Chapter 15: Tree Worker Safety Flashcards
Purpose of standards and/or regulations for safety in tree care operations
reduce occupational injury, illness, and death through the establishment and enforcement of safety standards and regulations and the provision of mandatory education and training
approved
in the context of guidelines, standards, and specifications, that which is acceptable to federal, state, provincial, or local enforcement authorities or is an accepted industry practice
shall
word that designates a mandatory requirement within the ANSI standards or contract documents
should
word that designates an advisory recommendation in the ANSI standards or contract documents
Occupational Safety and Health Act
OSHA; in the United States, the legislative Occupational Safety and Health Act dealing with health and safety in the work place
Occupational Health and Safety Act
OHSA; in Canada, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration dealing with health and safety in the work place
ANSI Z133
in the United States, industry-developed, national consensus standards of practice for tree care; for workers engaged in pruning, repairing, maintaining, or removing trees or cutting brush
Canadian Standards Association
CSA; Canadian not-for-profit association made up of representatives from various industry, association, and governmental groups providing standards documentation and training materials; provides a similar role as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in the U.S.
What comprises appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for tree workers?
- ) protective head gear (hard hats or approved helmets)
- ) hearing protection (used whenever operating chain saws and brush chippers)
- ) protective glasses and face shield (face shields offer additional protection to the face but are not a substitute for glasses)
- ) gloves (good grip to prevent climber’s hand from slipping and reduce strain on tendons; not gauntlet-type gloves while chipping brush)
- ) leg chaps (designed to jam and slow cutters of the saw chain if contact is made)
- ) heavy work boots (sturdy to provide good support, good traction, and protection for the feet)
leg protection
type of PPE; any clothing or device to protect the legs from various injuries; chaps or other chain saw -resistant clothing worn over the legs when operating a chain saw
chaps
form of leg protection or PPE worn when operating a chain saw and/or when applying chemicals; made of various materials, depending on use
chain saw pants
trousers designed to protect legs while operating a chainsaw
types of work boots
boots with a deep, square heel to brace the stirrup of the climbing spur if using spurs; steel or polymer shank for arch support; flat soles to facilitate footlocking; some have chain saw protection
job briefing
brief meeting of a tree crew at the start of every job to communicate the work plan, responsibilities and requirements, and any potential hazards; coordinates the activities of every worker and what special PPE may be required
work plan
predetermined, orderly means for job completion
landing zone
predetermined area where cut branches or wood sections will be dropped or lowered from a tree to the ground; drop zone
drop zone
predetermined area where cut branches or wood sections will be dropped or lowered from a tree to the ground; landing zone
command and response system
system of vocal communication used in tree care operations; climber warns “stand clear” and does not proceed until hearing “all clear” acknowledgement
emergency response
predetermined set of procedures by which emergency situations are assessed and handled
aerial rescue
method of bringing an injured worker down from a tree or aerial lift device
first aid
emergency care or treatment of the injuries or illnesses of a person to stabilize his or her condition before medical help is available
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CPR; procedure used by a trained person to force air into the lungs and to force blood circulation in a person whose heart has stopped beating
secure the work zone
make sure that no individuals or vehicles pass under trees where work is in progress and to ensure the safety of the workers; traffic control usually involved
electrical hazard
exists when there is a risk of injury or death associated with direct or indirect contact with an electrical conductor
electrical conductor
any object, material, or medium through which an electrical current can flow; electric supply lines are designed as electrical conductors, however, guy wires, communication cables, tools equipment, vehicles, humans, animals, and other items can function as electrical conductors; overhead or underground electrical device
direct contact
any part of the body touching an energized conductor or other energized electrical fixture or apparatus
indirect contact
exposure to electrical current by touching any electrical conductor (conductive object) that is in contact with an energized conductor
electric shock
by either direct or indirect contact with an energized conductor, tree limb, tool, equipment or other object, provides a path for the flow of electricity from a conductor to a grounded object or to the ground intself
How close can two chain saw operators be?
10 feet apart; no one should approach an operator from the rear
When must the chain brake be engaged?
if operator takes one hand off or takes more than two steps
reactive forces
force of equal magnitude exerted in the opposite direction of a force acting on a body; when cutting with the bottom of the bar the saw has a tendency to pull into a cut; when cutting with the top of the bar the saw has a tendency to push back toward the operator
kickback
sudden, sometimes violent and uncontrolled, backward or upward movement of a chain saw; common cause of chain saw injury
kickback quadrant
upper quadrant of the tip of a chain saw bar; upper portion of the tip of the guide bar
When does kickback occur?
when the kickback quadrant contacts a log or other object
What tree and site conditions to consider before beginning any removal operation?
surrounding obstacles and terrain; wind direction and magnitude; the shape, flaws, and lean of the tree
tagline
rope used to control the swing of a limb being removed or to control the direction or fall of a tree or limb being removed; pull line
retreat path
predetermined escape route away from a tree that is to be felled; should be a 45 degree angle back and away from the direction of the falling tree and clear of obstruction for the chain saw operator; if tree has lean, path should be 45 degrees to the rear on the side away form the lean; never turn your back to the tree
back cuts
cut made on a tree trunk or branch, opposite from and toward the notch, face cut, or undercut, to complete felling or branch removal
open-face notch
wedge-shaped cut (approximately 70 degrees or greater) used in felling trees or removing tree sections; angle on top and bottom; allows the hinge to work and control the tree longer; preferred system today; back cut does not need to be stepped higher than the notch
conventional notch
45 degree notch with a horizontal bottom cut; used in removing trees or branches; also called common notch; commonly used in the past; back cut needs to be made slightly higher than the apex of the notch
Humboldt notch
felling notch that is horizontal on the top and angled on the bottom; also called Humboldt scarf or reverse scarf
hinge
strip of uncut wood fibers created between the face cut or notch and the back cut that helps control direction in tree felling or limb removal; holding wood
How far back should workers not directly involved in the removal operation be?
2 tree lengths away from the tree being felled
How far back should any workers be, including those on the tag line?
at least 1 and a half tree lengths away; and have an established means of communication with the feller and a retreat path
How high up should the back cut be made?
high enough above ground level to enable the chain saw operator to begin the cut safely with a stable stance, control the saw, and have freedom of movement for retreat
How deep should the notch be?
1/3 or less of the diameter of the tree
How long should the hinge be?
about 80% of the tree’s diameter
Which cut to make first?
making the top cut first helps avoid bypassing cuts that sever the crucial fibers of the hinge because the kerf of the top cut provides a window for the chain saw operator to better view the approach of the bar when making the bottom cut
How thick should the hinge be?
for felling small to medium diameter trees, hinge should be 5-10% of the tree’s diameter
for larger trees, a hinge of less than 10% may be better
for large-diameter trees, a hinge of less than 5% may be needed
barber chair
dangerous condition created when a tree or branch splits upward vertically from the back cut, slab up
felling wedges
metal or plastic wedge inserted into the back cut to help direct the path in which a tree or tree part falls; prevents the tree from closing on the back cut and pinching the bar of the chain saw; helps initiate the fall
Where should brush be fed from?
from the side of the intake area and feed table; the worker should move away after the brush is fed in first
When can people work on a chipper?
when the engine is turned off, the ignition key removed, and the cutter wheel completely stopped with lock pin in place if applicable to prevent moving
minimum approach distances
closest distance that a tree worker, tool, equipment, or tree part is permitted near overhead electrical conductors and equipment; distance increases with increasing voltage and varies with training of personnel
palm skirts
several years of dead fronds that hang on the stem below the living fronds; become a potential hazard to any target below because of the danger of them breaking free or sloughing
urgent care directions
- ) rescue the victim from any life-threatening situation
- ) if the victim is not breathing, begin artificial respiration
- ) control severe bleeding
- ) do not move the victim unless necessary
- ) if the victim has been poisoned, call a doctor or poison control center immediately
- ) support fractures
- ) treat for shock
- ) call or send for medical help
- ) monitor the condition of the victim
artificial respiration steps
- ) listen and feel for breathing by placing your ear and cheek close to the victim’s mouth
- ) check to see that the air passage is clear; remove obstructions, if necessary
- ) lay the victim face up on a firm surface
- ) tilt the victim’s head back with one hand on his or her forehead; use your other hand to support the victim’s back; lightly pinch the victim’s nose shut
- ) take a deep breath; create a tight seal around the victim’s mouth with your mouth; give two quick, full breaths; watch for the victim’s chest to rise, and watch for exhaling
- ) if there is no air exchange, recheck the victim’s head and jaw position; check for something blocking the air passage; try again
- ) if you still get no air exchange, turn the victim on his or her side and slap sharply between the shoulder blades several times in order to dislodge any foreign matter from the throat
- ) if the victim is unable to breathe without assistance, provide a full breath of air every 5 seconds
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) steps
- ) call 911 (or appropriate emergency system) to alert medical experts to the situation
- ) check to see whether the victim is conscious; then, place him or her face up on a flat surface
- ) make sure the victim’s mouth is not blocked with an object or food; if there is an object blocking the airways, you may be able to manually remove the object and check again for breathing
- ) if the victim’s airway is clear and he or she is still not breathing, tilt the victim’s head, lift the chin, and check his or her breathing; take in a deep breath and place your mouth over the victim’s mouth; give two breaths; allow for 2 seconds per breath
- ) place your hands in the center of the victim’s chest, between the nipples; push down on the chest 30 times; continue the process until medical experts arrive
severe bleeding steps
- ) put on latex gloves; apply direct pressure firmly on the wound; a thick pad of cloth (sterile, if possible) between your hand and the wound will help control bleeding
- ) elevate the wound, if practical
- ) if bleeding continues, apply direct pressure on a pressure point to help stop bleeding from a wound in an arm or leg; press the main supply artery against the underlying bone
- ) do not apply a tourniquet unless medical help is available
head injuries steps
- ) minimize movement and immobilize the victim’s neck; call for emergency help, if symptoms warrant it (loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, loss of balance, vomiting, unequal pupil size, severe bleeding)
- ) do not attempt to cleanse scalp wounds, because doing so may cause severe bleeding or server contamination
- ) place a sterile dressing on the wound, but do not apply excessive pressure
- ) do not give the victim fluids by mouth
- ) if the victim loses consciousness, get medical help immediately and record the extent and duration of unconsciousness
How to treat minor burns?
first degree (redness, minor swelling) apply cold water or ice; cover with sterile gauze
How to treat serious burns?
second degree (redness, mottled appearance, blisters, swelling) apply cold water or ice; cover with sterile gauze; do not pop blisters; do not apply ointment; seek medical help
How to treat sever burns?
third degree (tissue destruction, glossy white appearance) seek medical help immediately; do not remove burnt clothing; do not immerse burn in cold water; elevate the burned part above heart level, if practical; cover the area of the burn using a cool, moist, sterile bandage; clean, moist cloth; or moist towels
Symptoms of shock
pale, cold, moist, and clammy skin; the whole body is weak; weak and rapid pulse; eyes lack luster and may seem to stare; may be unconscious
Shock treatment steps
- ) get medical help; check circulation and breathing and begin treatment, if necessary
- ) keep the victim lying down; elevate the feet if doing so will not aggravate other injuries
- ) keep the victim warm; cover the blanket, if necessary
- ) place the victim on his or her side, if vomiting
Symptoms of heat stroke
high body temperature; rapid and shallow breathing; skin is hot, red, and dry; rapid pulse; dizziness, confusion, or unconsciousness
Heat stroke treatment steps
- ) get medical help
- ) move the victim out of the sun, and take immediate measures to cool the victim’s body
- ) remove the victim’s clothing and cool the body with cool water, fans, or rubbing alcohol
- ) use fans or cold packs, if available
- ) monitor body temperature
- ) do not give the victim cool liquids unless the victim is completely conscious and able to swallow
Heat cramps steps
- ) have the victim rest and cool down
- ) firmly massage the cramped muscle
- ) rehydrate the victim with water or a commercial sports drink
Symptoms of heat exhaustion
approximately normal body temperature; pale, clammy skin; heavy perspiration; weakness, fatigue; headache or cramps; dizziness, nausea, or vomiting
Heat exhaustion treatment steps
- ) get the victim out of the sun to a cool place
- ) rehydrate the victim with water or a commercial sports drink
- ) keep the victim lying down and raise the feet
- ) keep the victim cool and monitor closely for signs of heat stroke
- ) if vomiting occurs, discontinue giving fluids
- ) take the victim to a hospital if symptoms continue
How to treat minor bites and stings from poisonous insects
- ) carefully remove the stinger, if present
- ) apply ice to reduce swelling
- ) apply soothing lotions
How to treat sever reactions to bites and stings from poisonous insects
- ) get medical help if the victim is allergic
- ) if the victim has a bee-sting kit, follow directions and use it immediately
- ) apply ice and treat for shock
- ) in the case of a bee sting, remove the stinger with tweezers; be careful not to squeeze the attached venom sac, because doing so would inject more venom
How to treat tick bites step
- ) gently pull the whole tick straight out from the point of attachment without crushing it, using fine-point tweezers; place the tick in a jar, mark the date, and save it for later identification
- ) wash hands and disinfect the tweezers and bite site
- ) consult a doctor if a fever, rash, or other symptoms of illness appear
How to identify poison sumac
toxicodendron vernix
woody shrub or small tree, 5 to 25 feet tall; compound leaves, 7 to 11 leaflets; fruit is glossy, pale yellow, pendant when ripe; distribution is predominantly east of the Mississippi River in swampy areas
How to identify Western poison oak
Toxicodendron diversiloba
usually in shrub form, sometimes vine; leaves composed of three leaflets; fruit is white berries; distribution is western North America
How to identify poison ivy
Toxicodendron radicans
small shrub or vine; leaves composed of three leaflets, orange-red in fall; fruit is white berries; distribution is most of the United States, although different varieties inhabit different regions
How to treat contact with poisonous plants
- ) wash affected area with strong soap and water as soon as possible
- ) wash with rubbing alcohol
- ) seek medical help if a severe reaction occurs in the next day or two
