All photos by Michael "House" Tain
previous articles, PPE is, at its most basic, cheap insurance; and, given the
workplace accident and injury rate of the tree care industry, cheap insurance that all tree folk could benefit from.
• Head protection: Helmets or hard hats are required during tree care
operations; and Class E helmets/hard hats must be used when working
near electrical conductors.
• Hearing protection: Although the standard speaks of a "timeweighted average" of 85 decibels over 8 hours, the reality is that most tree
care work sites are noisy, ear-destroying locations; and hearing protection
should be in use whenever the litany of chippers, saws and grinders are
operating.
• Eye protection: Eye protection needs to be worn whenever involved
in tree care operations due to the multitude of things your mama never
mentioned that "could put your eye out." Users should remember that
those sunglasses that look so good on their favorite reality TV star may
not meet the safety glasses standard at all.
• Leg/lower body protection:The Z133 continues to require
leg/lower body protection when operating a chain saw on the ground,
but not when aloft; however, personal experience has shown that a
chain saw injury aloft can be much more challenging than one at
ground level.Tree crews would be well advised to wear chaps or chain
saw pants at all times during tree care operations regardless of location or elevation.
• Electrical hazards:Tree crews working in a typical urban, subur-
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Although the Z133 doesn't necessarily deal directly with specific climbing techniques
or methods, it does contain some excellent information on strength requirements,
along with specific guidelines for certain climbing situations.
ban, or even rural environments will be confronted with electrical hazards on a regular basis; and perhaps even more so in the event of storm
Arbor Age / October 2013
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