California Code of Regulations › Title 8 - Industrial Relations › Division 1 - Department of Industrial Relations › Chapter 4 - Division of Industrial Safety › Subchapter 7 - General Industry Safety Orders › Group 3 - General Plant Equipment and Special Operations › Article 12 - Tree Work, Maintenance or Removal › Section 3420 - Scope and Definitions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Scope. This standard applies to work
						performed and equipment used in tree and ornamental palm maintenance and
						removal.
NOTE 1: Requirements for fall protection in date palm
						  operations and for ladders attached to date palms are provided in the General
						  Industry Safety Orders, Sections
						  3458 and
						  3458.1.
NOTE 2: For line clearance tree trimming operations in
						  proximity to high voltage energized conductors, refer to the provisions of
						  Article 38 of the High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders, Title 8, California
						  Code of Regulations.
(b)
						Definitions.
Apex. The point at which two saw cuts meet to form a
						  notch.
Back Cut. The cut made in the tree limb or trunk on the
						  side opposite the intended direction of fall.
Brush Chipper. Equipment used to reduce tree debris to
						  wood chips.
Bucking. The process of cutting the downed tree into
						  appropriate lengths.
Climbing Hitch. A hitch used for securing a tree
						  climber to the climbing line, permitting controlled ascent, descent, and work
						  positioning.
Climbing Lines (Climbing Ropes). Rope that is designed
						  by the manufacturer to support the climber while aloft in a tree.
Climbing Spurs. Sharp devices strapped to a climber's
						  lower legs to assist in climbing trees.
Come-along. A portable, hand-operated winching device,
						  using cable or ropes to draw two objects closer together.
Crotch. Branch union; the angle formed by two branches
						  in the tree.
Double-crotching. A climbing method that uses the
						  rope's opposite end or a second rope to enhance stability.
Drop starting. The act of starting a power saw by
						  simultaneously pushing the saw away from the body with one hand while pulling
						  on the starter cord handle with the other.
Drop Zone. The area established by a qualified tree
						  worker beneath employees aloft involved in tree work operations and/or where
						  the potential exists for struck-by injuries from objects dropped or lowered
						  from above.
Felling. Cutting down an entire tree or standing
						  section of a tree in one piece, from the ground, by incorporation of a notch
						  and back cut.
Frond. A large compound leaf of a palm.
False Crotch. A system, other than a natural crotch,
						  used to support a climbing line.
Hinge. A strip of uncut wood fibers created between the
						  face cut or notch and the back cut that helps control direction in tree felling
						  or limb removal.
Leader. The stem or trunk of a tree usually growing in
						  the upright position.
Lightning Protection System. Hardware installed in a
						  tree intended to reduce the risk of damage from a lightning strike.
Limbing. The removal of branches from either standing
						  or downed trees.
Notch. A wedge cut into the tree or tree section facing
						  the intended direction of fall to control the felling direction.
(A) Conventional Notch. A directional felling
						cut into the side of a tree, facing the intended direction of fall and
						consisting of a horizontal face cut and an angle cut above it, creating a notch
						of approximately 45 degrees.
(B)
						Humboldt Notch. A directional felling cut into the side of a tree, facing the
						intended direction of fall and consisting of a horizontal face cut and an
						angled cut below it, creating a notch of approximately 45 degrees. A Humboldt
						notch is usually reserved for larger trees on steep slopes.
(C) Open-faced Notch. A directional felling
						cut into the side of the tree facing the intended direction of fall and
						consisting of two cuts creating a notch greater than 70 degrees.
Ornamental Palm. A palm that is primarily for
						  landscaping or scenery and not grown for the production and harvesting of
						  fruits, such as dates for personal use or sale.
Palm Frond Skirt. One or more year's accumulation of
						  dead and drooping palm fronds at the bottom of the palm's canopy and along its
						  trunk.
Proximity. An area within 10 feet (3.05 meters) of
						  energized overhead electrical conductors rated 50 kilovolts (kV) phase to phase
						  or less. For overhead electrical conductors rated more that 50 kV phase to
						  phase, the distance is increased 
						  4/10 inch
						  (10 millimeters) for each additional kV.
Prusik Loop. An endless loop of rope used to fashion
						  the Prusik knot (which is a sliding friction knot). The endless loop may be
						  spliced or knotted with, at minimum, a double fisherman's knot.
Qualified Tree Worker. An employee who, through related
						  training and on-the-job experience, has demonstrated familiarity with the
						  techniques and hazards of tree maintenance, removal, and the equipment used in
						  the specific operations involved.
Root Collar. A flared area at the tree trunk base where
						  the roots and trunk come together.
Rope(s). Includes climbing lines and climbing ropes
						  unless otherwise stated, and includes all other ropes and lines used in tree
						  work, maintenance and removal operations.
Secured (person). A tree worker that is safeguarded by
						  utilizing a climbing system attached to the tree worker and connected to a tree
						  or other stable support.
Split Tail. A short section of climbing line with one
						  end connected by a self-closing, self-locking carabiner or snap hook to the
						  suspension D-rings of the tree saddle and the opposite end connected to the
						  climbing line by a climbing hitch.
Step Potential. The voltage difference between the feet
						  of a person standing near an energized grounded object. It is equal to the
						  difference in voltage, given by the voltage distribution curve, between two
						  points at different distances from the electrode.
Structural Support System. Consists of cabling between
						  branches, installation of rods or bracing or other hardware used to keep the
						  tree or its limbs structurally solid.
Tied In. When a tree worker's climbing line has been
						  run through a natural or false crotch attached to the tree worker's saddle and
						  completed with a climbing hitch or mechanical device, permitting controlled
						  movement and work positioning.
Tree Climbing System. A collection of equipment used
						  together for work positioning in a tree and generally consisting of a tree
						  worker's saddle, one or more climbing lines, one or more work positioning
						  lanyards and associated hardware.
Tree Worker's Saddle. An arrangement of straps,
						  fittings, and buckles or other elements in the form of a waist belt with a low
						  attachment element or elements and connecting support encircling the legs,
						  suitably arranged to support the body in a sitting position.
Work-positioning Lanyard. For purposes of Article 12, a
						  component of a tree climbing system consisting of a short section of approved
						  rope, strap or line that has a rope snap or carabiner at either end, and that
						  is used as a point of attachment to the tree or ornamental palm for securing
						  the worker in the tree while aloft.