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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 16. Labor And Employment
Agency 25. Safety And Health Codes Board
Chapter 73. Regulation Applicable to Tree Trimming Operations
11/21/2024

16VAC25-73-40. General safety requirements.

A. General.

1. Machinery, vehicles, tools, materials and equipment shall conform to the requirements of this regulation. 16VAC25-60-120 is hereby incorporated by reference.

2. Employers shall instruct their employees in the proper use, inspection, and maintenance of tools and equipment, including ropes and lines, and shall require that appropriate working practices be followed.

3. A qualified arborist shall determine whether direct supervision is needed on a jobsite.

4. A job briefing shall be performed by the qualified arborist in charge before the start of each job. The briefing shall be communicated to all affected workers. An employee working alone need not conduct a job briefing. However, the employer shall ensure that the tasks are being performed as if a briefing were required.

B. Traffic control around the jobsite.

1. High-visibility safety apparel and headgear, when required, shall conform to the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Virginia Work Area Protection Manual.

2. Effective means for controlling pedestrian and vehicular traffic shall be instituted on every jobsite where necessary, in accordance with the VDOT's Virginia Work Area Protection Manual and applicable state and local laws and regulations.

3. Temporary traffic-control devices used in arboricultural operations shall conform to the VDOT Virginia Work Area Protection Manual and applicable federal and state regulations.

C. Emergency procedures and readiness.

1. Emergency phone numbers shall be available when and where arboricultural operations are being carried out. Arborists and other workers shall be instructed as to the specific location of such information.

2. A first-aid kit, adequately stocked and maintained in accordance with 16VAC25-90-1910.151, shall be provided by the employer, when and where arboricultural operations are being carried out. Arborists and other workers shall be instructed in its use and specific location.

3. Instruction shall be provided in the identification, preventive measures, and first-aid treatment of common poisonous plants (poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac), stinging and biting insects, and other pests indigenous to the area in which work is to be performed.

4. Employees who may be faced with a rescue decision shall receive training in emergency response and rescue procedures appropriate and applicable to the work to be performed, as well as training to recognize the hazards inherent in rescue efforts (see 16VAC25-73-140, Appendix E).

5. First-aid training shall be provided in accordance with 16VAC25-90-1910.151.

D. Personal protective equipment (PPE).

1. Personal protective equipment (PPE), as outlined in this section, shall be required when there is a reasonable probability of injury or illness that can be prevented by such protection, and when required by 16VAC25-90-1910.132. Training shall be provided in the use, care, maintenance, fit, and life of personal protective equipment.

2. Workers engaged in arboricultural operations shall wear head protection (helmets) that conforms to ANSI Z89.1, and in accordance with 16VAC25-90-1910.135. Class E helmets shall be worn when working in proximity to electrical conductors, in accordance with ANSI Z89.1. Workers shall not place reliance on the dielectric capabilities of such helmets.

3. Face protection shall comply with 16VAC25-90-1910.133.

4. Clothing and footwear appropriate to the known job hazards shall be approved by the employer and worn by the employee in accordance with 16VAC25-90-1910.132.

5. Respiratory protection shall comply with 16VAC25-90-1910.134.

6. Hearing protection provided by the employer shall be worn when it is not practical to decrease or isolate noise levels that exceed acceptable standards and in accordance with 16VAC25-90-1910.95.

7. Eye protection shall comply with 16VAC25-90-1910.133 and shall be worn when engaged in arboricultural operations.

8. Chain-saw resistant leg protection shall be worn while operating a chain saw during ground operations.

E. Fire protection.

1. Equipment shall be refueled only after the engine has stopped. Spilled fuel shall be removed from equipment before restarting.

2. Equipment shall not be operated within 10 feet (3.05 m) of refueling operations or areas in which refueling has recently taken place.

3. Flammable liquids shall be stored, handled, and dispensed from approved containers.

4. Smoking shall be prohibited when handling or working around flammable liquids.

5. Clothing contaminated by flammable liquid shall be changed as soon as possible.

6. Open flame and other sources of ignition shall be avoided.

Statutory Authority

§ 40.1-22 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 15, eff. April 27, 2011; Errata, 27:18 VA.R. 2116 May 9, 2011.

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