Safe Work Practices Flashcards
6 cards from real Certified Arborist Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Safe Work Practices flashcards as text
What OSHA standard governs electrical hazard protection for arborists working near utility lines, and what are the minimum approach distances?
Answer: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 — minimum approach distances vary by voltage, from 2 feet for lines under 50kV to greater distances for higher voltages, and only qualified electrical workers may work within these boundaries
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 establishes electrical safety requirements for utility work, including minimum approach distances that increase with voltage class. Only qualified electrical workers with specific training may work within minimum approach distances of energized conductors.
What is the 'two-to-one' safety rule in rigging, and how is it applied in arboricultural operations?
Answer: Each rigging component must have a working load limit (WLL) at least twice the expected maximum load it will bear during the operation
The two-to-one (2:1) safety factor means that rigging components (ropes, slings, carabiners, blocks) must have working load limits at least double the expected peak load they will encounter. In practice, arboricultural rigging typically uses 5:1 or higher design factors to account for dynamic loading and shock loading.
What is the purpose of a pre-work site hazard assessment, and who is responsible for conducting it?
Answer: It is a required safety practice conducted by the crew leader or supervisor before beginning work, identifying hazards including electrical lines, overhead obstacles, buried utilities, traffic, soil conditions, and escape routes
A pre-work site hazard assessment is a fundamental safety requirement under ANSI Z133, conducted by the crew leader before work begins, that systematically identifies all site hazards — electrical, mechanical, environmental, traffic — and establishes safe work procedures, exclusion zones, and emergency plans for the specific job site.
What does 'struck-by' refer to as a category of workplace incident, and what are the primary prevention strategies in arboricultural operations?
Answer: Injuries caused by falling or moving objects such as falling branches, tools, or wood chips — prevented through exclusion zones, PPE, and proper work planning
Struck-by incidents involve workers or bystanders being hit by falling branches, dropped tools, wood chip debris, or moving equipment. They are among the most common arboricultural injuries and are prevented through strict exclusion zones, hard hat and eye protection use, proper rigging, and communications protocols.
What is the correct procedure for using a chainsaw to make a felling cut, and what factors must be assessed before beginning a felling operation?
Answer: A directional notch is cut on the intended fall side, followed by a back cut on the opposite side leaving a hinge of wood that directs the fall — after assessing lean, obstacles, escape routes, and weight distribution
Proper felling requires a directional notch (open-face or conventional notch) cut on the intended fall side, followed by a back cut that leaves a sufficient hinge of wood to guide the fall, after thoroughly assessing lean, canopy weight distribution, obstacles, wind conditions, and escape route planning.
What are the requirements for using personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) in tree climbing, and how does it differ from work positioning?
Answer: A PFAS arrests a worker after a fall begins, requires a free fall distance calculation to prevent ground contact, and includes a full-body harness; work positioning maintains the worker in position and must be backed up by a secondary attachment when working aloft
A PFAS (full-body harness + shock absorber + anchor + connectors) arrests a falling worker but must be rigged so the worker doesn't contact lower structures or the ground. Work positioning maintains a worker in position under tension; ANSI Z133 requires a secondary attachment when working with a work-positioning system to ensure a fall arrest backup is always in place.