Safety Resources

ISAO’s Safety Committee has compiled some safety discussion topics and resources here (check back as we update often).

ISAO’s Tailboard Template

Download the Tailboard Framework Example.

Tailboard Framework Backgrounder: See the Ontario Arborist Article here.

Arborist Safe Work Practices

The Arborist Safe Work Practices (ASWP) are safe work guidelines, written by the industry, for the industry. The ASWP committee is a volunteer committee, established in 1999, whose purpose is to assist businesses, government agencies and safe workplace associations to improve the health and safety of the arboricultural industry.

Download the Arborist Safe Work Practices Manual (Feb 2016) here.

New Helmet Requirements in Ontario (starting 2027)

New Helmet Requirements in Ontario

Ontario is updating workplace helmet requirements (Ontario Reg 213/91).

Starting July 1, 2027, on construction projects, helmets must be CSA Z94.1 Type 2, or ANSI Z89.1 Type II.
Some tree work is considered a ‘construction project’. If your work is classified as ‘construction’, it may make sense to use Type 2 safety helmets for all your work, instead of having different helmets for different jobs.
What is considered construction? The regulations are somewhat broad and vague. Activities include: land clearing, digging, and activities on lands under construction (e.g. residential, or street construction). See definitions of ‘construction’ and ‘construction projects’ in the OSHA Act here.
Note that currently if working on a ‘construction project’, workers must wear Class E helmets (non-vented helmets that can withstand a dielectric strength test at least 20,000 volts).

General

Emergency Preparedeness

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

See examples of SOPs from IHSA here

ISA Ontario’s 3D Safety Talks

See our 3D Safety Talks here

See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on arborist driving here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on winter driving here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on heat stress here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on cold stress here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on ticks here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on PPE here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on respiratory illness here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on neck strain here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on stinging insects here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on slips, trips, and falls here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on over-caffeination here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on felling trees here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on chainsaw safety here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on dehydration here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on fire extinguishers here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on fall arrest harnesses here
See the ISAO 3D Safety Talk on first aid kits here

Mental Health

Mental Health Resources

See ISAO’s 3D Safety Talk on Mental Health here
Call 211 in Ontario to be connected to mental health services
CAMH.ca offers a mental health toolkit and links to services
ConnexOntario provides community mental health and addiction services 866-531-2600
Canada Suicide Crisis Helpline – call or text 988

Traffic and Vehicles

General Driver Safety

See ISAO’s 3D Safety Talk on arborist driving here
See IHSA’s Road Safety Tool Kit here

Traffic Control

Truck and Vehicle Inspection

See Ontario’s commercial vehicle requirements here
IHSA offers a tool kit and tip sheet for setting up your vehicle inspections

Backing Up Safely

See tips for winter driving from the government of Ontario here
From IHSA here and here
And from the Canadian Safety Council here

Winter Driving

See ISAO’s 3D Safety Talk on winter driving here
See tips for winter driving from the Government of Ontario
From IHSA here and here
And from the Canadian Safety Council here

Equipment Inspection

Equipment Inspection Schedule

See details from IHSA here on setting up an inspection schedule

Gear Check

See ISA International’s Gear Check video here

PPE

Working at Heights

Safe Working at Heights

Mobile Elevating Equipment

See Ontario regulations on mobile elevating equipment here.

Ladders

Ladder Safety

Trip and Fall Hazards

3 Point Contact

Remember to use 3 points of contact when mounting/dismounting vehicles, equipment and ladders

See example safety talk from IHSA here

Preventing Falls

See IHSA video on preventing falls here

Communication

Hand Signals

Standardize your signals so everyone’s on the same page.
See examples here from IHSA and here from trees.org.uk for ideas

Environmental Stress

Cold Stress

See ISAO’s 3D Safety Talk on cold stress here
Read about cold stress here
See IHSA’s resources here and here
See CCOH’s resources here including prevention tips

Sun and Heat Stress

See ISAO’s 3D Safety Talk on heat stress here
Learn about the symptoms of heat and sun stress and how to manage
See IHSA’s resources including FAQs and a safety talk on heat stress
See WSPS’s resources here including 5 ways to prevent heat stress

Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke

Common ways to reduce the impact of smoke: slow down, take breaks, and drink water
Read about symptoms and treatment for exposure
Check the Air Quality Health Index near you

Respiratory Illness

See ISAO’s 3D Safety Talk on respiratory illness here

Noxious Pests

Poisonous Plants

Find pictures and identification tips online from here and here from the government of Ontario
See tips for managing exposure
See tips for working outdoors (wearing & washing workwear)

Ticks

See ISAO’s 3D Safety Talk on ticks here
See general information on ticks and lyme disease here
See a 2023 map of Ontario high risk areas here
See a safety talk on insect bites and stings from IHSA
See information on staying safe around ticks from WSPS
Submitting ticks for identification: see FAQs and Test Info here from Public Health Ontario

Electrical Hazards

Working Near Electrical Hazards

First Aid Kits

ISAO’s Safety Committee has provided checklists for workplace and vehicle first aid kits

First Aid

See the following first aid resources:

Safety Incidents

Arborist Occupational Fatalities and Injuries

The ISA Ontario Safety Committee and our partners have been gathering information on arborist workplace injuries and fatalities. In the graphs below we have summarized worldwide arborist occupational incidents resulting in a fatality or injury from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021. Information was gathered from news reports, dripline.com, OSHA, TCIA.org and other sources by: ISA Ontario, the ISA Ontario Safety Committee, the Ontario College of Trades, Alice Power and Peter Wynnyczuk. The data is only arborist related and does not include forestry/logging or non-workplace incidents.
As this data is from published reports, it is surmised that these incidents represent only a portion of total actual incidents and that rates are significantly higher than shown below. Note also that the information could change as investigations are ongoing.