Traffic and roadside tree work: 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 New South Wales, New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States say about tree work beside or over roads and footpaths. All pages were read on October 9, 2026. The courses that teach the 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.

New South Wales, Australia

The SafeWork NSW code of practice Tree works has a section on tree work in public areas. It says that on or directly next to a public road the person conducting the business ensures traffic control is in place and carried out by appropriately licensed and competent workers. It lists measures to consider around the exclusion zone: a traffic control plan by a competent person when traffic direction or speed changes, plans submitted to the road controller such as the state transport agency or the local council, two-way radios when controllers cannot see each other, sufficient warning to traffic and pedestrians, signs and barriers that conform to Australian Standard AS 1742.3:2019, and barriers whose position and effectiveness are monitored through the day. It adds that ground workers stay alert so that pedestrians, children and animals do not enter the exclusion zone, and that work near a school or childcare centre may be scheduled when it is not attended. For elevating work platforms, it names roadways and traffic among the hazards and says appropriate traffic management is used when working on or above roads.

New Zealand

The WorkSafe New Zealand approved code of practice for safety and health in arboriculture says that if an operation poses a risk to or is in a transport corridor, such as a road, rail, footpath or public access, operations do not proceed until the transport corridor manager has been told and any requirements are met. It says the precautions include suitable warning to oncoming traffic, with signage and notification in line with the New Zealand Transport Agency or the relevant road and rail authority, and that closing or part-closing a road or footpath brings the manager's conditions into play. The code notes that it has not been updated to the 2015 health and safety Act and regulations.

Great Britain

The HSE page on managing public safety says it is crucial to ensure safety from traffic and to road users when conducting tree work near roads. It lists publications that, it says, outline the need to liaise with the local authority, obtain formal permission for traffic management as required, and ensure those who carry out traffic management are appropriately trained to comply with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. It points to three publications: "Safety at street works and road works", street works qualifications guidance for operatives and supervisors, and "Traffic Safety Measures and Signs for Road Works and Temporary Situations".

United States

The OSHA sheet Solutions for Tree Care Hazards opens with traffic control. It says vehicle and pedestrian traffic control is essential, that workers can be struck by moving vehicles, and that the traffic zone could interfere with pedestrian traffic. Its list covers briefing workers on traffic zone safety, developing traffic control plans with the proper use of control devices as set out in the US Department of Transportation's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, cones, barricades and flaggers to guide traffic, and lights at night. The OSHA hazard bulletin Tree Care Work: Falls and Falling Object Hazards says employers provide traffic and pedestrian traffic control around the job site before the operation starts.

At a glance

Place	Source	What it names
New South Wales	Tree works code	Licensed traffic control, plan sent to the road controller, signs to AS 1742.3:2019
New Zealand	Approved code	Corridor manager told first, warning signage to the transport agency's rules
Great Britain	HSE public safety page	Local authority permission, trained traffic management under the 1991 Act
United States	OSHA 3940 and hazard bulletin	Traffic control plan using the national manual, cones, barricades, flaggers

High-visibility clothing standards are in the guide to hi-vis clothing by standard. The zones set up around the tree itself are in the guide to drop zones and exclusion zones, and lift rules in the guide to bucket trucks and EWPs.