MIOSHA Fact Sheet: Tree Care Industry

MIOSHA Fact Sheet Consultation Education & Training Division Tree Care Industry

The hazards of the tree care industry can be Struck By great, and in many cases, they may result in • 63-year-old male was crushed when a 45-foot death. Contact with overhead power lines, struck section of tree trunk fell on the cab of his excavator by fallen tree sections, and faulty and/or defective while land clearing for a construction project – equipment increase the dangers associated with tree 3/22/2016. care/removal. In an attempt to raise the awareness of those who work in and around the tree care MIOSHA Standards industry MIOSHA has compiled this fact sheet which outlines training and education services Part 53. Tree Trimming and Removal available, tree care industry safety and health This standard defines the minimum requirements program related topics, and tree care industry injury for tree trimming work. Of particular concern are: and illness statistics. Employer responsibility  Rule 5311(b): An employer shall not allow a Summary of 2016 Fatalities tool or equipment to be used which is not guarded according to state standards, has a Fall from Elevation defective guard or is otherwise unsafe. • 28-year-old male fell approximately 40 feet after  Rule 5311(c): An employer shall develop equipment failure after ascending a tree to perform rescue procedures such as, but not limited to, trimming and cable installation – 2/29/2016. removal of injured, stricken or electrically • 65-year-old male fell approximately 15 feet from shocked employees from work positions aloft. the bucket boom truck while performing tree Personal Protective Equipment trimming – 3/21/2016.  Rule 5313(3): A safety belt, safety strap, tree • 46-year-old male fell approximately 35 feet after trimming saddle belt, or rope saddle shall be rope failure while performing tree trimming for line provided to and used by an employee when clearance – 9/19/2016. working aloft in a tree. A saddle or safety belt • 75-year-old male fell approximately 20 feet after made unsafe by damage, defect, or alteration the branch broke to which he was secured – shall not be used. 9/21/2016. Climbing • 49-year-old male fell approximately 55 feet from  Rule 5331(1): An approved safety belt, tree the bucket of a boom truck after the limb being cut trimming saddle belt or rope saddle shall be struck the bucket – 10/03/2016. used by an employee when aloft. • 40-year-old male fell approximately 40 feet after  Rule 5331(3): The climbing employee shall rope failure while performing tree trimming – remain tied in until the work is completed and 11/10/2016. he has returned to the ground.

LARA is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids, services and other reasonable accommodations are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

Consultation Education & Training Division 530 W. Allegan Street · P.O. BOX 30643 · LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-8143 www.michigan.gov/miosha · 517-284-7720 (MIOSHA/CET #0175 · Revised 05/18/17)  Rule 5331(4): If it becomes necessary to Employers must also institute a hearing recrotch, the employee aloft shall retie in or use conservation program when employees are exposed a safety strap before releasing the previous tie. to high levels of noise on the job. A hearing Pruning and Trimming conservation program consists of noise monitoring,  Rule 5332(2): A separate work rope, controlled baseline and annual hearing tests, annual noise by an employee on the ground, shall be used to training, provision of a selection of hearing lower limbs which cannot be dropped. The protection (i.e., at least two different types of work rope shall not use the same crotch over devices), posting a copy of Part 380, and proper which the climbing rope is run. maintenance of exposure and hearing test records.  Rule 5332(4): Whenever an employee is aloft in The requirement for the hearing conservation excess of 15 feet, a second employee or program applies when employee noise exposures supervisor shall be within vocal hearing distance equals or exceeds the action level (AL) for noise of the treed employee. (i.e., 85 dBA as averaged over an 8-hour workshift).

Part 58. Aerial Work Platforms Other Important Facts to Consider This standard defines the minimum requirements, when using elevated and rotating platforms while Electrical: Know the qualifications of employees doing tree-trimming work. Of particular concern is who work on tree trimming. There is a difference Rule 5836(2) and (3) which addresses fall between a tree worker and a qualified line clearance protection. The employer shall provide a safety tree trimmer. A qualified line clearance tree trimmer harness that has a lanyard which is in compliance is an employee trained in working in the proximity with construction safety standard Part 45. "Fall of electrical conductors. Understand clearances Protection", R 408.44501 to R 408.44502 and from energized lines and conductors found in Table which is affixed to attachment points provided and 1 for the tree worker when approaching energized approved by the manufacturer. Any occupant of an conductors and Table 2 governs qualified line aerial work platform described in R 408.15802(a) clearance workers. and (c) and figures 1 and 3 shall use a safety harness. A fall arrest system shall only be used Personal Protective Equipment: Eye and head where the aerial lift is designed to withstand the protection shall be provided and used. If employees vertical and lateral loads caused by an arrested fall. are exposed to vehicular traffic, orange colored An employee may use a body belt with a restraint jackets or vests must be provided at no cost to the device with the lanyard and the anchor arranged so employee. Understand and follow safe operating that the employee is not exposed to any fall procedures and wear appropriate protection when distance. An employee is required to use a restraint operating a chain saw. device where the aerial lift cannot withstand the vertical and lateral loads imposed by an arrested Clear the Area: When felling, before the cut is fall. started, the feller shall check for other employees, dead limbs, angle of tree, wind conditions, and plan Part 380. Occupational Noise Exposure and a path of retreat. Assisting employees shall be Hearing Conservation instructed on exactly what they are to do. Other Noise exposure is a health concern. Engineering and employees are to be cleared away at a distance to administrative controls must be used to the extent twice the height of the tree being cut. Just prior to feasible to reduce exposures below the permissible the tree falling an audible warning shall be given. exposure limit (PEL) for noise (i.e., 90 dBA as averaged over an 8-hour workshift). Where such Chipper Concerns: When removing brush and controls are not feasible or sufficient to reduce using brush chippers, feed the chipper from the side employee exposures below the PEL, a selection of of the centerline of the opening. Employees shall hearing protection must be provided and required turn away when brush is taken into the rotor for employee use. chamber. Where applicable, the chipper shall be fed from the curb-side. Wear appropriate clothing; you cannot wear loose sleeves, gauntlet gloves, watches or rings. Additionally, the brush chipper shall be equipped Training & Education Services/Resources with a locking device on the ignition system. Access panels for maintenance and adjustment shall MIOSHA Consultation, Education and Training be closed. The infeed hopper or table of the brush (CET) Division: www.michigan.gov/cet chipper shall be of such a design to prevent an International Society of Arboriculture: www.isa- employee reaching into the rotor blades or knives. arbor.com Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA): Mobile Equipment: Before backing up any mobile www.treecareindustry.org equipment, the operator shall check the rear area of Arboriculture Society of Michigan (ASM) the vehicle. In areas of congestion or obstructed www.asm-isa.org view, a backup alarm or an employee will assist the Michigan Green Industry Association (MGIA): operator. Maintain appropriate clearances from www.landscape.org or 1-800-354.6352 energized conductors. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): www.osha.gov Use Best Safe Work Practices: Read the National Institute of Occupational Safety & equipment manuals; be trained for your job Health (NIOSH): www.cdc.gov/niosh responsibilities; pre-plan – meet and discuss the job; American National Standards Institute (ANSI): know the hazards, identify them at the job site and www.ansi.org do a walk-around; and know where all members of  A300-2001: Tree Care Operations the crew are located before and during felling and  Z133.1-2006: Safety Requirements trimming.

Create a Pre-Start Checklist to Identify:  Condition of trees, limbs to be cut - splits, cankers, cracks;  Equipment needed – eye and head protection, harness, clips, belts;  Condition of equipment - damage, defects or alterations;  Personal protective equipment requirements;  Powered hand tools; and  Location of power lines, slope of the work area, cone requirements, warning signs.