Problems of Safety in Tree Work

Robert R. Herder

doi:10.48044/jauf.1976.008

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Figure 1.
The nylon ballistic leggings earlier required for chain saw operators by EPA. Ruling since recinded. Front (left) and back (right).

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PROBLEM	WHAT WE SHOULD DO	WHAT OSHA REQUIRES
(1) Caring for the injured	Provide an adequate first aid kit and train all crew members in the basic first aid procedures required to take care of injuries common to our kind of work.	A first aid kit approved by a consulting physician. At least one Red Cross 1st aid card holder in each crew when not in proximity to a hospital, clinic, or infirmary. Red Cross 1st aid training covers all phases of 1st aid, not just those our people would be likely to need.
(2) Temperature extremes.	Require proper clothing for the environment involved; provide proper rest periods and, where feasible, protection from the elements; and salt tablets in hot weather.	Right now, nothing other than the General Duty Clause which requires a safe and healthful place to work, free from recognized hazards. But, a heat stress proposal has been made, and is currently being restudied following a public hearing. The original proposal would, as one concerned person put it, have made it illegal for a Dallas used car salesman to work on his lot in the summer! There is now talk that we also need a regulation for cold stress!
(3) Excessive noise	Maintain noisy machines in best condition possible to insure lowest noise level; run machines no faster than required to achieve effective results; let men trade off on work involving noisy equipment. Provide hearing protection where necessary.	Control noise and noise exposure first by engineering or administrative controls where feasible. If not feasible, then hearing protective equipment. A new noise proposal is now being restudied after public hearings. It looks like the final version will require audiometric testing, written notification of workers exposed, constant monitoring of noise levels, voluminous record keeping — and more.
(4) Gasoline	Train men in the hazards of gasoline and how to safely handle it; require approved containers.	In addition to recognized precautions to be observed in handling gasoline, OSHA says it must be dispensed from safety cans only.
(5) Eye injury	Train workers to be alert to the hazards involved, and require the use of eye protection where necessary.	The Telecommunications Standard now requires the use of safety goggles for “brush cutting and tree pruning”. While this applies specifically to the Telecommunications industry, it is reasonable to expect a compliance officer to use it under the General Duty Clause to apply to all industry.
(6) Chain saw cuts involving the leg	Maintain chain saws in proper condition and train and supervise the operator in accordance with recognized, safe work procedures.	OSHA requires recognized specific procedures to be followed by chain saw users, but recently attempted to require the use of ballistic nylon leggings for chain saw operators, by citation under Section 1910.32(a) “Personal Protective Equipment”, General Requirements (Fig. 1). That citation was made against my company, but with the help of several other agencies and organizations, including ISTC, we were able to successfully contest it.
(7) Equipment Failure	Proper maintenance of equipment, proper inspection of equipment including written reports of inspection, and proper training and supervision in the use of the equipment.	OSHA requires nothing more.
(8) Fatalities, generally	Most fatalities in our business involve electrocution, falls from trees, or falling trees. The means of prevention are basic and involve only a handfull of safety rules and/or safe operating procedures. They are too numerous to list here, but they are clearly laid out in my company’s Foreman’s Manual as well as manuals of many other companies and associations.	OSHA requires nothing more.
(9) Contaminated drinking water supply	Provide, and keep clean, an approved water dispenser.	OSHA specifically requires the employer to prohibit the use of a communal drinking dup, in addition to clean water held in a clean container, etc.