OSHA Tree Care Separate Standard

OSHA Tree Care Separate Standard

Currently, no guidance exists that establishes specific safety measures for the tree care industry, one of the most hazardous in the country.

OSHA regulates our industry through a patchwork of standards, which fail to address the hazards our industry faces, and can also misidentify tree care industry best practices for mitigating work-related injuries.

An OSHA standard would help businesses in the industry. The standard could help lower insurance costs, give clarity on industry best safety practices to OSHA, and reduce the risk of illness and injury within our industry.

TCIA has made tremendous progress on securing an OSHA standard for tree care – we hope to see a “Notice of Proposed Rulemaking” announced by OSHA in early-mid 2022. This is a crucial step in the implementation of an OSHA standard for tree care.

H-2B Visas (Immigration)

H-2B Visas (Immigration)

The H-2B Visa program allows for a quota of seasonal guest workers to enter the United States temporarily. Employers seeking H-2B workers must show that it cannot find U.S. workers capable of performing the job.

TCIA supports both expanding the number of H-2B visas and simplifying the application process to find H-2B visa workers – these proposals would make the program more accessible and predictable, giving TCIA members a more reliable source of workers during busy seasons.

Pesticides, Pollinators, and Invasive Pests

Pesticides, Pollinators, and Invasive Pests

TCIA supports responsible pesticide use and recognizes that there are crucial uses for certain pesticides, especially their role in combatting invasive pests.

TCIA believes our members use pesticides in a responsible manner and should be exempted from any future state bans on certain pesticide products.

Entry-Level Driver Training/CDL Regulations

Entry-Level Driver Training/CDL Regulations

TCIA recognizes that CDL drivers are a growing part of the tree care industry and engages on this issue when regulation may impact our members. TCIA maintains a strong relationship with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) – the agency that regulates this area.

New Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) rules are set to go into effect in early 2022 and will require new CDL drivers have a certain level of competency and training.

Workforce Issues
(Hiring, Apprenticeships, Independent Contractors, Cannabis Regulation)

Workforce Issues
(Hiring, Apprenticeships, Independent Contractors, Cannabis Regulation)

This is a bucket of issues broadly addressing the challenges our industry has in recruiting and retaining employees.

Cannabis regulations at the state and federal level are of particular importance to our industry. TCIA is committed to ensuring employers have the right to drug test their employees if they wish, considering the safety-sensitive nature of our work.

State Licensure for Arborists

State Licensure for Arborists

Several states have a licensing program for arborists and/or tree care businesses requiring they register with the state and prove they hold insurance before they can work.

State licensure can give protection to both businesses and consumers. It holds tree care businesses to a certain standard of practice and demonstrates the professionalism of the industry to consumers and homeowners.

TCIA supports well-crafted state legislation on this front and encourages policymakers to engage with our industry in developing these laws.

TCIA will work to support our members who would like to pursue an arborist license in their state.

Tell Us

Your Issue (s)

Your Issue (s)

Drop us an email at govaffairs@tcia.org. Make sure you type something in the subject line, and please provide your name and the name of the organization you work for and let the VFT-PAC know what issues are affecting your business.