Climbing in wind, rain, cold and lightning: what the codes say

This page reports what the named codes, regulators and makers say. It is not training and does not teach the work. This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. Every source below was read on October 9, 2026. The courses that teach climbing are in the guides on chainsaw tickets and certifications by country.

Credits: SafeWork NSW text is adapted from the Tree works code of practice (March 2026), copyright State of New South Wales (SafeWork NSW), licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0; changes were made, because the text is summarised and reworded. WorkSafe New Zealand material is summarised from its Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Arboriculture, with the source acknowledged.

What each source says

Source	What it says about weather
SafeWork NSW code, 3.3, New South Wales	Wind, wet, cold, heat, UV and lightning are listed as weather hazards. Work stops and is rescheduled in strong winds, lightning, extreme heat or torrential rain, and local forecasts are checked.
WorkSafe NZ code, New Zealand	Operations are suspended in high winds, wet weather or poor visibility.
ICoP, United Kingdom	Planning should avoid weather conditions that put operators at risk.
WorkSafeBC Part 26, 26.7.2, British Columbia	Additional precautions are taken in weather that adds hazard to forestry operations.
California Title 8 section 3427	Hoisting a tree worker by crane is discontinued when dangerous weather is indicated.
WorkSafe Victoria, Working safely with trees	Wind loading is part of the tree assessment.

No numbers

None of the sources read sets a wind speed, a temperature or a rainfall figure at which climbing must stop. The NSW code and the New Zealand code leave the judgement to the person in charge, with a forecast check in the NSW code. The ICoP and the Victoria sheet likewise give no threshold.

The New South Wales section in detail

Section 3.3 of the NSW code puts weather inside the risk assessment for the work. It names wind, wet conditions, cold, heat, UV exposure and lightning, and ties them to the decision to stop and reschedule. The same code calls for a rescue plan that names a crew member holding the aerial rescue qualification.

What the sources leave out

OSHA 1910.140 and HSE's climbing page carry no weather rule for climbing. HSE's work at height pages mention planning but the climbing page read does not state a weather limit.