OSHA regs

[memetic]

Does anyone know if OSHA requires leg protection for tree work (in CT, if this even matters)? I ordered 6-ply Kevlar chaps yesterday from Wesspur and practically had to force my tree climbing partner to order a pair. I called OSHA here, but they are closed and I couldn't find anything on the site yet. If OSHA requires chaps then at least I can get my partner to shut up. We should be wearing them anyway. I mean for $65 for mine and $77 for his it isn't any big deal. It's like pocket change. I wasn't into it because I love to wear shorts and keep cool (which I still will under the chaps), but he really doesn't want to wear them for some reason. Maybe he is like a kid, I remember not wanting to wear a hat in the winter cause it didn't look cool. Or whatever? I have no idea...

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Get a copy of ANSI Z 133 from ISA. This is the standard that OSHA has agreed to hold us to, vs the logging regs that they were trying to force on the industry.

Z 133 requires that chainsaw protective leg wear be used for all ground saw operations

 

[memetic]

Get a copy of ANSI Z 133 from ISA. This is the standard that OSHA has agreed to hold us to, vs the logging regs that they were trying to force on the industry.

Z 133 requires that chainsaw protective leg wear be used for all ground saw operations

I'll definitely get a copy of that after I talk to our local guy tomorrow.

What about climbers? Are they exempt from the protective leg wear rule?

Thanks

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

It is not required for climbing at this time, some would say that contacting OSHA could be risky business.

If you do, and you and your partner are the sole employees and officers of the business, then you may want to ask if you are required to comply, having no employees.

Just do not mention this website

 

[wasajco]

Just do not mention this website

And: call from a phone booth, use another name, etc. Remember these are useless eaters, they need a reason to exist, you might be their reason, it will not be cheap if they decide you are their next "customer" Really.

 

[memetic]

What website?

I don't do tree work. I don't even own a chainsaw.

I was just asking for a friend who lives in Alaska.

I hate parasites.

 

[wasajco]

Yeah, that's the ticket![Too much SNL as a youth]

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Remember these are useless eaters, they need a reason to exist,

Sometimes true, but the institution is there for a reason. Management does have a history of abusing workers and forcing them to work in substandard conditions.

Using too broad of a brush is as bad as those few who abuse their position in the agencies...

 

[wasajco]

Sometimes true, but the institution is there for a reason. Management does have a history of abusing workers and forcing them to work in substandard conditions.

Uh, no. Nobody forces you to take a job, or to continue at one where you do not feel safe. This agency is unconstitutional, as well as nanny government. You may feel different, but the courts are the place to handle those disputes. OSHA is another feel good agency that has no reason for being, we didn't have them for almost 200yrs. and we did fine. I'm a big boy now and if someone tells me to do something I don't feel is safe, or is stupid enough to try to physically force me, they are in for a terrible shock. I haven't played that stupid game since I was 16. But maybe being raised by a self employed father gives me a stronger spine to stand up to idiots/bureaucrats.

 

[memetic]

Uh, no. Nobody forces you to take a job, or to continue at one where you do not feel safe. This agency is unconstitutional, as well as nanny government. You may feel different, but the courts are the place to handle those disputes. OSHA is another feel good agency that has no reason for being, we didn't have them for almost 200yrs. and we did fine. I'm a big boy now and if someone tells me to do something I don't feel is safe, or is stupid enough to try to physically force me, they are in for a terrible shock. I haven't played that stupid game since I was 16. But maybe being raised by a self employed father gives me a stronger spine to stand up to idiots/bureaucrats.

I don't care one way or the other about OSHA. You'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many sheeple there are out there (and people ready to take advantage of them). That is why things like OSHA exist I'm guessing.

I just want to be prepared for the OSHA event if it ever happens. My neighbor was having some tree work done this summer and when they were just about finished the lady next store called OSHA and they were there lickety split. I couldn't hear what happened, but it wasn't good. They had been wearing their PPE all day, but just took it off near the end. OOPS. Big OOPS. That is just lame in my opinion. That's exactly what they shouldn't be doing. It appears more obvious in those situations that is an act of revenue generation - NOT looking out for the sheeple.

 

[wasajco]

You'd be surprised (or maybe not) how many sheeple there are out there (and people ready to take advantage of them). That is why things like OSHA exist I'm guessing.

I'm not surprised, we had a liberal/socialist squealer at a shop I worked at, his favorite line was: "I'm gonna call OSHA" he was the first person I had ever met who was like that. He was reminded of a thing called a blanket party. He shut up. The reality is, sadly, there are a lot of people who don't want to take responsibility for their lives, and they see Gov. as their savior. The scary part is even the EPA, another agency created for a non-problem carries GUNS! That's nuts, and it again proves what government is: Force. Should be last resort, isn't anymore.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

OSHA is another feel good agency that has no reason for being, we didn't have them for almost 200yrs. and we did fine.

Read Sinclair's Stockyard Jungle, study the history of mine labor relations, just start with Tennessee Ernie Ford "I sold my sole to the company store..."

Federal regulations developed in response to abuse of workers by management. As usual they tend to go overboard, but if corporate leaders tend to see labor as a commodity, not an asset.

Just look at the current lending crisis, lase fair regulatory practices allowed the sharks and jackles to scam the system. ( I knew a few people who were writing mortgages and it scared me)

I am a capitalist, but I understand the need for an umpire in the system.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

The scary part is even the EPA, another agency created for a non-problem carries GUNS!

So the Cuyahoga River never burned?

As a child I played in what became a Superfund Site in Milwaukee.

As long as man can make a buck, the Environment needs a Protection Agency.

 

[memetic]

So the Cuyahoga River never burned?

As a child I played in what became a Superfund Site in Milwaukee.

As long as man can make a buck, the Environment needs a Protection Agency.

I agree with you for the most part. I'm not a Libertarian, but I'm also not a Republican in favor of blowing billions (or is it trillions?) of dollars we don't even have either.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

By it's nature the government will over react. Since everything is done my multiple commities, several different groups will get their pet ideas taken care of.

You should hear stories of the horse trading at our ANSI Z 133 meetings. I do not think I could stand it.

Sarbains-Oxley is a good example, corperate America cries about the difficulties, but could not come up with a solution. The played chiken with congress, and needed rectal surgery afterwords.

 

[Billy_Bob]

So far as OSHA and the "logging" rules go, go to the following link, scroll to the bottom, then click on what you are doing. This will eventually take you to specific regulations.

A few months ago I searched OSHA for arborist, tree, etc. but all I could find was logging.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/logging/mainpage.html

 

[fostertrees]

Regulations on wearing chaps in a tree

I don't know where this post should go I hope someone will answer this though. I currently work as a certified arborist in Portland OR and have worked in three different state as one. We got stopped by OSHA. (Mind you this is in 2011 I bring this up because alot of the posts talking about this are old and I was wondering if this has changed yet I knew it was on the table to.) They sited me for not wearing chaps and fined the company. The guy didn't know his balls from his ass so to speak but told me they had been required for ten years even in the tree which is were I was when he stopped to check out the solar panel installation going on at the house next to our job site. I have been wearing them ever since but was wondering if I was right in thinking that they were not required while in a tree pleas help me just know where this regulation is

 

[wasajco]

OSHA is an illegal, according the the US Constitution, group of assclowns who sole purpose is to bankrupt business and drive it out of this country. No matter what they say or do, they are enforcing, under "color of law" a null law. That is a law that is not a law, and is enforced under the threat of force. Having said all that, I feel for you, they are bureaucrats and will stop at nothing to enforce what they believe is right. They are pathetic losers who wouldn't know right from wrong if it smacked them in the head. Good luck, I mean that, we are right now fighting this in our county with the BLM and the city, as well as county council regarding Agenda 21, which, though unrelated to what you are going through is still null, and therefore, not law. Sadly, the jerks who back it don't see it.
Wayne B:msp_mad:

 

[Philbert]

I don't know where this post should go I hope someone will answer this though. I currently work as a certified arborist in Portland OR and have worked in three different state as one. We got stopped by OSHA. (Mind you this is in 2011 I bring this up because alot of the posts talking about this are old and I was wondering if this has changed yet I knew it was on the table to.) They sited me for not wearing chaps and fined the company. The guy didn't know his balls from his ass so to speak but told me they had been required for ten years even in the tree which is were I was when he stopped to check out the solar panel installation going on at the house next to our job site. I have been wearing them ever since but was wondering if I was right in thinking that they were not required while in a tree pleas help me just know where this regulation is

Fostertrees,

It is important to understand that there is FEDERAL OSHA, and STATE OSHA. Under the OSHA act, states could set up their own OSHA program, enforced by state employees, as long as it was 'at least as effective as' the federal regulations.

That means that a state can have stricter work safety regs, but not weaker ones. States that did not want to set up their own OSHA program are covered by federal OSHA, which is enforced by federal employees.

This means that you have to check with your state to find out how a specific regulation is enforced. It might be different than where another A.S. member lives/works.

Aside from the OSHA ENFORCEMENT guys (the 'safety police') every state also has OSHA CONSULTATION guys to help companies comply with regulations and who do not give out fines or penalties. In fact, in my state, they give out matching grants to help pay for safety equipment.

Start by calling the OSHA Consultation group for your state.
Link:OSHA Small Business Assistance > OSHA Small Business On-Site Consultation

If you don't get the answer you want, or if it is too wishy-washy, you can ask for a formal, written opinion to your specific question, but it can take time (up to a year) to receive a written interpretation.

Philbert

 

[newsawtooth]

Phillbert is correct, Oregon operates a state plan agreement with OSHA. Glancing at their website (Oregon OSHA - Oregon Occupational Safety & Health Division) there is a requirement that chaps be worn by any worker using a chainsaw... "(5) All employees using chain saws shall wear flexible ballistic nylon pads or other equivalent protection sewn or otherwise fastened to the trousers, which will protect the legs from the thigh to below the knee" (http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/osha/pdf/rules/division_2/div2_r.pdf , pg. 13)

There are exceptions for climbers involved in logging and line clearance. Perhaps because those industries have more resources with which to make a case against chaps for climbers.