Office of Environmental Health and Safety

Policy Number: OS -7

Title:   Job Site Safety for Tree/Limb Removal Next to Pedestrian Walkways and Roads

Effective Date: 9/98  Revision: Number of Pages: 1

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Purpose:  To insure that all reasonable efforts are taken to safeguard the safety of the Grounds employees and the public when tree removal or trimming takes place in areas of regular pedestrian traffic.

Scope:   This Policy pertains to all Grounds crews involved in the take down of trees or the removal of tree limbs over two inches in diameter and above six feet in height, next to or near regularly used pedestrian walkways, paved and unpaved.

Responsibility: It is the responsibility of the Grounds supervisory personnel to insure compliance with this Policy.  It is the responsibility of the Grounds Crews involved in tree removal or trimming to familiarize themselves with this Policy and to follow its guidelines.

SOPs for Tree and  Large Limb Removal :

1.   When near a pedestrian path or walkway, tree/limb removal should be done during “off” hours  whenever possible.

2. The University Police Department should be notified 48 hours in advance of the job if lane or  road closure is anticipated during tree removal.  Power Plant Base should be notified prior to  job commencement, in the event of an emergency.

3. The Grounds Crew assigned to tree/limb removal should number no less than 3.  At least   two of the crew should be responsible for traffic/pedestrian control.

4.  For tree removal, the job site should be isolated and marked with caution tape, People Working  signs and barricades.  The site, itself should have a radius 3 times the height of the tree.  Only  members of the Grounds Crew assigned to the task should be allowed to enter the work area.

5. All members of the crew must wear safety orange vests and hard hats.  Those directing  vehicular traffic will do so with a safety orange flag.  The individual felling a tree or  removing limbs with a power saw should wear safety glasses, face shield and hearing  protection.

6. When a tree is taken down next to a roadway, such as Perimeter Drive, the traffic will be  completely stopped in both directions during the actual felling, regardless of the  direction of the  fall.

7. The above also applies to emergency tree removal, though UPD notification would be  immediate, not two days prior and off hours work may not be possible.