Struck by falling trees, limbs and loads: what the regulators 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. It sets out what regulators in the United States, New South Wales, Great Britain, New Zealand and British Columbia say about being struck by falling trees, limbs, tools, rigging loads and flying material in tree work. All pages were read on October 9, 2026. The tickets and courses that teach this work are in the guides on chainsaw tickets and certifications by country. HSE text is adapted under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and SafeWork NSW text under CC BY 4.0.

United States

OSHA's hazards and solutions page for tree care groups its list of fatality investigation reports under six headings: asphyxia, caught-in, electrocution, falling, struck-by and other. The struck-by group lists reports on trees, limbs and a rolling truck, from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health program and state partners. The 2021 OSHA enforcement memo on tree care says fall and struck-by hazards are leading causes of death and serious injury for tree care workers. It says workers can be struck by falling trees, limbs, branches and hand tools, and that falling hand tools and other falling objects have enough force to cause serious or fatal injuries. It points inspectors to the personal protective equipment rules in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I.

Two official reports in the case library describe struck-by events: report 18MI213 and report 17CA004.

New South Wales, Australia

The SafeWork NSW code of practice Tree works names being struck by falling objects among the major risks. It ties falling-object risk to sections 54 and 55 of the WHS Regulation and sets out drop zones and exclusion zones as the control when a fall cannot be prevented, as described in the guide to drop zones and exclusion zones. On lowering, it says a person is not positioned under a suspended load, that partly cut or hanging trees or branches are not left unsecured or unsupported, and that climbing ropes are not used for lowering.

On sectional felling it says that when a climber or an elevating work platform worker is in the tree, cut sections are short enough that, stood upright, they cannot reach or strike the climber or the platform. It says felling uphill is avoided where reasonably practicable because sections may rebound or slide back toward the tree. On trees brought down by powered plant, it says the plant operator stays in the cab until the tree is committed to fall.

Great Britain

The HSE chainsaw page says its investigations show most fatal and major injuries involve chainsaw operators taking shortcuts and not following good practice, usually to save time. Under key lessons for felling it lists a site survey, risk assessment and emergency planning, felling cuts that keep control of the fell through a hinge, and escape routes planned in advance and clear of obstruction. It says accidents often happen because unforeseen or remote risks actually materialise. Its list of things to avoid includes pulling on a tree with a free-hand rope, over-tensioned lines, and making the main felling cut while a workmate is tensioning the line. The HSE aerial work page says ground staff keep tools and equipment not in use away from the immediate work area.

New Zealand

The WorkSafe New Zealand approved code of practice for safety and health in arboriculture says a hung-up or cut-up tree is brought to the ground as soon as possible and is not left standing, that no one moves forward within two tree-lengths of its intended direction of fall, and that no person stays in the bight of a working rope. It also says partially cut branches or hangers are not left unsecured in trees, and that people not helping with a fell stay at least two tree-lengths away. The code notes that it has not been updated to the 2015 health and safety Act and regulations.

British Columbia, Canada

The WorkSafeBC OHS Regulation Part 26 says falling or bucking must not start if the tree or log, felled or bucked as it stands, would pose a reasonably foreseeable risk to a worker, or if it appears it cannot be completely felled. If a partly cut tree must be bypassed or left, section 26.25 says it is clearly marked, other work in the hazard area stops until it is felled, workers who could enter the area are alerted and the supervisor is notified.

At a glance

Place	Source	Struck-by point it states
United States	OSHA memo	Falling trees, limbs and hand tools can cause serious or fatal injuries
New South Wales	Tree works code	Drop zones; cut sections short enough not to reach the climber; avoid felling uphill
Great Britain	HSE chainsaw page	Most fatal and major felling injuries involve shortcuts
New Zealand	Approved code	Two tree-lengths from a hung-up tree; no one in the bight of a working rope
British Columbia	OHS Regulation Part 26	A partly cut tree is marked and work in the hazard area stops

Wires and lines are covered in the guide to power lines, and the felling of compromised trees in the guide to dead and hazard trees. The guide on helmets by standard sets out the head protection standards.

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