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A common refrain at many safety workshops is, "Why do I need to pay attention
to OSHA and ANSI? I don't need anyone telling me how to do the work!"
Arborists tend to be independent minded and don't appreciate being told how
to go about their jobs. Telling them they must follow regulations and standards
can annoy some workers; some may even ignore rules just to show that they can.
Remember the struggle to convince workers to wear hard hats or helmets back in
the 1980s? The hard hats were too hot, they looked goofy, they blocked
vision—and a hundred and one more excuses.
There were, and still are, workers who figure that they are above rules
because they are not the ones who plan to have an accident. Likewise, there are
tree workers who ignore safety rules because they are sure the regulations or
standards actually make the job more dangerous. Ever hear workers say they
don't wear chaps because they cannot run as fast in them?
Tree workers should not follow OSHA regulations and ANSI standards simply
because they have to but because doing so can save lives, either theirs or—more
often—a co-worker's.
We reviewed tree worker accident reports from a number of sources,
including data collected from an ongoing industry safety survey as well as OSHA
accident investigation reports. The cause or causes of each accident were
matched to the most applicable standard in ANSI Z133.1-2000, American National
Standard for Arboricultural Operations—Pruning, Repairing, Maintaining, and
Removing Trees and Cutting Brush—Safety Requirements. This article describes
common causes of injuries and fatalities, examines some actual cases, and
discusses the applicable safety standards that, had they been adhered to, might
have prevented the accidents.
The majority of arboricultural fatalities each year fit into the OSHA
accident event or exposure category "contact with objects and equipment."
Therefore, it is not too surprising that standards 9.5.5 and 9.5.6 are among
the most ignored. Standard 9.55 states, "Workers shall be positioned and their
duties organized so [that] the actions of one worker will not create a hazard
for any other worker." Standard 9.5.6 states, "Workers not directly involved in
the removal operation shall be clear of the work area...."
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International Society of Arboriculture
