Document ID: OSHA-2008-0012-0001
Agency: osha
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Tree Care Operations
Posted Date: 2008-09-18T04:00Z

[Federal Register: September 18, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 182)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 54118-54123]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18se08-27]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

29 CFR Part 1910

[Docket No. OSHA-2008-0012]
RIN 1218-AC40

 
Tree Care Operations

AGENCY: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 
Department of Labor.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: OSHA is requesting data, information, and comment on tree care 
operations, including hazards, fatalities, and control measures, that 
the Agency can use in developing a proposed standard to control hazards 
and reduce injuries in those operations.

DATES: Comments must be submitted (postmarked, sent, or received) by 
December 17, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. OSHA-2008-
0012, by any of the following methods:
    Electronically: You may submit comments and attachments 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, which is the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal. Follow the instructions online for submitting 
comments.
    Fax: If your comments, including attachments, do not exceed 10 
pages, you may fax them to the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-1648.
    Mail, hand delivery, express mail, messenger or courier service: 
You must submit three copies of your comments and attachments to the 
OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2008-0012, Room N-2625, U.S. 
Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20210; telephone 202-693-2350 (TTY number 877-889-5627).

[[Page 54119]]

Deliveries (hand, express mail, messenger or courier service) are 
accepted during the Department of Labor's and Docket Office's normal 
business hours, 8:15 a.m.-4:45 p.m., e.t.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and the 
OSHA docket number (Docket No. OSHA-2008-0012). Because of security-
related procedures, submissions by regular mail may result in 
significant delay in their receipt. Please contact the OSHA Docket 
Office at the above address for information about security procedures 
for submitting comments by hand delivery, express delivery, and 
messenger or courier service.
    All comments, including any personal information you provide, are 
placed in the public docket without change and may be made available 
online at http://www.regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions you 
about submitting certain personal information, such as social security 
numbers and birthdates. For further information on submitting comments, 
see the ``Public Participation'' heading in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.
    Docket: To read or download comments submitted in response to this 
Federal Register notice or other materials in the docket, go to Docket 
No. OSHA-2008-0012 at http://www.regulations.gov or the OSHA Docket 
Office at the address above. All documents in the docket are listed in 
the http://www.regulations.gov index, however, some information (for 
example, copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or 
download through the Web site. All submissions, including copyrighted 
material, are available for inspection and copying at the OSHA Docket 
Office.
    Electronic copies of this Federal Register notice are available at 
http://www.regulations.gov. This notice, as well as news releases and 
other relevant information, also are available at OSHA's Web site at 
http://www.osha.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Press Inquiries: Jennifer Ashley, OSHA 
Office of Communications, Room N-3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20210; telephone: 202-693-
1999.
    General and Technical Information: David Wallis, OSHA Directorate 
of Standards and Guidance, Office of Engineering Safety, Room N-3609, 
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 
20210; telephone 202-693-2277.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background
    A. Hazards and Accidents
    B. Applicable Standards
    C. Events Leading to This Action
II. Request for Data, Information, and Comments
    A. Tree Care Industry
    B. Accidents, Injuries, and Fatalities
    C. Tree Trimming
    D. Tree Removal
    E. Portable Powered Hand Tools, Ladders, and Other Tools and 
Equipment
    F. Vehicles and Mobile Equipment
    G. Chippers
    H. General Workplace Safety Practices and Procedures
    I. Training
    J. Medical Services and First Aid
    K. National Consensus Standards
    L. Economic Impacts
III. Public Participation
IV. Authority and Signature

I. Background

A. Hazards and Accidents

    Tree care operations, such as tree trimming and tree removal, can 
expose employees to a number of serious hazards. The dangers include 
falling from trees; being hit by falling trees or branches, flying 
objects or vehicular traffic; being cut by high-speed saws; being 
pulled into chippers; and coming into contact with energized power 
lines. These dangers are often associated with tree trimming and 
removal operations and related tasks; therefore, these operations are 
some of the key areas on which OSHA is focusing this Advance Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking.
    The hazards present in tree care operations have resulted in a 
significant number of serious accidents. For example, looking at fatal 
accidents in the tree services and ornamental shrubs industry sector 
(SIC 0783), just one of the industry sectors that perform tree care 
operations, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that between 
1992 and 2002 \1\ there were 637 fatalities.\2\ That averages to 58 
fatalities per year. The vast majority (75.6 percent) of those 
fatalities were falls, being struck by falling objects, and 
electrocutions, which are types of accidents most closely associated 
with tree trimming and removal operations. Falls and being struck by 
falling objects accounted for about one-third (32 percent) and one-
quarter (26 percent) of the deaths, respectively. Contact with electric 
current resulted in 17.6 percent of the fatalities and transportation 
incidents also were significant causes of fatalities during that 
period.
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    \1\ The most recent year for which data are available for SIC 
0783 is 2002. The North American Industrial Classification System 
has replaced the Standard Industrial Code system. Under the NAICS 
system, SIC 0783 is now classified as a part of the landscape 
services sector (NAICS 561730).
    \2\ Source: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Bureau of 
Labor Statistics (BLS) (http://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm). Data 
are derived from State death certificates and other sources and may 
include deaths of sole proprietors.
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    According to BLS data, the annual number of fatalities in SIC 0783 
increased between 1992 and 2002. In 2002, for instance, there were 70 
fatalities, almost double the 36 reported in 1992. Moreover, during the 
last 3 years of the period, there were 70 or more fatalities each year. 
From 1992 to 2002, there was a significant increase in the number of 
fatalities in SIC 0783 resulting from being struck by falling objects 
and transportation incidents, including being struck by mobile 
equipment. Those types of fatalities increased more than three-fold and 
five-fold, respectively. Also, during that period the number of 
fatalities in SIC 0783 among Hispanic employees more than quadrupled, 
increasing from 4 deaths in 1992 to 17 deaths in 2002. In 1992, 11 
percent of the fatalities in SIC 0783 were Hispanic employees. By 2002, 
however, Hispanic employees accounted for 24 percent of all fatalities, 
which was significantly higher than the percentage of fatalities for 
Hispanic employees in private industry as a whole (15 percent).
    Data from OSHA's Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) 
for SIC 0783 show similar results. From 1994-2007, fatalities resulting 
from falls (from trees or bucket trucks) and being struck by falling 
objects accounted for 28 and 29 percent of the fatal injuries, 
respectively. Contact with electric current and transportation 
accidents accounted for 20 and 9 percent of the fatalities, 
respectively.
    Looking at fatalities associated with chipper operations, a 
hazardous task related to tree trimming and tree removal operations, 
seven percent of employee deaths reported in the BLS data resulted when 
an employee was pulled into a chipper or struck by the chipper hood or 
other part of the chipper. Similarly, 20 fatalities reported in the 
IMIS data during the past 10 years (1998-2007) occurred in chipper 
operations. Seventy percent of those deaths resulted when employees 
were caught and pulled into the chipper.
    Injury data for SIC 0783 also indicate the hazardous nature of tree 
care operations. For example, in 2002 BLS reported an average annual 
injury rate of 7.6 cases per 100 fulltime workers in SIC 0783, which 
was above the annual

[[Page 54120]]

rate of 5.3 in private industry as a whole.\3\
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    \3\ Source: BLS (http://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm).
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B. Applicable Standards

    OSHA's logging operations standard (29 CFR 1910.266) covers limited 
types of tree removal operations, which are sometimes performed by 
firms primarily engaged in tree care services. In addition, there are a 
number of other OSHA general industry standards that apply to certain 
tree care operations, including:
     29 CFR 1910.25--Portable wood ladders;
     29 CFR 1910.26--Portable metal ladders;
     29 CFR 1910.67--Vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating 
work platforms;
     29 CFR Part 1910.95--Occupational noise exposure;
     29 CFR 1910.106--Flammable and combustible liquids;
     29 CFR Part 1910 subpart I--Personal protective equipment;
     29 CFR 1910.147--Control of hazardous energy (lockout/
tagout);
     29 CFR 1910.151--Medical services and first aid;
     29 CFR 1910.180--Crawler, locomotive, and truck cranes;
     29 CFR 1910.184--Slings;
     29 CFR 1910.212--General requirements for all machines 
[machine guarding];
     29 CFR 1910.242--Hand and portable powered tools and 
equipment;
     29 CFR 1910.268--Telecommunications;
     29 CFR 1910.269--Electric power generation, transmission, 
and distribution;
     29 CFR 1910.331 to 1910.335--Electrical safety-related 
work practices; and
     29 CFR 1910.1200--Hazard communication.

C. Events Leading to This Action

    On May 10, 2006, the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) 
petitioned OSHA to promulgate a standard specific to tree care 
operations. In its petition, TCIA said a standard is needed because 
``tree care work is by its very nature one of the most hazardous 
occupations'' and because existing OSHA standards do not adequately 
address those hazards. TCIA urged that OSHA develop a standard based on 
ANSI Z133.1--2006.
American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations--Safety 
Requirements
    After analyzing the BLS and IMIS fatality and injury data, OSHA has 
decided to pursue rulemaking to address hazards in tree care 
operations. As the first step in the rulemaking process, OSHA is 
publishing this ANPR to gather data, information, and comment on 
hazards in tree care operations and effective measures to control 
hazards and prevent injuries and fatalities. In addition, OSHA is 
requesting comment on provisions a standard should include to 
effectively address those hazards. OSHA also will carefully consider 
the ANSI Z133.1 standard, as well as State occupational safety and 
health standards addressing tree care operations, in developing a 
standard.

II. Request for Data, Information, and Comments

    OSHA is seeking data, information, and comment on hazards present 
in tree care operations and the measures to control those hazards and 
reduce the high accident, injury, and fatality rate, particularly in 
the operations of tree trimming and removal.
    OSHA is interested in gathering a broad range of data, information, 
and comments related to a standard addressing tree care operations. 
OSHA invites comment on the questions in this notice, which include 
current employer and industry practices as well as the tasks, tools, 
equipment, machines, vehicles, processes, controls, and procedures 
involved in tree care operations. OSHA requests that you explain and 
provide data and information, including any studies or articles that 
support your comments.
    Because OSHA intends to address tree care operations in whatever 
industry they may occur, OSHA is particularly interested in obtaining 
information about all kinds of businesses that may engage in tree care 
operations. Preliminarily, OSHA has identified tree care operations as 
primarily taking place among: (1) Firms primarily engaged in tree care 
services (many of which belong to the Tree Care Industry Association 
and were formerly classified in SIC 0783); (2) utilities (electric 
power and telecommunications) that do their own tree trimming rather 
than contracting it out to others; and (3) municipalities and other 
local governments that provide tree care services to their constituents 
and on local government owned or operated properties such as parks and 
recreational areas. In addition, tree care operations may also take 
place in any firm with significant property management 
responsibilities, such as large property management firms or zoos, 
museums, and historic sites. OSHA tentatively plans to profile the 
industry, in large part, by identifying establishments that employ tree 
trimmers and pruners (Standard Occupational Code 37-013). In 2006, 
there were 41,000 tree trimmers and pruners. OSHA invites comment on 
this approach. OSHA also requests information on who currently engages 
in tree care operations and how and to what extent this standard might 
affect them.
    OSHA also invites comment on regulatory alternatives to reduce 
injuries and fatalities in tree care operations. In addition, OSHA 
invites comment on what requirements a standard addressing hazards in 
tree care operations should include and the potential costs and 
benefits of such a standard.

A. Tree Care Industry

    1. Who performs tree care operation in the US? What industries are 
they in? How many entities, by industry, perform tree care operations 
in the United States? Which industries, other than the landscaping 
services industry, perform tree care operations that may be affected by 
a tree care operations standard? Are there tree care operations that do 
not employ employees classified as tree trimmers and pruners?
    2. Please describe the job tasks involved in tree care operations 
and the hazards present in those tasks.
    3. What types of tree care operations does your company (or a 
company representative of your industry) perform? What types of tree 
care operations comprise the largest part of your company's business? 
For example, how much of your business involves tree trimming 
operations and how much involves tree removal operations?
    4. How many tree care companies in the United States primarily 
perform tree trimming and removal operations?
    5. How many employees does your company (or a company 
representative of your industry) employ to perform tree care 
operations? Of those, how many are permanent employees and how many are 
temporary employees? What types of tree care operations do those 
employees perform?
    6. To what extent does your company (or a company representative of 
your industry) rely on or use day laborers in tree trimming and removal 
operations? What tasks do they typically perform?

B. Accidents, Injuries, and Fatalities

    1. How many and what types of accidents, injuries, and fatalities 
have been reported at your company or in the tree care industry during 
the past 5 years?
    2. In what operations did those accidents, injuries, or fatalities 
occur,

[[Page 54121]]

and what operations had the highest number of accidents, injuries, or 
fatalities?
    3. What were the causes (for example, fall, struck by a vehicle or 
falling tree or limb, cut by chain saw or chipper, and electric shock) 
of the accidents, injuries, and fatalities? Please explain in detail.
    4. What was the average number of days away from work for those 
injuries?
    5. What was the average age and length of employment of the 
employees injured or killed during tree care operations?

C. Tree Trimming

    1. What types of tasks are involved in tree trimming operations and 
what hazards are present in those tasks?
    2. In what setting does your company (or a representative company 
in your industry) usually perform tree trimming operations (for 
example, residential property, commercial property, public land, right-
of-way, and near telecommunication or electric power lines)?
    3. What vehicles, mobile equipment, portable powered hand tools, 
and other tools and equipment do employees use to perform tree trimming 
operations?
    4. To what extent are tree trimming operations at your company or 
industry performed from aerial lifts, from ladders, in trees, or on the 
ground?
    5. To what extent do employees at your company or industry get into 
the tree to perform tree trimming? How do they get into the tree and 
what equipment do they use to get up there?
    6. How do you dispose of the branches and limbs? How are they moved 
to the street or other disposal area?
    7. What controls and work safety practices has your company or 
industry implemented to protect employees performing or working near 
tree trimming operations?
    8. What fall protection or other personal protective equipment 
(PPE) does your company provide to protect employees performing or 
working near tree trimming operations, including performing tree 
trimming operations from aerial lifts? Which employees receive PPE, 
what PPE do you pay for, and what does it cost?
    9. What provisions and requirements should a standard include to 
protect employees from hazards in tree trimming operations?

D. Tree Removal

    1. What types of tasks are involved in performing tree removal 
operations and what hazards are present in those tasks?
    2. In what setting does your company (or a representative company 
in your industry) usually perform tree removal operations (for example, 
residential property, commercial property, public lands, and near 
telecommunication or electric power lines)? How many trees does your 
company (or a representative company in your industry) typically remove 
on a single job or worksite?
    3. How does your company or industry remove or cut down trees, 
particularly where space or clearance is an issue? Please explain in 
detail.
    4. To what extent and in what circumstances does your company or 
industry remove trees solely using the piece-out method? To what extent 
and in what circumstances does your company or industry remove trees by 
cutting them down all at once at the stump?
    5. What vehicles, mobile equipment, portable powered hand tools, 
and other tools and equipment do employees use to perform tree removal 
operations?
    6. To what extent and in what circumstances does your company or 
industry use cranes to remove trees or tree segments?
    7. How does your company dispose of tree trunks and trunk segments? 
How are they moved to the street or other disposal area?
    8. What controls and workplace safety practices has your company or 
industry implemented to protect employees who perform or work near tree 
removal operations?
    9. What types of fall protection and other PPE does your company 
provide to protect employees who perform or work near tree removal 
operations? Which employees receive PPE, what PPE do you pay for, and 
what does it cost?
    10. What requirements should a standard include to protect 
employees from hazards in tree removal operations?

E. Portable Powered Hand Tools, Ladders, and Other Tools and Equipment

    1. What portable powered hand tools (for example, chain saws, and 
powered pole-mounted tools), ladders, and other tools (for example, 
cant hooks, chisels, chopping tools, and tongs) and equipment (for 
example, rope, climbing equipment, and wedges) does your company or 
industry use to perform tree care operations?
    2. What types of chain saws does your company or industry use to 
cut tree branches and trunks?
    3. What controls and safety mechanisms do these tools and equipment 
have to protect employees from accidents, injuries, and fatalities? 
What type of kickback protections or other safety mechanisms do the 
chain saws have to protect employees from being cut or otherwise 
injured? What do these controls and safety mechanisms cost?
    4. What workplace safety practices has your company or industry 
implemented to protect employees who use or work near portable powered 
hand tools, chains saws, ladders, and other tools and equipment?
    5. What PPE (for example, cut-resistant leg protection, head 
protection, and eye and face protection) does your company or industry 
provide to protect employees who use or work near portable powered hand 
tools, and other tools and equipment? Which employees receive PPE, what 
PPE do you pay for, and what does it cost?
    6. What type of training does your company or industry provide to 
employees before they are permitted to operate portable powered hand 
tools, and other tools and equipment? Which employees receive training 
and how frequently?
    7. What provisions and requirements should a standard specific to 
tree care operations include to protect employees operating portable 
powered hand tools, and other tools and equipment?

F. Vehicles and Mobile Equipment

    1. What types of vehicles and mobile equipment (for example, aerial 
lifts, sprayers, stump cutters, log loaders, cranes, and winches) does 
your company or industry use to perform tree care operations?
    2. What types of controls and safety mechanisms do vehicles and 
mobile equipment have to protect employees operating these vehicles or 
mobile equipment? For example, does your company or industry use 
vehicles and mobile equipment that are equipped with safety equipment 
such as seat belts and falling object protective systems (FOPS)? What 
do these controls and safety mechanisms cost?
    3. What workplace safety practices (for example, traffic cones and 
signs and traffic direction) has your company or industry implemented 
to protect employees operating or working near vehicles or mobile 
equipment? What safety work practices and procedures has your company 
or industry implemented at jobsites to protect employees from on-road 
vehicular traffic in the area?
    4. What PPE (for example, reflective vests) does your company or 
industry provide to protect employees while operating or working near 
vehicles or mobile equipment? Which employees receive PPE, what PPE do 
you pay for, and what does it cost?

[[Page 54122]]

    5. What training does your company or industry provide for 
employees who operate vehicles or mobile equipment for tree care 
operations? Which employees receive training and how frequently?
    6. What provisions and requirements should a standard specific to 
tree care operations include to protect employees operating or working 
near vehicles and mobile equipment? For example, should a standard 
require that employers use mobile equipment that is equipped with FOPS 
and seat belts?

G. Chippers

    1. To what extent and in what circumstances does your company or 
industry perform chipping operations at tree trimming and removal 
worksites?
    2. What types of chippers does your company or industry use?
    3. What types of safety mechanisms (for example, safety control bar 
and hood locks or latches) do chippers have to prevent employees from 
being pulled into the machine or otherwise injured? What types of 
safety mechanisms do your chippers have and what do they cost?
    4. What types of controls (for example, wooden push sticks) and 
workplace safety practices has your company or industry implemented to 
protect employees operating or working near chippers?
    5. What types of PPE (for example, safety glasses, head protection, 
and gloves) does your company or industry provide to employees 
performing or working near chipper operations? Which employees receive 
PPE, what PPE do you pay for, and what does it cost?
    6. What training does your company or industry provide for 
employees who perform or work near chipper operations? Which employees 
receive training and how frequently?
    7. What requirements should a standard include to protect employees 
operating or working near chippers? For example, should a standard 
require that employers use chippers equipped with safety control bars?

H. General Workplace Safety Practices and Procedures

    1. What general workplace safety and health practices or program 
has your company or industry implemented to protect employees who 
perform or work near tree care operations? Please describe in detail or 
submit a copy of the practices or program.
    2. To what extent does your company (or a company representative of 
your industry) conduct hazard assessments before beginning a tree 
trimming or removal operation? Please describe in detail the hazard 
assessment process you use.
    3. What workplace safety practices and procedures has your company 
or industry implemented to address environmental conditions (for 
example, thunderstorms, high winds, snow, and ice) that may pose a risk 
to employees?
    4. What type of accident, near-miss, injury, and fatality records 
does your company or industry keep and analyze and to what extent does 
your company use these records to improve workplace safety and health 
practices or programs?

I. Training

    1. What training does your company or industry provide to employees 
about safe performance of tree care operations? Which employees receive 
training and how frequently? What does the training cost?
    2. What is the content of that training? Please describe in detail 
and submit a copy of training materials.
    3. What training, if any, does your company provide for temporary 
employees, including day laborers? What is the content of that training 
and in what language is it provided? Please describe in detail and 
submit a copy of training materials.
    4. To what extent does your company or companies in your industry 
hold regular safety meetings (for example, toolbox talks)? What do 
those safety meetings cover and how frequently are they held?
    5. What training requirements should a standard include to protect 
employees performing tree care operations? Should a standard require 
that employers train all employees, including temporary employees and 
day laborers, before permitting them to perform tree care operations or 
related tasks?

J. Medical Services and First Aid

    1. What procedures has your company or industry implemented to 
ensure that injured employees receive timely and effective first aid 
and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if they are injured?
    2. What first aid and CPR training does your company or industry 
provide to employees? Which employees receive training and how 
frequently? How much does the training cost? If training is not 
provided, what alternatives are in place to ensure that employees 
receive timely first aid and CPR?
    3. Does your company or industry have first aid kits at the 
workplace in the event an employee is injured? How many kits do you 
provide, where are they located, and what types of supplies do they 
contain? What do the first aid kits and supplies cost?
    4. What requirements should a standard contain to address medical 
services, including first aid and CPR, to help employees who are 
injured during tree care operations? For example, should a standard 
include provisions requiring the employees have CPR training or that 
employers have an automated external defibrillator at the workplace?

K. National Consensus Standards

    1. To what extent has your company or industry implemented the 
provisions and requirements in the ANSI Z133.1 standard and what were 
the costs? Please explain in detail.
    2. What provisions or requirements in ANSI Z133.1 have been most 
effective in reducing injuries and fatalities at your company or in the 
industry?
    3. What provisions in the ANSI Z133.1 standard, if any, have been 
difficult to implement at your company or in the industry?
    4. What provisions or requirements in ANSI Z133.1 should OSHA 
include or not include in a standard on tree care operations? Please 
explain.
    5. What provisions or requirements in other national consensus 
standards should OSHA include in a standard on tree care operations?

L. Economic Impacts

    1. What are the potential economic impacts associated with the 
promulgation of a standard to control hazards and reduce injuries and 
fatalities in tree care operations? Describe those impacts in terms of 
benefits from reduction in the number or severity of injuries and from 
changes in the costs of controls, medical costs, and training; effects 
on revenue and profit; and any other relevant impact measure. To the 
extent possible, quantify or provide examples of costs (for example, 
dollar estimates for controls).
    2. What changes, if any, in market conditions would reasonably be 
expected to result from the promulgation of a standard on tree care 
operations? Describe any changes in market structure or concentration, 
and any effects on services that would reasonably be expected.
    3. How many and what kinds of small entities perform tree care 
operations? What percentage of the industry do they comprise?
    4. The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that OSHA assess the 
impact of proposed and final rules on small entities (5 U.S.C 601 et 
seq.). OSHA requests that members of the small business community and 
others familiar with small business concerns address

[[Page 54123]]

any special circumstances small entities face in controlling hazards 
and reducing injuries and fatalities in tree care operations. How and 
to what extent would small entities in your industry be affected by the 
promulgation of a standard that addresses hazards in tree care 
operations? Are there special circumstances that make the control of 
hazards in tree care operations more difficult or more costly in small 
entities? Describe those circumstances and explain and discuss any 
alternatives that might serve to minimize these impacts.
    5. Are the reasons why the benefits of a standard to control 
hazards in tree care operations might be different for small entities 
than for larger establishments? Please explain.

III. Public Participation

    You may submit comments in response to this document (1) 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, (2) by hard copy, or (3) 
by facsimile (FAX). All comments, attachments, and other materials must 
identify the Agency name and the docket number for this document 
(Docket No. OSHA-2008-0012). You may supplement electronic submissions 
by uploading document files electronically. If, instead, you wish to 
mail additional materials in reference to an electronic or FAX 
submission, you must submit three copies to the OSHA Docket Office (see 
ADDRESSES section). The additional materials must clearly identify your 
electronic or FAX comments by name, date, and docket number so OSHA can 
attach them to your comments.
    Because of security-related problems there may be a significant 
delay in the receipt of comments by regular mail. For information about 
security procedures concerning the delivery of materials by express 
delivery, hand delivery, and messenger or courier service, please 
contact the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-2350 (TTY 877-889-5627).
    All comments and submissions in response to this Federal Register, 
including personal information, are placed in the public docket without 
change. Therefore, OSHA cautions against submitting certain personal 
information such as social security numbers and birthdates. All 
comments and submissions are listed in the http:// www.regulations.gov 
index; however, some information (for example, copyrighted material) is 
not publicly available to read or download through the Web site. All 
comments and submissions are available for inspection and copying at 
the OSHA Docket Office (see the ADDRESSES section of this notice). 
Information on using http://www.regulations.gov to submit comments and 
access dockets is available at that Web site. Contact the OSHA Docket 
Office (see ADDRESSES section) for information about materials not 
available through the OSHA Web site and for assistance in using the Web 
site to locate and download docket submissions.
    Electronic copies of this Federal Register notice are available at 
http://www.regulations.gov. This document, as well as news releases and 
other relevant documents, are also available at OSHA's Web site at 
http://www.osha.gov.

IV. Authority and Signature

    This document was prepared under the direction of Edwin G. Foulke, 
Jr., Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, 
U.S. Department of Labor. It is issued pursuant to sections 4, 6, and 8 
of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 
657), 29 CFR part 1911, and Secretary's Order 5-2007 (72 FR 31159).

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 15th day of September, 2008.
Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. E8-21851 Filed 9-17-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-26-P