OSHA Standards for Tree Services
Tree service companies, landscapers, municipal parks/recreation departments, utility companies and property management firms employ workers who prune, trim, repair, maintain and remove trees.
OSHA recently issued a memorandum providing enforcement guidance for compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) when inspecting these operations. The document highlights hazards workers must contend with and provides CSHOs with guidance on OSHA standards that address these potentially hazardous scenarios.
1. Fall Protection
Tree trimming and removal operations present a major safety risk due to fall hazards. These can arise from falling trees, aerial lifts and boom equipment as well as being struck by falling limbs, branches or hand tools.
OSHA regulations identify a range of hazards that could endanger tree service workers. It is essential to implement an extensive safety program which shields employees from falls, as well as other workplace dangers.
2. Electrical Safety
Tree service companies should be mindful of the potential hazards that come from working near live electrical lines. This includes an increased risk of electrocution for workers.
Under New Zealand's Electricity Code of Practice (ECP), no machinery should approach power lines closer than 4 metres without receiving written consent from both network operator and owners.
Under certain conditions, electricity could arc from a power line to the nearest tree and cause fatal injuries.
3. Personal Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is an integral component of protecting workers against job-related injuries and illnesses. It's required by most Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.
Protective clothing and other body-covering PPE protect against extreme temperatures, flames and sparks, toxic chemicals, insect bites, radiation hazards and electrical hazards. It also shields you against cuts, burns and amputations.
Tree service companies, landscapers, municipal parks/recreation departments and utility companies must make sure their employees wear appropriate protective equipment when performing work. CSHOs must assess employers' adherence to these requirements for compliance.
4. Hazardous Materials
Tree care companies must abide by OSHA standards regarding the handling of hazardous materials in their operations, which includes requirements for hazard communication and employee training.
Hazardous materials refer to chemicals which can pose serious health risks if exposed to workers. These include solvents, fuels, paints and adhesives among others.
Tree service companies must conduct an assessment of their work sites to guarantee they are free from dangerous hazards before beginning any job. This evaluation is known as a hazard assessment.
5. Training
Tree limbs, branches, equipment and hand tools can fall on workers causing serious injuries or death. These risks are the leading cause of fatalities in the tree care industry and must be avoided at all costs.
Tree service companies must abide by OSHA standards that define the tasks, tools, equipment, machines, vehicles, processes, controls and procedures involved in tree trimming or removal operations.
Furthermore, CSHOs must assess whether employers provide and ensure employees use personal protective equipment (PPE) in connection with job-related hazards. PPE requirements typically include head protection, eye and hearing protection, chainsaw safety, energized power line protection, clothing, footwear and other items.
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Tree service companies, landscapers, municipal parks/recreation departments, utility companies and property management firms employ workers who prune, trim, repair, maintain and remove trees. OSHA recently issued a memorandum providing enforcement guidance for compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) when inspecting these operations. The document highlights hazards workers must contend with and provides CSHOs with guidance…