Certified Arborist Test Safe Work Practices 3

Question 1

What does the ANSI Z133 standard require regarding work zone setup when arborists are working adjacent to public roadways?

Accepted Answer

Appropriate traffic control measures — including signage, cones, flaggers, and in many cases traffic control permits — must be established to protect workers and the public before work begins near traffic

Answer

Arborists must notify the police department 24 hours before beginning roadside tree work

Answer

Crews working within 50 feet of a road must wear orange reflective vests but no other traffic control is required

Answer

Only licensed traffic control companies may establish roadway work zones — arborists are prohibited from placing any traffic control devices

Question 2

What are the key elements of a job hazard analysis (JHA) and when should it be completed?

Accepted Answer

A JHA breaks down job tasks into specific steps, identifies hazards associated with each step, and documents control measures — completed before work begins and updated when conditions change

Answer

A JHA is a post-incident analysis completed after accidents to identify causes for insurance documentation

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A JHA is an annual company-level safety audit required by OSHA for businesses with more than 10 employees

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A JHA is an equipment inspection checklist completed at the beginning of each equipment operation day

Question 3

What is the minimum requirement for a first aid kit on an arboricultural job site according to OSHA standards, and what additional first aid resources are required?

Accepted Answer

OSHA requires adequate first aid supplies on-site whenever a job site is not close to a medical facility; at least one employee per crew must have current first aid and CPR certification

Answer

A basic bandage kit in the crew vehicle is sufficient — OSHA does not specify first aid requirements for arboricultural crews

Answer

All crew members must be licensed EMTs — tree work involves sufficient trauma risk to require full emergency medical training

Answer

First aid kits must be registered with the local fire department and inspected quarterly regardless of job site proximity to hospitals

Question 4

What are the key selection criteria for personal protective equipment (PPE) in arboricultural operations, specifically for chainsaw protection?

Accepted Answer

PPE must meet relevant ANSI/ASTM performance standards; chainsaw chaps must meet ASTM F1897 with appropriate hazard category for the saw class used; cut-resistant gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and hard hats have separate applicable standards

Answer

Cost and comfort are the primary selection criteria — any chainsaw chap sold commercially meets required safety standards

Answer

Only hard hats are required by OSHA for tree work — all other PPE is recommended but not mandated

Answer

Chainsaw PPE selection is the employee's responsibility — employers need only provide generic work clothes and boots

Question 5

What is the role of tailgate safety meetings in arboricultural operations, and what topics should they address?

Accepted Answer

Brief pre-work crew meetings (5-15 minutes) conducted at the job site before work begins to review site-specific hazards, assign roles, and confirm safety procedures for that day's work

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Formal quarterly meetings at the company office to review the year's incidents and update the safety program

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Weekly written communications from the safety officer distributed to all field crews summarizing regulatory changes

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Post-job debriefs following any incident to document causes and corrective actions for future prevention

Question 6

What does the 'hierarchy of controls' mean in occupational safety, and how is it applied in arboricultural hazard management?

Accepted Answer

A systematic prioritization of hazard control methods from most to least effective: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE

Answer

A ranking system for documenting the severity of injuries in the OSHA incident log by injury type

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A protocol for determining which crew member has supervisory authority over safety decisions on site

Answer

A regulatory checklist specifying the order in which different types of tree work must be completed for maximum safety