Arborists work within an array of regulations, standards and policies. The foundation for these is the federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. This Act mandated that workers have a safe and healthy workplace environment. There are two key parts to this Act that outline employer and employee duties. Employers are required to […]
Contact with electrical current is the third-leading source of fatal incidents among arborists. About three-quarters of these incidents are aloft, either to a climber or aerial device operator. This means arborists must know how to perform aerial rescue. They also must have first-aid and cardiopulmonary-resuscitation (CPR) skills to respond to an injury. Aerial rescue has […]
Everyone providing pruning or removal quotes has come across this situation. You pull up to the next appointment at a house in a well-wooded neighborhood. The homeowner greets you with slight disdain as you meet at the door. You walk together through the house and exit through the sliding door into the backyard, which is […]
Part 1 of Chapter 4, Safe Work Practices (TCI Magazine, March 2024), covered the job hazard analysis (JHA), work plan and job briefing. This article, Part 2 of Chapter 4, Safe Work Practices, focuses on arboricultural operations near overhead power and communication lines. Personal protective equipment Personal protective equipment (PPE) – helmet, eye protection, hearing […]
Note: The following article includes the proposed changes to “Section 3, Electrical Hazard” of the ANSI Z133 safety standard. This next Z edition will be published during 2024, and these “Electrical Level” categories will be subject to change. Arboricultural operations are often conducted within a multitude of hazards. The daily life of an arborist is […]
