The OSHA and TCIA Alliance focuses on providing TCIA's members and others in the tree care industry, including small businesses, with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect employees' health and safety. In particular, the Alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to safety and health issues related to tree removal and electrical, falls, and struck-by hazards. The Alliance's goals include:
Outreach and communication
- Work with OSHA to provide expertise in developing information on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, and to provide expertise in developing ways of communicating such information (e.g. print and electronic media, electronic assistance tools and OSHA's and the TCIA's Web sites) to employers and employees in the industry.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at OSHA's or TCIA's conferences, local meetings or other events such as TCI EXPO, Certified Treecare Safety Professional Workshops, Career Days, and the Winter Management Conference.
- Share information among OSHA personnel and industry safety and health professionals regarding TCIA's best practices or effective approaches and publicize results through outreach by TCIA and through OSHA- or TCIA-developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures (or any other applicable forum).
- Work with other Alliance participants on specific issues and projects on treecare industry hazards that are addressed and developed through the Alliance Program.
- Encourage TCIA's members to build relationships with OSHA's Regional and Area Offices to address health and safety issues.
Promoting the national dialogue on workplace safety and health
- Develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the business value of safety and health and publicize their results.
- Convene or participate in forums, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings on tree care industry issues to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace or to provide input on safety and health issues.
Products and Resources
Alliance Program Participant Developed Products
- Fact Sheet: Personal Protective Equipment Requirements for Arboricultural Work. Through the OSHA and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Alliance, TCIA developed a fact sheet detailing requirements under the OSHA General Industry standards and the American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations related to personal protective equipment.
- Fact Sheet: Landing Zone/Drop Zone Precaution for Tree Trimming & Removal Operations. Through the OSHA and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Alliance, TCIA developed a fact sheet outlining good work practices used during tree trimming and removal operations, including recognizing and addressing hazards.
- Fact Sheet: Lyme Disease. Through the OSHA and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Alliance, TCIA developed a fact sheet addressing issues associated with Lyme disease, including its symptoms and treatment options and tick bite prevention and control.
- Quick Card: Chipper Winches. Through the OSHA and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Alliance, TCIA developed a quick card addressing the potential hazards, risks, and safe work practices related to operating chipper winches.
- Quick Card: Hydraulic Dump Body Safety Tips. Through the OSHA and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Alliance, TCIA developed a quick card addressing the potential hazards, risks, and safe work practices related to operating truck-mounted hydraulic dump bodies.
- Quick Card: Lyme Disease. Through the OSHA and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) Alliance, TCIA developed a quick card addressing preventing tick bites and identifying Lyme disease.
OSHA Safety and Health Topics Pages
Success Stories
- Tree Care Industry Association Alliance Member-Kappen Tree Service-Receives Safety Award for 16 Years Without a Lost-Time Accident. Through the OSHA and TCIA Alliance, OSHA collaborated with Kappen Tree Service, LLC to develop a success story highlighting the company's 16 years without a lost-time accident. OSHA.