Tree care operations: Review panel report on proposed standard open for comment

Washington — OSHA is accepting public comment until June 5 on a Small Business Advocacy Review panel’s final report on the agency’s proposed standard on tree care operations.

According to a regulatory alert from the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, the report and all background materials are open for comment. The proposal would cover workers who perform tasks such as maintaining, pruning, repairing or removing trees, as well as employers who “engage in daily tree care operations.” Also covered would be organizations, companies or municipalities that “occasionally perform tree care and removal as a secondary part of their primary operations.” Examples include residential and commercial construction and remodeling, golf course maintenance, campgrounds and resorts, property management and maintenance, utility line clearing, and certain agricultural operations.

The SBAR panel comprised “potentially impacted employers” as well as representatives from OSHA, the SBA Office of Advocacy, and the White House Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.