Logging is one of the most dangerous occupations found in the United States, and the felling of trees with a chainsaw is the most dangerous of all logging activities. Compliance with OSHA's Logging Standard (29 CFR 1910.266) will eliminate many of the fatal accidents and greatly reduce the number of lost work day injuries occurring in this industry. OSHA has developed this eTool to assist employers in developing and implementing work practices and programs which comply with OSHA requirements and reduce the risks of logging. This eTool reviews the requirements of the OSHA Logging Standard in relation to employer safety and health, and refers to various state standards and recommended safe work practices. Emphasis is given to the manual felling of trees since this operation presents the greatest risks in logging.

Does the OSHA Standard Apply to You?

The standard applies to:

• All types of logging, regardless of the end use of the wood.
• Examples of logging activities include pulpwood and timber harvesting and the logging of sawlogs, veneer bolts, poles, pilings and other forest products.
• All logging operations from pre-felling planning to the transport of logs and forest products to the point of delivery, with the exception of the construction and use of cable yarding systems. Tree marking activities including the marking of danger trees or wildlife trees, which take place in advance of and separate from tree harvesting, are NOT covered by these regulations.
• Examples of logging operations include: felling, limbing, bucking, debarking, chipping, yarding, loading, unloading, storing, and transporting of forest products, and the transporting of logging equipment and personnel to and from logging sites.
• Agricultural employers who are engaged in logging operations incidental to their agricultural operations are also covered by these logging regulations pursuant to Part 1928, Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Agriculture [29 CFR 1928.21(a)(3)].

 Additional Information:

• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart R, Special industries. OSHA Standard.
  • 1910.266, Logging Operations
• Logging Operations. OSHA Preamble to Final Rules, (1994).
• Logging Operations. OSHA Federal Register Final Rules 60:47022-47037 (September 8, 1995). Amends the logging operations standard.
• Logging Operations, Inspection Procedures and Interpretive Guidance Including Twelve Previously Stayed Provisions. OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-022 [CPL 2-1.22], (, September, 27 1996).
• Logging Operations, Inspection Procedures and Interpretive Guidance. OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-019 [CPL 2-1.19], (March, 17 1995).