OSHA Defense

What You Need to Know About OSHA’s New Tree Care Publication featured image

What You Need to Know About OSHA’s New Tree Care Publication

On any given day, you can look up into the sky and see one of the many tree care professionals that work across this country. They are likely trimming trees to make them healthier, or to avoid hazards such as power lines. While these men and women perform their craft at a high level, they do so under exceedingly dangerous conditions. Oftentimes, tree work takes place, while cars and pedestrians walk by. It’s also performed at heights and near power lines. All of which, can pose a deadly threat to workers and bystanders.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) doesn’t have a standard that directly addresses the tree care industry. However, they recently produced a guidance document that discusses the dangers inherent in the industry. The document addresses five key areas of potential danger for tree care professionals, which include drop zones, traffic controls, aerial lifts, chippers, and power lines. If you have questions about how the new guidance affects your company, contact a Texas OSHA attorney at our firm today.

The document features a chart that includes explanations about hazards in each area. The document also provides a variety of tips to prevent injury in these areas. Many of the preventative tips emphasize the importance of training; however other critical tips of note include:

  • Creating traffic control plans
  • Making sure that communication between overhead and ground workers is visually or audibly clear
  • Standing to the side of chippers when in use
  • Watching out for overhead power lines when using aerial lifts
  • Not trimming trees during inclement weather

If you would like to speak with a Texas OSHA lawyer, please contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.