Tree Care Industry
Standards
Tree care hazards are addressed in specific OSHA standards for recordkeeping and general industry. This section highlights OSHA standards and documents related to the tree care industry.
OSHA Standards
Frequently Cited Standards
The tree care industry must comply with all the general industry standards (29 CFR 1910). OSHA maintains a listing of the most frequently cited standards for specified 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Please refer to OSHA’s Frequently Cited OSHA Standards page for additional information. For Landscaping Services, use NAICS code 561730 in the NAICS search box.
Other Highlighted Standards
Recordkeeping and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness (29 CFR 1904) |
Related Information |
|
---|---|---|
1904 Subpart E - Reporting Fatality, Injury and Illness Information to the Government | ||
1904.39, Reporting fatalities, hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye as a result of work-related incidents to OSHA. |
Related Information |
General Industry (29 CFR 1910) |
Related Information |
|
---|---|---|
1910 Subpart D - Walking-Working Surfaces | ||
1910.21, Scope and definitions. |
Related Information | |
1910.22, General requirements. |
Related Information | |
1910.23, Ladders. |
Related Information | |
1910.25, Stairways. |
Related Information | |
1910.26, Dockboards. |
Related Information | |
1910.29, Fall protection systems and falling object protection-criteria and practices. |
Related Information | |
1910.30, Training requirements. |
Related Information | |
1910 Subpart F - Powered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms | ||
1910.67, Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating work platforms. |
Related Information | |
1910 Subpart H - Hazardous Materials | ||
1910.106, Flammable liquids. |
Related Information | |
1910 Subpart I - Personal Protective Equipment | ||
1910.134, Respiratory protection. |
Related Information | |
1910.136, Foot protection. |
Related Information | |
1910.138, Hand Protection. |
Related Information | |
1910 Subpart K - Medical and First Aid | ||
1910.151, Medical services and first aid. |
Related Information | |
1910 Subpart R - Special Industries | ||
1910.268, Telecommunications. |
Related Information | |
1910 Subpart S - Electrical | ||
1910.332, Training. |
Related Information | |
1910.334, Use of equipment. |
Related Information | |
1910 Subpart Z - Toxic and Hazardous Substances | ||
1910.1030, Bloodborne pathogens. See also Most Frequently Asked Questions Concerning the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030. Provides answers to the most commonly asked questions related to the BBP standard. |
Related Information |
State Plan Standards
There are 29 OSHA-approved State Plans operating state-wide occupational safety and health programs. State Plans are required to have standards and enforcement programs that are at least as effective as OSHA's and may have different or more stringent requirements.
Additional Federal Register notices
Note: The notices in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.
- Logging Operations. Final Rule 60:47022-47037, (September 08, 1995).
- Logging Operations. Final Rule 59:51672-51748, (October 12, 1994).
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution; Electrical Protective Equipment; Final Rule; Stay of Enforcement and Correction. Final Rule 59:33658-33664, (June 30, 1994).
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution; Electrical Protective Equipment. Final Rule 59:4320-4476, (January 31, 1994).
Additional Directives
Note: The directives in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.
- Enforcement of the Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution Standard. CPL 02-01-038, (June 18, 2003).
- Logging Operations, Inspection Procedures and Interpretive Guidance Including Twelve Previously Stayed Provisions. CPL 02-01-022, (September 27, 1996).
- Electric Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution; Electrical Protective Equipment; Final Rule. CSP 01-01-028, (April 15, 1994).
- Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices -- Inspection Procedures and Interpretation Guidelines. STD 01-16-007, (July 01, 1991).
Additional Letters of Interpretation
Note: The letters in this list provide additional information that is not necessarily connected to a specific OSHA standard highlighted on this Safety and Health Topics page.
- Protection of ground-level workers from lowering of aerial lift bucket (September 23, 1999).
- Clarification of 1910.269 as applied to line-clearance tree-trimming operations (April 26, 1999).
- Acceptability of western style hard hats. (December 31, 1998).
- Apparel requirements for line-clearence tree-trimmers (October 29, 1998).
- Fall protection anchorage points: guardrail systems and cranes (June 08, 1998).
- Interpretation of the electric power generation, transmission, and distribution standard (June 04, 1996).
- OSHA's new fall protection standards for construction will prohibit use of safety belts with side dee rings as part of a personal fall arrest system (September 25, 1995).
- Clarification of electric power generators, transmission and distribution standard (July 18, 1994).
- Inspection Guidance for Tree Care and Tree Removal Operations. (June 24, 2021).
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
The following voluntary ANSI standards may be applicable to the tree care industry. Compliance with ANSI standards does not ensure compliance with OSHA policy, although the requirements of some ANSI standards have been adopted within OSHA standards. This list is provided for reference use only.
- A300, Tree Care Operations - Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance - Standard Practices
- Z133.1, Arboricultural Operations Safety
- B175.1, Safety Requirements for Gasoline Powered Chain Saws
- A10.14, Requirements for Safety Belts, Harnesses, Lanyards, Lifelines, and Drop Lines for Constructional and Industrial Use
- A14.1, Ladders - Portable Wood - Safety Requirements
- A14.2, Ladders - Portable Metal - Safety Requirements
- A14.5, Stepladders and Platform Ladders, Aluminum Magnesium, Fiberglass Ladders
- A92.2, Vehicle-Mounted Elevating and Rotating Aerial Devices
- Z41, Protective Footgear Requirements
- Z87.1, Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection Devices
- Z89.1, Personnel Protection - Protective Headgear for Industrial Workers - Requirements
- Z308.1, Minimum Requirements for Workplace First Aid Kits
- Z359.1, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems, and Components
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
- B30.5, Mobile and Locomotive Truck Cranes