2025 z133

evo

Been here much more than a while
Location
My Island, WA
I’m hearing of huge changes in the z.. not hearing what these changes are, anyone here have insight?
 
Highlights summary? my vimeo playback stopped working. can't see Moss's vids either
 
I googled my way to a… well… a preview for ‘training’ purposes only request. Kinda sounds like potential contract publishing negotiations or just basic delays. The projection is 2026
 
Highlights summary? my vimeo playback stopped working. can't see Moss's vids either
That was a long time ago that I watched it last month!

I'm running through and will bullet point a few things (refresher is good for me!)...but he did say starting in June there have been updates in Arborist News
 
OK...quickly skipping through the video I linked above, I watched again and hit the highlights I caught as I understand them:
  • Shall require demonstrate competency before performing task and if they cannot, shall be trained
  • "Pull test" for tie in point is removed. Annex has a section of guidance for anchorage selection
  • still 2 tie in points, but now it says one of those shall be a climbing line (I thought that was the case, but he said it like its new...maybe before it just said one has to reach the ground?)
  • Breaking strength for climbing line reduced from 5400 to 5000 lbs.
  • Shall have a retreat path when felling a tree
  • Additional measures to keep palm fronds off of wires called out specifically
  • Working around lines (including communication)...new categories "Electrical Level [1-4] Arborist. As I understand what he said, the company determines which level you are. There is a flow chart...
  • Requirements about (not) working within the path of radio frequency towers
  • Worker aloft shall have call and response system when dropping branches
  • Drop zone shall be established. Should be visibly marked.
  • In a bucket shall have either travel restrain or fall arrest (no body belt)
  • Shall have to have handsaw both while climbing and in aerial device
  • Standing on infeed table is specifically prohibited. (really...apparently, they needed to write that!)
  • Shall have back up alarm, camera, or spotter
  • Changed the language on chainsaws: "A chainsaw shall be operated with two hands at all times..." (don't shoot the messenger!)
  • "Power pruning saws" (the mini chainsaw things) also require 2 hands.
  • No secondary work while a stump grinder is working (ie: a person pulling chips out of the way while its grinding)
 
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OK...quickly skipping through the video I linked above, I watched again and hit the highlights I caught as I understand them:
  • Shall require demonstrate competency before performing task and if they cannot, shall be trained
  • Pull test for tie in point is removed. Annex has a section of guidance for anchorage selection
  • still 2 tie in points, but now it says one shall be climbing line
  • Breaking strength reduced from 5400 to 5000 lbs.
  • Shall have a retreat path when felling a tree
  • Additional measures to keep palm fronds off of wires called out specifically
  • Working around lines (including communication)...new categories "Electrical Level [1-4] Arborist. As I understand what he said, the company determines which level you are. There is a flow chart...
  • Requirements about working withing the path of radio frequency towers
  • Worker aloft shall have call and response system when dropping branches
  • Drop zone shall be established. Should be visibly marked.
  • In a bucket shall have either travel restrain or fall arrest (no body belt)
  • Have to have handsaw both while climbing and in aerial device
  • Standing on infeed table is specifically prohibited. (really...apparently, they needed to write that!)
  • Shall have back up alarm, camera, or spotter
  • Changed the language on chainsaws: "A chainsaw shall be operated with two hands at all times..." (don't shoot the messenger!)
  • "Power pruning saws" (the mini chainsaw things) also require 2 hands.
  • No secondary work while a stump grinder is working (ie: a person pulling chips out of the way while its grinding)
Thank you for the summary. That all seems pretty sensible to me, don’t think I would have any complaints about any of those, it is ridiculous that standing on the feed table must be noted specifically. Do people really want to try to fall in the chipper feet first?
 
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Thank you for the summary. That all seems pretty sensible to me, don’t think I would have any complaints about any of those, it is ridiculous that standing on the feed table must be noted specifically. Do people really want to try to fall in the chipper feet first?
When I worked at ODNR some trees were being removed out front. One of the other foresters had an office with a window looking out on that area... I'm sure I have copies of the pictures she took, but I cannot find them. One is a guy pushing the brush in with his foot - one leg halfway on the infeed table with the other on the ground. Another pic of a guy sitting on the infeed table eating his lunch while the chipper was still running!

I also got a picture of another guy (different company) pruning some white pine at the office.....on drywall stilts with a chainsaw over his head!

(These were private contractors, not ODNR employees...but, you would think they should have expectations of their contractors - expectations beyond lowest price though.)
 
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When I worked at ODNR some trees were being removed out front. One of the other foresters had an office with a window looking out on that area... I'm sure I have copies of the pictures she took, but I cannot find them. One is a guy pushing the brush in with his foot - one leg halfway on the infeed table with the other on the ground. Another pic of a guy sitting on the infeed table eating his lunch while the chipper was still running!

I also gut a picture of another guy pruning some white pine at the office.....on drywall stilts with a chainsaw over his head!

(These were private contractors, not ODNR employees...but, you would think they should have expectations of their contractors - expectations beyond lowest price though.)
That is ridiculous. A local tree service, since closed down by the state for too many casualties, had a guy taking a short nap during lunch on the tray of an idling grapple chipper. Lunch ended, they wound up the chipper, shoved a piece in and pushed the guy through with it. They didn’t even know what happened to him until the end of the day when they dumped chips back at the yard. They just knew they hadn’t seen him since lunch.
 
Here is a sub on a city job. Looking up his business name shows ‘inactive’ with the state and also turns up a suit where they may have been involved directly or indirectly in a near work place fatality. Sounds like someone was trying to round out the last log truck load of the day and the tree fell on someone.
These photos are from the front page of the local rag. Still dumbfounded that these trees were removed due to ‘worker safety issues’ while protecting their roots.
 

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ISA has a pager where you can view and print the document. The delay was an audit fromANSI and some compliance issues had to be addressed. They are responding to previous comments and going from there. I intiaitally challenged their ruling on one of my public comments but have since been satisfied by the response. The new Z group has already had one meeting and there is another in November.
 
I haven’t reviewed the draft yet but at our ATC there was a class about it.
The single most critical thing is only one person can be within 1.5x the trees height when felling in all directions.
I appreciate the intent, but often this isn’t practical.
 
I haven’t reviewed the draft yet but at our ATC there was a class about it.
The single most critical thing is only one person can be within 1.5x the trees height when felling in all directions.
I appreciate the intent, but often this isn’t practical.
There's a lot that's a challenge for everyone to be 100% compliant with. I know I appealed something I didn't agree with but..........I'll do my best to do my best
 
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There's a lot that's a challenge for everyone to be 100% compliant with. I know I appealed something I didn't agree with but..........I'll do my best to do my best
The fun one is mandatory two hands on ANYTHING with a chain. That ought to get some heated discussion
 

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