Arboricultural Safety Around the World

June 22, 2017December 12, 2025 Barb 2253 Views

2017 | Brian Kane, PhD, University of Massachusetts Amherst

With the help of an international network of “safety-minded” arborists, we will collect safety standards from around the world. We will analyze the standards to look for common safety concerns and ways to address them. This project will serve as a starting point for future investigations into safe working practices in arboriculture.

FINAL OUTCOMES

As of 2017.

Table 1: List of countries that have a chapter or component in the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the type(s) of standards in use in each country, and whether a response was received from a representative of the chapter or component in each country. “NIL” indicates that it was unclear whether there were any standards for the country because no response was received, and no additional information could be found regarding the country’s standards.

Countries	Abbreviation	Response	Standard	ANSI Z133	EAC Guidelines¹	Local Standard	Industry Standard	Government Standard	Social Insurance
Australia	AU	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Austria	AT	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Belgium	BE	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Brazil²	BR	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Canada	CN	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Colombia	CO	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Croatia	HR	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Czech Republic	CZ	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Denmark	DK	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Estonia	EE	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Finland	FI	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
France	FR	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Germany	DE	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Hong Kong	HK	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Iceland	NIL	No	NIL	NIL	No	NIL	NIL	NIL	NIL
Ireland	IE	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Italy	IT	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Japan	JP	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Latvia	LV	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Lithuania	LT	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Malaysia²	MY	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No

Countries	Abbreviation	Response	Standard	ANSI Z133	EAC Guidelines¹	Local Standard	Industry Standard	Government Standard	Social Insurance
Mexico	MX	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Netherlands	NL	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
New Zealand	NZ	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Norway	NO	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Poland	PL	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Slovakia	SK	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Singapore	SG	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Spain	ES	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Sweden	SE	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Switzerland	CH	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Taiwan	TW	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
United Kingdom	UK	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
United States	US	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Count of “Yes”		30	29	7	17	15	28	9	3
Percent of total (%)		88	85	20	50	44	82	26	9

Table 2: Database of all the relevant standards and their associated descriptive information from various countries. NIL indicates no information was available.

No.

Geographic name

Geographic region that the standard covers

Title

Document type

Organization

Publication year (Newest)

Publication year (Oldest)

Revisions

Language

Age

Australia

Country

Guide to managing risk in tree trimming and removal work

Government

WorkSafe Australia

2016

NIL

English

Australia

Country

AS 2726.2 – 2004. Chainsaws

– Safety requirements. Part 2: Chainsaws for tree service

Government

Australian Standard

2004

1995

English

Austria

Country

Work on trees M520

Social insurance

Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsa nstalt (Austrian Workers’ Compensation Board)

NIL

Austria

Country

Tree Work

Social insurance

Social insurance for farmers, foresters and landscapers (SVLFG)

2017

NIL

Europe¹

Regional

A Guide to Safe Work Practice (Third Edition)

Industry

European Arboriculture Council (EAC)

2008

NIL

English

Europe¹

Regional

European Tree Worker

Industry

European Arboriculture Council (EAC)

2016

2000

English

France

Country

Implementation of the Regulations on the prevention of falls-related risks to work done in trees by means of rope

Government

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries

2007

NIL

French

Germany

Country

Accident prevention Regulations

Social insurance

Social insurance for farmers, foresters and landscapers (SVLFG)

2017

2000

NIL

German

Italy

Country

Instruction to work on trees safely using ropes

Government

National Institute for Insurance Against Work (INAIL)

2016

NIL

Italian

New South Wales

State

Amenity Tree Industry Code of Practice

Government

WorkCover New South Wales

2008

NIL

English

New Zealand

Country

ACoP Part 1: Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Arboriculture

Government

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

2012

NIL

English

New Zealand

Country

Good Practice Guideline for Safety Requirements in Arboriculture Operations

Industry

The New Zealand Arboriculture Association

2017

1994

English

Ontario

Province

Arborist Industry Safe Work Practice

Industry

Arborist Safe Work Committee

2011

NIL

English

Quebec

Province

Practice of work safe pruning

Government

Committee on Standards, Equity, Health and Safety (CNESST)

2017

NIL

French

Singapore

Country

Best Practice Guidelines (2017) For Safety and Health in Tree Work

Industry

Singapore Arboriculture Society

2017

English

Singapore

Country

Landscape Horticulture Management

Government

Workplace Safety and Health Council

2018

2008

English

17	Spain	Country	Justification of the climbing technique in works on trees	Industry	Association Española de Arboriculture	2015	2015	NIL	Spanish	4
18	Spain	Country	Safety in tree pruning work (I): Safe working practices for tree-climbing operations	Government	National Institute of Security, Health and well-being at work (INSSBT)	2018	NIL	NIL	Spanish	1
19	Spain	Country	Safety in tree pruning work (II): Safe working practices for tree-climbing operations (II): Basic and Rescue Techniques	Government	National Institute of Security, Health and well-being at work (INSSBT)	2018	NIL	NIL	Spanish	1
20	United Kingdom	Country	AFAG (Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group) 401 – Tree Climbing Operations	Government	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)	2013	NIL	2	English	6
21	United Kingdom	Country	AFAG 308 – Top-handled Chainsaws	Government	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)	2013	NIL	2	English	6
22	United Kingdom	Country	INDG317 – Chainsaws at work	Government	Health and Safety Executive (HSE)	2012	NIL	2	English	7
23	United Kingdom	Country	Industry Code of Practice for Arboriculture	Industry	Arboricultural Association	2015	2015	1	English	4
24	United Kingdom	Country	BS 3998: Recommendations for Tree Work	Industry	BSI Standards Publication	2010	1966	3	English	53
25	United Kingdom	Country	A guide to good climbing practice	Industry	Arboricultural Association	2016	2005	4	English	14
26	United States	Country	Z133 American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations – Safety Requirements	Industry	International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)	2017	1972	8	English	47
27	Victoria	State	Working safely with trees: recommended practices for the amenity tree industry	Government	WorkSafe Victoria	2001	NIL	NIL	English	18

Table 3: Continuation of Table 2. List of obtained standards the source of their documents.

Geographic name	Title	Document type	Document format	Source
Australia	Guide to managing risk in tree trimming and removal work	Guide	Electronic copy	https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/guide-managing-risks-tree-trimming-removal
Australia	AS 2726.2 – 2004. Chainsaws – Safety requirements. Part 2: Chainsaws for tree service	Standard	Book	https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-us/Standards/AS-2726-2-2004-123876_SAIG_AS_AS_260395/
Austria	Work on trees M520	Guide	Electronic copy	Michael Bazant, secretary of ISA Austria. Contact information: bazant@vlasitzundzodl.at
Austria	Tree Work	Guide	Electronic copy	Michael Kleine. Contact information: michael.kleine@anrica.org. http://www.svlfg.de/30-praevention/prv051_fachinfos_a_z/b/02_baumpflege/
Europe¹	A Guide to Safe Work Practice (Third Edition)	Guide	Electronic copy	https://www.eac-arboriculture.com/eac_guides.aspx
Europe¹	European Tree Worker Handbook	Guide	Book	https://shop.freeworker.com/european-tree-worker.html
France	Implementation of the Regulations on the prevention of falls-related risks to work done in trees by means of ropes	Standard	Electronic copy	Jeremie Thomas of ArboriCulture. Contact information: jeremoi@gmail.com
Germany	Accident prevention Regulations	Standard	Electronic copy	http://www.svlfg.de/30-praevention/prv1400-gesetze-und-vorschriften/prv0301-vorschriften-fuer-sicherheit-und-gesundheitsschutz/16_vsg42.pdf
Italy	Instruction to work on trees safely using ropes	Standard	Electronic copy	Rene Comin. Contact information: Renato.comin@promo.it
New South Wales	Amenity Tree Industry Code of Practice	Guide	Electronic copy	https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/ data/assets/pdf_file/0009/52866/A menity-Tree-Industry-Code-of-Practice.pdf

New Zealand	ACoP Part 1: Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Arboriculture	Standard	Electronic copy	https://worksafe.govt.nz/topic-and-industry/forestry/health-and-safety-in-the-arboriculture-industry/safety-and-health-in-arboriculture/
New Zealand	Good Practice Guideline for Safety Requirements in Arboriculture Operations	Standard	Electronic copy	https://www.nzarb.org.nz/Safety++Compliance/Guides/Good+Practice +Guide.html
Ontario	Arborist Industry Safe Work Practice	Guide	Electronic copy	http://www.wsps.ca/WSPS/media/Site/Resources/Downloads/arborist_ manual_3rd_edition_final2.pdf
Quebec	Practice of work safe pruning	Guide	Electronic copy	https://www.cnesst.gouv.qc.ca/Publications/300/Documents/DC300-434web.pdf
Singapore	Best Practice Guidelines (2017) For Safety and Health in Tree Work	Guide	Electronic copy	Rick Thomas of ArborCulture Pte Ltd. Contact information: rick@arborsingapore.com
Singapore	Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines: Landscape Horticulture Management	Guide	Electronic copy	https://www.wshc.sg/files/wshc/upload/infostop/attachments/2018/IS2 01811020000000431/WSH%20Guidelines%20on%20Landscape%20a nd%20Horticulture%20Management.pdf
Spain	Justification of the climbing technique in works on trees	Guide	Electronic copy	https://aearboricultura.org/Downloads/2015/Justificacion%20Trabajos %20Trepa.pdf
Spain	Safety in tree pruning work (I): Safe working practices for tree-climbing operations	Guide	Electronic copy	http://www.inssbt.es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Documentacion/MIGRAR %20VARIAS/MIGRAR%20NTP/NTP/1113a1124/ntp_1119.pdf
Spain	Safety in tree pruning work (II): Safe working practices for tree-climbing operations (II): Basic and Rescue Techniques	Guide	Electronic copy	http://www.insht.es/InshtWeb/Contenidos/Documentacion/MIGRAR% 20VARIAS/MIGRAR%20NTP/NTP/Ficheros/1113a1124/ntp-1120.pdf
United Kingdom	AFAG (Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group) 401 – Tree Climbing Operations	Guide	Electronic copy	http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/afag401.htm
United Kingdom	AFAG 308 – Top-handled Chainsaws	Guide	Electronic copy	http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/afag308.htm
United Kingdom	INDG317 – Chainsaws at work	Guide	Electronic copy	http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg317.htm

United Kingdom	Industry Code of Practice for Arboriculture	Guide	Electronic copy	https://www.trees.org.uk/Trees.org.uk/files/aa/aaa89992-0539-4615-9af4-32b0582a13f4.pdf
United Kingdom	BS 3998: Recommendations for Tree Work	Standard	Book	https://shop.bsigroup.com/ProductDetail/?pid=000000000030089960
United Kingdom	A guide to good climbing practice	Guide	Book	https://www.trees.org.uk/Book-Shop/Products/A-Guide-to-Good-Climbing-Practice
United States	Z133 American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations – Safety Requirements	Standard	Book	https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/store/product/122/
Victoria	Working safely with trees: recommended practices for the amenity tree industry	Guide	Book	The University of Massachusetts Library or the University of Melbourne Library

Table 4: Most common subcategories in each category.

	GSR	PPE	CS	TC
Subcategories	Adhere to manufacturer’s instruction	Appropriate PPE	Start chainsaw with chain brake on	Two workers
	Emergency procedures and readiness	Employer’s responsibility to provide PPE Head protection	Chain brake engaged or engine shut off when setting the chainsaw down	Inspect climbing gear Line and at least one other secured means while aloft
	Job briefing and work site set up Traffic control	Eye protection Hearing protection	Chain brake engaged when transporting the chainsaw in more than two steps	Secured at all times during ascend Allowed use of false crotch instead of natural crotch
	Good communication	Clothing	Chainsaw protective clothing
	Training and competency	Appropriate footwear	Second tie-in point when using chainsaw at height	Inspect anchor point from the ground
			Use two hands when operating a chainsaw	Tied in appropriately to prevent uncontrolled pendulum swing
				Compatibility between carabiners and terminated rope ends
				Arborist’s saddles
				Carabiners
				Climbing lines
				Lanyard requirements
				Ladders

Table 5: Least common subcategories in each category [General Safety Requirements (GSR), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Safe Chainsaw Use (CS) and Tree Climbing (TC)].

GSR

PPE

Subcategories

Restrictions on

employment of youths

Cut resistant pants (aerial)

Exceptions to drop start

Ascenders,

descenders and rope grabs

Table 6: Groups of countries with the most similar safety standards.

Group	Countries
1	United States Colombia Japan Mexico
2	Spain Poland Sweden
3	Ireland United Kingdom
4	Belgium Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Finland Latvia Lithuania Netherlands Norway Slovakia Switzerland Germany Austria Italy
5	Hong Kong Singapore Australia Canada
6	New Zealand
7	France