Mobile equipment (aerial lifts, manlifts)


• Hand and portable power tools (chainsaws, wood chippers, ladders)


• Vehicular traffic


• Climbing, felling (cutting down), topping, and pruning trees


• Environmental conditions (wind, rain, ice, snow, temperature, lighting, and time of day)


• Animals, insects, and poisonous plants (bees, hornets, wasps, birds, raccoons, squirrels, possums, snakes, poison ivy, and birds)


• Condition of tree (rotten, damaged limbs, cracks, missing bark, dead wood, debris)


• Foreign materials in the trees (nails, metal bands, hooks)


• Nearby trees


• Topography (sloping, uphill, ground cover)

Controls to reduce hazards related to tree-trimming:

• Train employees on
  
  
  
  • How to assess the condition of trees
  
  
  • Equipment (aerial lifts, manlifts, chainsaws, wood chippers)
  
  
  • Fueling requirements and procedures
  
  
  • Hand and portable powered tools
  
  
  • PPE
  
  
  • Fall protection equipment
  
  
  
  


• Develop safe practices or procedures for climbing, pruning, trimming and felling trees.


• Develop and implement a safety program related to overhead power lines.
  
  
  
  • Notification to power company
  
  
  • Maintaining safe working distances from power lines
  
  
  • Use of non-conductive personal protective equipment
  
  


• Develop and implement emergency first aid and rescue procedures.


• Develop and implement a program on traffic control procedures.
  
  
  
  • High visibility clothing
  
  
  • Flaggers
  
  
  • Barricades/warning signs
  
  
  
  


• Ensure all equipment is in good operating condition (cords in good condition, guards in place).


• Provide appropriate PPE based on equipment being used [hearing protection, gloves, hard hats, safety glasses, face shields, safety shoes, and leg/body protection(chaps)].


• Ensure correct use of fall protection equipment (remember to include weight of tools to be carried).


• Make sure equipment is stable (if not, use blocks and chocks to keep equipment and downed trees from rolling).


• Enforce all policies and procedures.

For more detailed information and guidance see the following links:
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Forest Service National Tree Climbing Program - Safety
http://www.fs.fed.us/treeclimbing/safety/.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)-Forest Service
National Tree Climbing Program – Tree Hazard Assessments
http://www.fs.fed.us/treeclimbing/tree-hazard-assessment/.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration Logging e-TOOL
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/logging/mainpage.html.

Each job that requires tree-trimming will be different. The employer must determine what hazards are present and develop the necessary controls to protect employees, including the equipment, training, and PPE needed. Most injuries associated with tree-trimming operations occur because employees are unaware of hazards and use inadequate or improper equipment.

Resources

Commonwealth of Virginia Workers’ Compensation Program. (August 2007). Employee Safety: Working In and Around Traffic. Retrieved February 21, 2008 from, http://www.covwc.com/lcarticles/archives/000113.php.

Commonwealth of Virginia Workers’ Compensation Program. (November 2007). Chainsaw Safety. Retrieved February 21, 2008 from, http://www.covwc.com/lcarticles/archives/000114.php.

Commonwealth of Virginia Workers’ Compensation Program. (October 2007). Wood Chipper Safety. Retrieved February 21, 2008 from, http://www.covwc.com/lcarticles/archives/000112.php.

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. (August 1992). Preventing Falls and Electrocutions During Tree Trimming. Retrieved January 31, 2008, from http://www.cdc.gov/Niosh/92-106.html.

Tomlin, Elizabeth. Safety Compliance Officer, Virginia Occupational Safety and Health. Personal Interview. January 31, 2008.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Hurricane e-Matrix. Waste/Debris Removal and Reduction – Tree Trimming. Retrieved January 31, 2008 from,
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hurricane/tree-trimming.html.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Tree Trimming & Removal Safety Tips. OSHA Quick Cards. Retrieved January 31, 2008 from, http://www.osha.gov/Publications/3301-10-05-english-06-27-2007.html.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Tree Trimming Tips. OSHA Fact Sheet. Retrieved January 31, 2008 from, http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_Hurricane_Facts/trim.pdf.

United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service. (n.d.). National Tree Climbing Program. Retrieved January 31, 2008 from, http://www.fs.fed.us/treeclimbing/.