Key takeaways
- OSHA lists overhead power lines, falling branches and faulty safety equipment among tree care's potentially fatal hazards.
- The Tree Care Industry Association says electricity causes about 15 percent of fatalities in the industry and is the leading cause of worker fatalities.
- TCIA says training programs can help verify that OSHA and ANSI Z133 required training has been done.
- Stay out of the work zone, keep pets inside and tell the crew about wires, fences and anything fragile.
Owners rarely see the safety work, but they are around it: the cones in the street, the rope on the ground, the cutting stopped when someone walks into the yard. This guide covers what the standards address and what to ask.
What is ANSI Z133?
ANSI Z133 is the American National Standard for arboricultural operations: safety requirements. It is a voluntary consensus standard that tree care companies are expected to follow, and OSHA says the tree care industry must comply with the general industry standards in 29 CFR 1910, and it maintains tree care publications on hazards and solutions. See our glossary entry on ANSI Z133.
We name Z133 here as the standard the trade follows, and we ask you to ask any company how it trains to it.
What are the biggest hazards?
OSHA says many hazards in the tree care industry are potentially fatal, with overhead power lines, falling branches and faulty safety equipment among them. The Tree Care Industry Association adds that electricity causes about 15 percent of fatalities in the industry and is the leading cause of worker fatalities.
That is why wires get so much attention. Unqualified people must stay well away from lines, and the utility handles its own primary lines. See trees and power lines in NV Energy territory.
What does a safe job look like from the yard?
You cannot audit a crew from the window, but a few things tell you something. A crew that talks through the job before it starts, marks the area where debris will fall and keeps others out of it is working deliberately. Good communication between climber and ground crew is another sign, since TCIA publishes tailgate safety materials for the daily job briefing.
Equipment matters too. OSHA lists faulty safety equipment as a hazard, so ask a company how it inspects and maintains ropes, saws and rigging.
- A pre-job walk-through of hazards: wires, fences, buildings, pets
- A marked work zone where nobody but the crew stands
- Crew in protective gear and working in a calm order
- Machine placement planned before the first cut
What should I ask before hiring?
Ask about training, about how they handle work near lines, and about insurance. Our guide on proof of insurance covers the last one. Battle Born Tree Service is licensed and fully insured, and a certified arborist assesses every job before work begins. We own a crane, a 75-foot boom truck and loaders. See our equipment page.
What can I do to help?
Keep people and pets away from the work area, move vehicles from the drop zone, and tell the crew about wires, irrigation, fences and anything fragile. Do not stand under a tree being worked on or try to help with ropes or cutting. If anyone is hurt, call 911.
Sources
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Tree Care Industry (read October 17, 2026)
- Tree Care Industry Association: Safety (read October 17, 2026)