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ANSI Z133.1-2006 Tree Care Safety Standard Approved
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Sonia Garth
Marketing Coordinator
International Society of Arboriculture
217-355-9411, EXT. 217
sgarth@isa-arbor.com
ANSI Z133.1-2006 Tree Care Safety Standard Approved and Set for Release
CHAMPAIGN, IL (May 26, 2006)The International Society of Arboriculture, Secretariat for the American National Standards Institute's Accredited Standards Committee (Z133), announced that the 2006 revision of the national safety standard for arboricultural operations has been approved by the committee and is expected to be available for purchase by late summer.
The Z133 committee includes representatives from the tree care industry, labor, the academic community, government, equipment manufacturers, insurance carriers, and other interested groups and individuals.
Donald F. Blair, committee vice chair, says that such diversity of representation is one of the group's strengths. He adds, "We have consensus process that allows us to create and adopt safety standards that take into account the various interests of all groups." Blair is president of the Sierra Moreno Mercantile Company, Inc., and represents the California Arborist Association on the Z133 committee.
The Z133.1 safety standard undergoes review and revision on a five-year cycle. For the 2006 standard, all sections were completely rewritten and updated, and a new section was added to address safe use of equipment-mounted winches. In addition, safety requirements for ropes and climbing equipment, cabling, rigging, and pesticide application have been included.
A helpful new feature is an index, which allows readers to quickly locate all references to a particular topic throughout the standard. The glossary has been greatly expanded, and the terms are cross-referenced to the rules in which they appear-another feature designed to make the standard easier to use.
"The new Z133 is the result of committee review and public comment, and it addresses safety issues that are important to the profession and constantly evolving," says H. Dennis P. Ryan, chair of the committee. "Innovations and advances in arboricultural work procedures and equipment mean that the standard must be updated regularly in order to address what is happening out in the field." Ryan is a professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he serves as program coordinator of the arboriculture/urban forestry program.
According to Jim Skiera, ISA's executive director, "Everyone on the committee devoted countless hours over the past few years hammering out this major revision, and we're all satisfied that the new standard adequately addresses safety requirements for arboricultural operations."
The Z133 committee continues to monitor tree work safety performance and provides interpretation and clarification of the intent of the requirements. Comments and feedback on the standard are welcome. They should be sent to the International Society of Arboriculture, P.O. Box 3129, Champaign, IL 61826-3129.
Copies may be ordered from ISA (1-888-ISA-TREE, www.isa-arbor.com) later this summer.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), headquartered in Champaign, Ill., is a nonprofit organization supporting tree care research and education around the world. As part of ISA's dedication to the care and preservation of shade and ornamental trees, it offers the only internationally recognized certification program in the industry. For more information about ISA, visit www.isa-arbor.com.
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