CTSP Regulatory Compliance (OSHA/Z133) 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: ANSI Z133 specifies that a second climber or qualified worker on the ground must be present when a climber is working aloft primarily to:
- Provide tools and equipment to the climber
- Monitor the climber and respond in case of emergency (Correct answer)
- Operate the chipper while the climber works
- Document the work being performed for liability
Correct answer: Monitor the climber and respond in case of emergency
ANSI Z133 requires a qualified ground worker to monitor the climber and be capable of initiating an emergency rescue response.
Question 2: Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.266, which of the following is a required component of a chainsaw inspection before use?
- Checking the chain sharpness against a factory standard card
- Verifying the chain brake functions properly (Correct answer)
- Confirming the saw weight is under the OSHA maximum
- Testing the saw at full throttle for 60 seconds
Correct answer: Verifying the chain brake functions properly
The chain brake must be inspected before each use as it is a critical safety device that stops the chain in a kickback event.
Question 3: According to ANSI Z133, the minimum distance for an exclusion zone around a felling operation is generally:
- Equal to the height of the tree being felled
- Twice the height of the tree being felled in all directions (Correct answer)
- 50 feet in all directions regardless of tree height
- Determined solely by local ordinance
Correct answer: Twice the height of the tree being felled in all directions
ANSI Z133 requires an exclusion zone of at least twice the tree's height to account for bounce and unexpected fall direction.
Question 4: OSHA requires employers to maintain a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program. In tree care, which common substance triggers this requirement?
- Tree sap from conifers
- Pesticides and herbicides used in treatments (Correct answer)
- Wood chips generated by chipping operations
- Carbon dioxide from vehicle exhaust
Correct answer: Pesticides and herbicides used in treatments
Pesticides and herbicides are chemical hazards requiring Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and proper labeling under OSHA's HazCom standard.
Question 5: A tree care employer with 10 or fewer employees is still subject to which OSHA recordkeeping requirement?
- Maintaining full OSHA 300 logs at all times
- Reporting any work-related fatality within 8 hours to OSHA (Correct answer)
- Filing annual injury summaries with the Department of Labor
- Posting OSHA 300A summary forms year-round
Correct answer: Reporting any work-related fatality within 8 hours to OSHA
All employers regardless of size must report work-related fatalities to OSHA within 8 hours and hospitalizations within 24 hours.
Question 6: ANSI Z133 requires that all aerial lift operators used in tree care be:
- Licensed by the state as heavy equipment operators
- Trained and authorized by the employer (Correct answer)
- Certified by ANSI directly before each project
- At least 21 years of age per federal law
Correct answer: Trained and authorized by the employer
ANSI Z133 requires the employer to train and authorize workers before they operate aerial lifts in tree care operations.
Question 7: Under OSHA standards, what must an employer do when a worker is exposed to a chemical hazard above the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)?
- Post a warning sign at the entrance to the work area
- Implement engineering controls, administrative controls, or provide appropriate PPE (Correct answer)
- Report the exposure to OSHA within 24 hours
- Place the affected employee on paid leave until the hazard is removed
Correct answer: Implement engineering controls, administrative controls, or provide appropriate PPE
OSHA's hierarchy of controls requires employers to implement engineering or administrative controls first, with PPE as the last line of defense.
CTSP Regulatory Compliance (OSHA/Z133) 3
ANSI Z133 specifies that a second climber or qualified worker on the ground must be present when a climber is working aloft primarily to: