CTSP Regulatory Compliance (OSHA/Z133) Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A tree care crew is performing incidental line clearance near a 13.2 kV distribution line. According to OSHA and ANSI Z133, what is the minimum approach distance (MAD) that an unqualified person must maintain from the energized conductors?
- 2 feet, 4 inches
- 5 feet
- 10 feet (Correct answer)
- 15 feet
Correct answer: 10 feet
Both OSHA (1910.333(c)(3)(i)) and ANSI Z133 specify that unqualified persons, including their tools and equipment, must maintain a minimum approach distance of at least 10 feet from overhead power lines rated 50 kV or below. This distance is a critical safety buffer to prevent accidental contact or electrical arc-over.
Question 2: According to OSHA's regulations for reporting work-related incidents, under which of the following circumstances must an employer report an event within 8 hours?
- The in-patient hospitalization of a single employee.
- An incident that results in the amputation of a worker's finger.
- Any incident that results in a fatality of an employee. (Correct answer)
- The in-patient hospitalization of two employees from the same incident.
Correct answer: Any incident that results in a fatality of an employee.
OSHA's reporting requirements at 29 CFR 1904.39 are very specific. An employer must report the death of any employee from a work-related incident within 8 hours. In-patient hospitalizations, amputations, or the loss of an eye must be reported within 24 hours.
Question 3: An arborist is operating a chainsaw on the ground to buck logs. Which piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) is specifically required by the ANSI Z133 standard for this task?
- A high-visibility vest
- Steel-toed boots with ankle support
- A Class E, Type II helmet
- Cut-resistant leg protection (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Cut-resistant leg protection
ANSI Z133, Section 3.3.8, mandates that cut-resistant leg protection (such as chaps or saw pants) must be worn by workers while operating a chainsaw during ground operations. While other PPE is important and often required based on a hazard assessment, the cut-resistant leg protection is a specific requirement for this task.
Question 4: A CTSP is reviewing a company's safety procedures for line-clearance tree trimming operations. When is a second line-clearance tree trimmer required to be within unassisted voice communication of the first, according to OSHA 1910.269?
- At all times when a chainsaw is being operated aloft.
- Whenever work is performed within 20 feet of an energized conductor.
- When roping is necessary to remove limbs from near energized conductors. (Correct answer)
- Only when the work is being performed for a commercial client.
Correct answer: When roping is necessary to remove limbs from near energized conductors.
OSHA standard 1910.269(r)(1)(ii) specifies that a second line-clearance tree trimmer is required to be within normal voice range if, among other conditions, roping is necessary to remove branches or limbs from conductors or equipment. This ensures a spotter or rescuer is immediately available in a high-risk situation.
Question 5: OSHA does not have a comprehensive, single standard for all arboricultural operations. When citing a tree care company for a recognized hazard not covered by a specific OSHA standard, the agency often refers to the General Duty Clause in conjunction with which other document?
- The company's internal safety manual.
- The crane operator's handbook.
- The ANSI Z133 Safety Standard. (Correct answer)
- The local municipality's tree ordinance.
Correct answer: The ANSI Z133 Safety Standard.
Under the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act), employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards. Because the tree care industry has widely recognized the ANSI Z133 standard, OSHA frequently uses it as the benchmark for identifying known hazards and establishing what a reasonable employer should have known or done to provide a safe workplace.
Question 6: A tree care crew is setting up a work zone for a removal adjacent to a public roadway. Which of the following is a mandatory consideration according to both general OSHA principles and ANSI Z133 standards for traffic control?
- Ensuring all crew members wear green safety vests.
- Placing a minimum of ten traffic cones around the chipper.
- Using a certified flagger if vehicle or pedestrian traffic is affected. (Correct answer)
- Parking the chipper so that it blocks at least one lane of traffic.
Correct answer: Using a certified flagger if vehicle or pedestrian traffic is affected.
ANSI Z133 and the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which OSHA references, require that if the movement of vehicle or pedestrian traffic is affected by the work, appropriate measures such as signs, cones, and, when necessary, certified flaggers must be used to ensure the safety of both the public and the workers. Simply placing cones or wearing vests may not be sufficient control.
CTSP Regulatory Compliance (OSHA/Z133) Questions and Answers
A tree care crew is performing incidental line clearance near a 13.2 kV distribution line.
According to OSHA and ANSI Z133, what is the minimum approach distance (MAD) that an unqualified person must maintain from the energized conductors?