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Safety, Climbing, and Working in Trees

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Why Are We Here?• Become Familiar with

ISA methods of general tree work as well as safety techniques and recommendations.

• Presented by Will Branch and Ryan Russell –

University of Missouri

Topics of Discussion

General Safety

Climbing Techniques

General Methods of Tree Work

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Safety

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Laws and Regulations• Reading standards

Approved- Means acceptable to the federal, state, provincial, or local enforcing authority having

jurisdiction.Shall- Denotes a mandatory requirement.Should- Denotes an advisory recommendation.

• Who writes standards and regulations? ANSI- American National Standards Institute OSHA- Occupational Safety and Health Act OHSA- Occupational Health and Safety Act CSA- Canadian Standards Association

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Personal Protective Equipment-PPE

• Head protection• Eye protection• Chainsaw pants or

chaps• Boots• Gloves• Dressing

appropriately

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Communication• Work plan and job briefing• discussing the work to be

completed• assigning specific tasks• identifying jobsite hazards • using appropriate

techniques and PPE to safely complete the job

• Communication between climbers and ground workers / coworkers• command and response• hand signals

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General Safety

• Proper training in • Required job tasks• Job site equipment• Emergency response procedures• Ariel rescue• First aid and CPR

• Job site necessities• First aid kit• Fire extinguisher• Signs• Barriers• Cones• Caution tape• High visibility clothing

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Electrical Hazards • Electrical conductor is defined as any

overhead or underground electrical device, including communication wires and cables, power lines, and related components and facilities.

• Direct contact is made when any part of the body contacts an energized conductor or other energized electrical fixture or apparatus.

• Indirect contact is made when any part of the body touches any conductive object in contact with an energized conductor.

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Chainsaw Safety

• Required PPE• Operation of

chainsaw• Reactive forces • Climbing with

chainsaw

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Tree Felling and Removals

• Investigation of tree and surroundings

• Retreat path (escape route)

• Felling notches• Use of wedges and

pull ropes

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Chipper Safety• Operators must be properly

trained in the inspection, maintenance, towing and operation of their chipper.

• Required PPE, Approved hardhat, safety glasses, and hearing protection.

• Loose clothing, jewelry, harnesses, and gauntlet style gloves must not be worn.

• Brush should be fed butt first from the side of the chute.

• No part of the operators body should ever reach past the back edge of the feed chute.

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Climbing Trees

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Inspection of Gear• All PPE must be

approved for use in tree care.

• All PPE, climbing gear, rigging gear, tools, etc. should be checked for damage or excessive wear regularly.

• All climbing gear must meet minimum strength requirements and be approved for use in tree care.

• Requirements of climbing gear.• Rope snaps must be auto

locking and compatible with a D-ring attachment.• Carabiners must be double

auto locking and have a m.b.s. of 5,000 pounds(23kN)• Climbing lines must be made

from a synthetic fiber, have a m.b.s. of 5400 pounds(24kN) and must not elongate more than 7 percent under a load of 540 pounds.

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Knots• The working end is the end of

the line that is in use.• The running end is the end of

the line that is not in use.• The standing part is the line

between the working end and the running end.

• A hitch is used to secure a rope to an object.

• A bend is used to secure rope to rope.

• A friction hitch is designed to be easily moved along a line but tighten down under a load.

• Common climbing and rigging knots• Tautline Hitch• Blake’s Hitch• Figure-8• Girth Hitch• Bowline/ Running Bowline• Midline Clove Hitch/ Endline• Slip Knot• Sheet Bend• Double Fisherman's Bend• Prusik Hitch• Cow Hitch• Timber Hitch• Half Hitch and Running Bowline

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Inspection of Tree

• Things to look for• Electrical hazards• Broken, week, or dead branches• Animals or insects• Fruiting bodies• Root flair

The following are defects or signs of possible defects in urban trees (see figure): above.1. regrowth from topping, line clearance, or other pruning2. electrical line adjacent to tree3. broken or partially attached branch4. open cavity in trunk or branch5. dead or dying branches6. branches arising from a single point on the trunk7. decay and rot present in old wounds8. recent change in grade or soil level, or other construction

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Techniques and Procedures

• Accessing the tree• Setting a line using a throwline• Climbing with spurs• Body thrusting• Secured footlocking• Use of micro pulley and prusik hitch • S.R.T.

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Tying In

• Choosing a tie in point• Select a union that is wide enough for a rope to pass through easily.• Generally the main branch should be at least 4 inches in diameter.• Use of a friction saving device is recommended.

• Choosing a climbing system• Closed system (anchoring knot and hitch tied with rope tail)• Open system (using carabiners, split tail and tending pulley)

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Working in Trees

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Emergency Response and Aerial Rescue

• Assessing the situation

• Calling for help• Electrical accidents• Reaching the victim• Checking the victim• Rescue kits• Access line

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Rope

•Different rope types and designs• 3 strand• 12- strand solid• 12- strand hollow• 16- strand• 24- strand• Kernmantle

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Designs and Limitations

• Tensile strength• Cycles to failure• Working load limit

(WLL)• Design factor

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Equipment

• Arborist blocks• Rescue pulleys• Rope and webbing

slings• Lowering devices• Connecting links

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Fundamental Rigging Techniques

• Attachment knots• Clove Hitch• Running Bowline

• Piece orientation• Butt tying• Tip tying• Balancing• Butt hitching

• Cutting the piece• Drop cut• Snap cut• Hinging cut

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Q&A