Guide

Job site safety basics for tree service owners

Tree work is dangerous work. This guide covers the basics every owner should run on every job: the briefing, drop zones, PPE, power lines and how to talk to customers about safety. In a small company the owner sets the safety habits, buys the gear and decides which jobs to turn down. This is a practical starting point, not a training course.

By Umair Nawaz, founder of Lirevon Updated October 25, 2026 How we check facts

Short explanation, not legal advice and not a replacement for proper training. Always follow the current OSHA rules, the ANSI Z133 standard and the equipment maker's manuals.

The rules you should know by name

You do not need to memorize every rule. You do need to know where the rules live and to keep a copy of the current versions. These are the main ones.

OSHA

OSHA is the federal agency for workplace safety in the US. Its rules cover things like protective equipment, work near electrical lines and the use of machines. Some states run their own approved safety plans with their own rules. Read the current rules on the OSHA website or your state plan site.

ANSI Z133

ANSI Z133 is the American National Standard for safety in arboricultural operations. It is written for tree work and covers climbing, rigging, felling, chippers, PPE and electrical hazards. Many owners treat it as the playbook for how tree work should be done. Buy or borrow the current edition and keep it in the shop.

For a plain overview of these standards and how they fit together, see our page on tree care safety standards. Rules change, so check the date on anything you read, including this page. Insurance and safety go together; our insurance guide for tree services gives a plain overview, not insurance advice.

The job briefing before work starts

A job briefing is a short talk with the whole crew on site, before any saw starts. ANSI Z133 calls for one. It is one of the cheapest safety habits you can build. Stand together at the tree and go through these questions.

What is the job today, tree by tree, and what is the plan for each one?
Who does what: climber, ground person, saw operator, chipper operator, driver.
Where are the hazards: power lines, dead wood, cracks, hollow trunks, wasp nests, slopes, fences, roofs, pools, septic lids, buried lines.
Where is the drop zone and the work zone, and how are they marked?
What PPE does each role need, and does everyone have it on and in good shape?
What are the signals between the climber and the ground? Agree on voice calls and hand signals before anyone goes up.
Where is the first aid kit, who is trained, and what is the street address for 911?
What is the plan for an aerial rescue if a climber is hurt in the tree?
Who can say stop? The answer should always be: anyone, at any time.

If the plan changes during the day, for example a limb cracks in a way nobody expected, stop and brief again. A new crew member or a helper who joins late gets the briefing too.

Drop zones and work zones

A person in the wrong place at the wrong time is a real risk on any tree job. Zones help by making the wrong place easy to see. Think of the job site in layers.

Work zone

The whole area where work is happening and where gear is staged. Mark it with cones, tape or signs. Keep customers, kids, pets and neighbors outside of it.

Drop zone

The area under and around the tree where cut wood, limbs or tools can land. Nobody stands here while cutting or lowering is going on, unless the climber and ground crew have agreed they are clear.

Felling zone

When a whole tree or a large section comes down, the area it could reach is larger than the area it is planned to land in. Plan an escape route away from the fall line for every person. ANSI Z133 explains how to set the felling zone; follow it rather than a guess.

Simple zone habits

The climber calls before every cut ("headache" or your own word), and waits for a clear answer from the ground before cutting.
The ground person answers only when the drop zone is truly clear, not out of habit.
Stage the chipper, truck and brush pile outside the drop zone.
Look up before you walk under a tree, every time.

PPE: what each person wears

PPE means personal protective equipment. The right gear depends on the task, so the table below is a general starting point. Check OSHA rules, ANSI Z133 and the gear maker's instructions for the exact requirements.

General PPE starting point for tree job sites
Gear	Who usually needs it	Notes
Head protection	Everyone on site	A helmet rated for the work. Climbers often wear a climbing-style helmet with a chin strap. Replace on the maker’s schedule or after a hit.
Eye protection	Everyone on site	Safety glasses or a face screen, worn under or with the helmet. Chips and dust fly far.
Hearing protection	Anyone near saws, chippers or grinders	Ear muffs or plugs. Saws and chippers are loud enough to damage hearing over time.
Leg protection	Anyone running a chainsaw on the ground	Chaps or chainsaw pants. Check the rules for when climbers need them too.
Hand protection	Ground crew, chipper feeders, riggers	Work gloves for handling wood and rope. Follow the chipper maker’s guidance on gloves and loose clothing.
Foot protection	Everyone on site	Sturdy boots. Many crews use boots built to resist saw cuts.
High-visibility clothing	Anyone near traffic	A bright vest or shirt so drivers see the crew.
Climbing gear	Climbers	Saddle, ropes, lanyards and connectors in good shape. Inspect before each use and retire on schedule.

Two habits help. First, keep a spare set of basic PPE in every truck so "I forgot it" never stops the job or, worse, does not stop it. Second, put a replacement date on helmets and climbing gear, and keep a simple log.

Near power lines

Electrical contact is one of the most serious hazards in tree work. The rule for most small tree companies is simple: if the work is near energized lines and your crew is not qualified for line clearance, do not do it. Here is what that means in practice.

Only qualified line-clearance workers work near energized lines

Tree work close to energized power lines is a separate kind of work. It is done by line-clearance arborists who have the specific training the rules require, and often under an agreement with the utility. If your crew is not trained and qualified for line clearance, the job is not yours to do.

Keep the minimum distance

OSHA rules and ANSI Z133 set minimum approach distances from energized lines for people, tools and the tree itself. The distance depends on the voltage and on whether the worker is qualified. Do not guess. Read the current rules, and treat every line as energized.

Remember the tree is a conductor

A branch touching a line can carry current to the ground, to a rope or to a person. Wet wood is worse. A tree that is touching a line is not safe to climb or cut until the utility says so.

Call the utility

If a tree is in or near the lines, the first call is to the utility. Many will make the line safe or send their own line-clearance crew. Write down the date, time and who you spoke to.

After storms, expect the worst

Downed or sagging lines can be live, and a backfeeding generator can energize lines the utility thinks are dead. Keep people far away and tell customers to call the utility and 911 for downed lines.

Turning down a line job is not lost money. It is a job that was never safe for your crew. Tell the customer who to call, and offer to come back once the utility has made the area safe. Storm weeks bring the most line-related calls, so plan your answers ahead with the storm season guide.

Talking to customers about safety

Customers are part of the job site. They walk out to watch, let the dog out, or move the car at the worst moment. Clear, friendly communication at each step keeps them safe and makes your company look professional.

On the first call

Ask where the tree is, what is under it and whether it is near any power lines, including the line to the house. If a tree is on a line, tell the caller to stay away and call the utility. If anyone is in danger, tell them to call 911.

At the estimate

Walk the site and point out what you will protect and what you will move. Explain the work zone in plain words. Put the plan in the written estimate, including what the customer should move before the crew arrives.

The day before

Send a short text: arrival time, what to move (cars, patio furniture, pets), and a note that the crew will set up a safe zone that people need to stay out of.

On the day

The foreman greets the customer, shows the zone and asks them to stay inside or behind it. If a customer or neighbor walks in, stop work until they are out.

Two starting-point texts

These are templates, not tested results. Change the words so they sound like you, and follow US business texting rules.

Hi, this is [Your Company]. Our crew will be at [address] tomorrow at about [time]. Please move cars and patio furniture away from the [tree location], and keep pets inside. We will mark off a safe zone; please stay out of it while we work. Reply with any questions.

Thanks for calling [Your Company]. If a tree is touching a power line, please stay well away and call your power company first. If anyone is in danger, call 911. Then reply with your address and we will get back to you.

Photos help too. Before and after photos show the customer what you protected and give you a record if a question comes up later. The job photo checklist lists the shots worth taking.

A daily job site checklist

Print this, or copy it into your own words, and keep it in each truck. It is a starting point; add the items your own work needs.

Before you leave the shop

Saws, chipper and truck checked
PPE for every person, in good shape
First aid kit stocked
Climbing and rigging gear inspected
Job notes and site address in hand

On arrival

Walk the site and look up for lines and dead wood
Look down for slopes, holes and buried service marks
Hold the job briefing with every person
Set and mark the work zone and drop zone
Agree on signals and the rescue plan

During the work

Nobody in the drop zone during cutting or lowering
Distance from power lines kept, or the job stopped
Chipper fed by trained people only
Customers and neighbors kept outside the zone
Anyone can say stop

Before you leave the site

Hung or cracked limbs checked and dealt with
Site cleaned and walked with the customer
Any near miss written down and talked about
Gear counted and stowed
Photos taken of the finished job

A safe, calm crew is also good marketing. People notice cones, helmets and a clean yard, and they say so in reviews. If you want help with the office side, such as catching calls, booking estimates and asking for reviews, see our services and pricing, or ask for a free audit. Lirevon does not do tree work and is not a safety trainer; this guide is general information only.

Common questions

What safety rules apply to tree work in the US?

The main references are federal OSHA rules, or your state plan if your state runs its own, and the ANSI Z133 standard for arboricultural operations. This is a short explanation, not legal advice. Read the current versions or ask a safety professional.

Can my crew trim a tree that is near a power line?

Only if your workers are trained and qualified for line clearance under the rules. If they are not, keep the required distance, do not cut, and call the utility. Many utilities will make the line safe or send their own line-clearance crew.

How big should the drop zone be?

It depends on the tree height, the size of the pieces, the slope and how the wood is being lowered or felled. ANSI Z133 explains how to set it. Mark it clearly and keep everyone out while cutting is going on.

What PPE does a ground person need?

Typically a helmet, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves and sturdy boots, plus chaps or saw pants when running a chainsaw and high-visibility clothing near traffic. Check the rules for each task.

What do I tell a homeowner whose tree is on a power line?

Tell them to stay away from the tree and the line, keep others away, and call the utility. If anyone is in danger or there is a fire, call 911. Then take their details so you can help once the line is safe.

How do I keep customers out of the work zone?

Tell them about the zone at the estimate and in a text the day before. Mark the zone with cones or tape. On the day, have the foreman show them where to stand. Stop work if someone walks in.

Does good safety lower my insurance costs?

It can help, because claims and safety records often affect what you pay, but every carrier is different. Ask your agent what they look at. This is a short explanation, not insurance advice.

What should I do after a near miss?

Stop, make sure everyone is fine, and talk about what happened before work goes on. Write it down. Near misses are free lessons, and the crew should never be punished for reporting one.

What is a job hazard analysis?

A job hazard analysis is a quick look at the tasks on a job, the hazards in each one and the steps that control them. On a tree job it covers things like power lines, rot, weather and the drop zone. Do it before cutting starts and share it with the whole crew.

What is a tailgate safety meeting?

A tailgate safety meeting is a short talk at the job site before work starts. The crew leader covers the plan, the hazards, who does what, the drop zone and the emergency steps, and everyone can ask questions. Many crews hold one on every job.

Go deeper: the glossary explains drop zone, ANSI Z133 and job hazard analysis. Read about tree problems that make a tree hazardous, see storm season for companies that do storm work, and find short answers in the answers library.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or safety training advice. Always follow the current OSHA rules or your state plan, the ANSI Z133 standard, your utility's guidance and the equipment maker's manuals.

Keep the crew safe. Let us handle the phone.

Lirevon helps tree service companies answer every call while the crew is working. Get a free audit, see the services or check pricing.