Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Eye Protection
• Company supplied ANSI approved eye protection SHALL be worn at all times during working hours. Contacts, sunglasses, regular eyeglasses, eyeglasses with hardened lenses or any other types of eyewear are not a substitute for ANSI approved safety glasses.
• Protective eyewear with approved radiation filter lenses (colored) SHALL be worn during welding or cutting operations.
Hearing Protection
• OSHA approved hearing protection will be provided by the Company. Such hearing protection SHALL be worn when exposed to loud noise in the work environment.
• Approved hearing protection SHALL be worn in areas posted "hearing protection required.”
• Approved hearing protection SHALL be worn during the operation of any machine where the manufacturer has established that hearing protection is required.
• Approved hearing protection may include: ear plugs, molded ear or wax type ear plugs, or ear muffs that meet current hearing protection standards. Paper, cloth, cotton or any other substances are not considered substitutes for approved hearing protection.
Head Protection
• Company supplied ANSI approved head protection (hardhats, etc.) that meet current safety standards SHALL be worn by all employees while exposed to head injury hazards which may result from falling, flying objects or electrical shock. • Head protection SHALL be worn according to manufactured specifications.
• Head protection SHALL NOT be changed, defaced, or altered in any manner. This includes but is not limited to drilling, painting, cutting, altering of inner suspension system or wearing of any type of coverings on exterior. Only approved liners SHALL be worn under head protection
equipment.
• Head protection shall be worn at all times by all tree service and overhead line construction employees as well as in areas designated as a “HARDHAT AREA.”
Hand and Foot Protection
• Proper foot wear SHALL be worn by employees while working. Leather boots with protective soles shall be the minimum standard. Cloth or open shoes of any type are not considered appropriate and SHALL NOT be permitted on the job site.
• Additional protection SHALL be required as designated by the equipment manufacturer or by industry safety standards. This includes but is not limited to metatarsal guards that are required to be worn during the use of: jackhammers, power tampers, as well as the wearing of protective leg chaps while using a chainsaw during ground operations.
• Proper hand protection SHALL be worn that is appropriate for the job being performed, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Standard work gloves for everyday use.
2. Welder’s gloves, if welding or cutting.
3. Approved rubber or chemical resistant gloves while handling chemicals or caustics.
4. Rubber gloves and protectors that are approved and tested for the proper electrical voltage being worked on.
5. RUBBER GLOVE PROTECTORS SHALL NOT BE WORN AS WORK GLOVES
Rope - Requirements
Always use arborist ropes for climbing trees, not ropes intended for rock climbing, caving or any other specialized use.
Characteristics Diameter Size of Rope: Tree climbing (arborist) ropes come in different diameter sizes, from 10mm to 14mm. The largest is 9/16 inch (14mm). This thicker rope is easier to grip than others, but it is also the heaviest. The smaller diameter ropes range from 10 mm (single rope technique only) to 11.6 mm for traditional doubled-rope technique or single rope technique. These ropes are lighter in weight, which makes them easier to carry. But they are harder to grip with bare hands, because the exterior sheath has a tighter weave, (which makes them more slippery.) Climbers who use a smaller diameter rope solve this problem by wearing latex coated gloves, which improve grip considerably. The smaller diameter ropes also work better with mechanical ascending devices that are popular with the more experienced climbers.
Colors of Rope: Tree climbing ropes come in a variety of colors. Which color you choose is a matter of personal preference. Professional climbers should choose the brightest colored ropes so that we can see where the rope is in the tree. We also want ground workers to see it, to avoid cutting it with a chainsaw.
Construction of Rope: Arborist rope is built using different types of weaves; the two main weaves are called braided or kernmantle. Which one you choose is based on personal preference. Choose a rope of at least 16-strand construction. Never use a rope with a twist construction, as it will make you spin the moment your feet leave the ground. Arborist rope is soft and flexible, which makes it possible to tie the special climbing knots needed to climb trees. Stiff ropes will not hold the knots.
Sheath of Rope: Tree climbing creates a lot of friction on rope, which causes the rope to melt or fuse. The result is a stiff, “crusty” outer layer which doesn’t hold the knots as well. Tree climbing ropes are built with a special outer layer designed to resist friction and heat.
Elasticity of Rope: Tree climbing rope should not be stretchy, because a stretchy rope causes the climber to bounce and use more energy in climbing. Arborist rope is more “static” when compared to the more elastic “dynamic” rock climbing ropes. That’s why arborist rope is the standard for tree climbing.
Rope Length: The length of rope you need will be double the climbing height of the tree (150 feet of rope to climb 75 feet up). Start with a rope that is 150 feet long unless you are climbing shorter trees, such as 50-footers, (where you can use a standard 120-foot rope.) If you plan to climb taller trees in the future, purchase a second, longer rope of 200 feet.
Rope Life: If you are climbing daily for tree work, replace your rope every year (this is the current ANSII standard). The old rope should be cut up into short pieces so that it is not usable.
Rope Inspection: Inspect your rope visually before, during, and after every climb and by running it through your fingers. If you see a damaged section, cut the rope immediately with a knife to prevent further use. It is easy to forget about a damaged section, and this is a rope that you would never want to climb again!
Harness/Saddle - Requirements
Inspect for:
• Webbing cuts, kinks, abrasions, burns, excessive swelling, excessive wear, discoloration, cracks, charring, broken fibers, lose or broken stitching.
• Loose, bent or pulled rivets, bent grommets, broken or burned threads.
• Tongue of buckle binds on buckle frame.
• Nicks, cracks, distortion or corrosion of hardware (Buckle, D-rings, etc.)
• Worn or damaged accessory snaps, rings, and loops.
Eye Protection
• Company supplied ANSI approved eye protection SHALL be worn at all times during working hours. Contacts, sunglasses, regular eyeglasses, eyeglasses with hardened lenses or any other types of eyewear are not a substitute for ANSI approved safety glasses.
• Protective eyewear with approved radiation filter lenses (colored) SHALL be worn during welding or cutting operations.
Hearing Protection
• OSHA approved hearing protection will be provided by the Company. Such hearing protection SHALL be worn when exposed to loud noise in the work environment.
• Approved hearing protection SHALL be worn in areas posted "hearing protection required.”
• Approved hearing protection SHALL be worn during the operation of any machine where the manufacturer has established that hearing protection is required.
• Approved hearing protection may include: ear plugs, molded ear or wax type ear plugs, or ear muffs that meet current hearing protection standards. Paper, cloth, cotton or any other substances are not considered substitutes for approved hearing protection.
Head Protection
• Company supplied ANSI approved head protection (hardhats, etc.) that meet current safety standards SHALL be worn by all employees while exposed to head injury hazards which may result from falling, flying objects or electrical shock. • Head protection SHALL be worn according to manufactured specifications.
• Head protection SHALL NOT be changed, defaced, or altered in any manner. This includes but is not limited to drilling, painting, cutting, altering of inner suspension system or wearing of any type of coverings on exterior. Only approved liners SHALL be worn under head protection
equipment.
• Head protection shall be worn at all times by all tree service and overhead line construction employees as well as in areas designated as a “HARDHAT AREA.”
Hand and Foot Protection
• Proper foot wear SHALL be worn by employees while working. Leather boots with protective soles shall be the minimum standard. Cloth or open shoes of any type are not considered appropriate and SHALL NOT be permitted on the job site.
• Additional protection SHALL be required as designated by the equipment manufacturer or by industry safety standards. This includes but is not limited to metatarsal guards that are required to be worn during the use of: jackhammers, power tampers, as well as the wearing of protective leg chaps while using a chainsaw during ground operations.
• Proper hand protection SHALL be worn that is appropriate for the job being performed, which may include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Standard work gloves for everyday use.
2. Welder’s gloves, if welding or cutting.
3. Approved rubber or chemical resistant gloves while handling chemicals or caustics.
4. Rubber gloves and protectors that are approved and tested for the proper electrical voltage being worked on.
5. RUBBER GLOVE PROTECTORS SHALL NOT BE WORN AS WORK GLOVES
Rope - Requirements
Always use arborist ropes for climbing trees, not ropes intended for rock climbing, caving or any other specialized use.
Characteristics Diameter Size of Rope: Tree climbing (arborist) ropes come in different diameter sizes, from 10mm to 14mm. The largest is 9/16 inch (14mm). This thicker rope is easier to grip than others, but it is also the heaviest. The smaller diameter ropes range from 10 mm (single rope technique only) to 11.6 mm for traditional doubled-rope technique or single rope technique. These ropes are lighter in weight, which makes them easier to carry. But they are harder to grip with bare hands, because the exterior sheath has a tighter weave, (which makes them more slippery.) Climbers who use a smaller diameter rope solve this problem by wearing latex coated gloves, which improve grip considerably. The smaller diameter ropes also work better with mechanical ascending devices that are popular with the more experienced climbers.
Colors of Rope: Tree climbing ropes come in a variety of colors. Which color you choose is a matter of personal preference. Professional climbers should choose the brightest colored ropes so that we can see where the rope is in the tree. We also want ground workers to see it, to avoid cutting it with a chainsaw.
Construction of Rope: Arborist rope is built using different types of weaves; the two main weaves are called braided or kernmantle. Which one you choose is based on personal preference. Choose a rope of at least 16-strand construction. Never use a rope with a twist construction, as it will make you spin the moment your feet leave the ground. Arborist rope is soft and flexible, which makes it possible to tie the special climbing knots needed to climb trees. Stiff ropes will not hold the knots.
Sheath of Rope: Tree climbing creates a lot of friction on rope, which causes the rope to melt or fuse. The result is a stiff, “crusty” outer layer which doesn’t hold the knots as well. Tree climbing ropes are built with a special outer layer designed to resist friction and heat.
Elasticity of Rope: Tree climbing rope should not be stretchy, because a stretchy rope causes the climber to bounce and use more energy in climbing. Arborist rope is more “static” when compared to the more elastic “dynamic” rock climbing ropes. That’s why arborist rope is the standard for tree climbing.
Rope Length: The length of rope you need will be double the climbing height of the tree (150 feet of rope to climb 75 feet up). Start with a rope that is 150 feet long unless you are climbing shorter trees, such as 50-footers, (where you can use a standard 120-foot rope.) If you plan to climb taller trees in the future, purchase a second, longer rope of 200 feet.
Rope Life: If you are climbing daily for tree work, replace your rope every year (this is the current ANSII standard). The old rope should be cut up into short pieces so that it is not usable.
Rope Inspection: Inspect your rope visually before, during, and after every climb and by running it through your fingers. If you see a damaged section, cut the rope immediately with a knife to prevent further use. It is easy to forget about a damaged section, and this is a rope that you would never want to climb again!
Harness/Saddle - Requirements
Inspect for:
• Webbing cuts, kinks, abrasions, burns, excessive swelling, excessive wear, discoloration, cracks, charring, broken fibers, lose or broken stitching.
• Loose, bent or pulled rivets, bent grommets, broken or burned threads.
• Tongue of buckle binds on buckle frame.
• Nicks, cracks, distortion or corrosion of hardware (Buckle, D-rings, etc.)
• Worn or damaged accessory snaps, rings, and loops.
