Virginia Administrative Code › Title 16 - LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT › Agency 25 - SAFETY AND HEALTH CODES BOARD › Chapter 73 - REGULATION APPLICABLE TO TREE TRIMMING OPERATIONS › Section 16VAC25-73-60 - Safe use of vehicles and mobile equipment used in arboriculture

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
A. General.
1. Prior to daily use of any vehicles and
				mobile equipment (units), visual walk-around inspections and operational checks
				shall be made in accordance with manufacturers' and owners' instructions (see
				16VAC25-60-120 ) and applicable
				federal, state, and local requirements.
2. Units shall be equipped and maintained
				with manufacturers' safety devices, instructions, warnings, and safeguards.
				Arborists and other workers shall follow instructions provided by
				manufacturers.
3. Manufacturers'
				preventive maintenance inspections and parts replacement procedures shall be
				followed.
4. Manufacturers'
				instructions shall be followed in detecting hydraulic leaks. No part of the
				body shall be used to locate or stop hydraulic leaks.
5. Units shall be operated or maintained only
				by authorized and qualified personnel in accordance with company policies and
				federal, state, or local laws.
6.
				Material and equipment carried on vehicles shall be properly stored and secured
				in compliance with the design of the unit in order to prevent the movement of
				material or equipment.
7. If
				previously installed by the manufacturer, step surfaces and platforms on mobile
				equipment shall be properly maintained ].
8. Safety seat belts, when provided by the
				manufacturer, shall be worn while a unit is being operated.
9. Riding or working outside or on top of
				units shall not be permitted unless the units are designed for that purpose or
				the operator is performing maintenance or inspection. Fall protection shall be
				provided for employees performing maintenance on top of units six feet or more
				above a lower level. Fall protection is not required when performing
				inspections on top of units six feet or more above a lower level.
10. Hoisting or lifting equipment on vehicles
				shall be used within rated capacities as stated by the manufacturers'
				specifications.
11. Units with
				obscured rear vision, particularly those with towed equipment, shall be backed
				up in accordance with 16VAC25-97.
12. When units are left unattended, keys
				shall be removed from ignition, the wheels chocked, and, if applicable, the
				parking brake applied.
13. Units
				shall be turned off, keys removed from the ignition, and rotating parts at rest
				prior to making repairs or adjustments, except where manufacturers' procedures
				require otherwise. Defects or malfunctions affecting the safe operation of
				equipment shall be corrected before such units are placed into use.
14. Personal protective equipment (for
				example, eye, head, hand, and ear protection) shall be worn in accordance with
				16VAC25-73-40 D.
15. When towing, safety chains shall be
				crossed under the tongue of the unit being towed and connected to the towing
				vehicle.
16. The unit's exhaust
				system shall not present a fire hazard.
17. Towed units that detach from another unit
				(for example, a motorized vehicle) shall be chocked or otherwise secured in
				place.
18. Units operated off-road
				shall be operated in the proper gear and at the proper speed relative to the
				operating environment and the manufacturers' instructions and
				guidelines.