Protective equipment standards by country
A matrix of protective items for tree work (helmet, eye and face, hearing, chainsaw legs and boots, gloves, hi-vis, harness) across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, naming the standard each regulator points to.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 8, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It shows which standard each regulator or standards body names for each protective item, as the official pages read on October 8, 2026. Where a table lacks a row for an item, the page read did not cover it. For the standards themselves, see the standards register.
How to read the tables
Regulators often cite a specific edition, and the edition can be older than a later edition listed by the publisher. The editions below are the ones the regulator's text names. Some regulators say a product standard in general terms, and some name none. Safe-use rules for the same gear are in the guides on chainsaw clothing labels and helmets by standard.
United States
The federal rules sit in 29 CFR 1910. OSHA's tree care standards page lists voluntary ANSI standards (A300, Z133.1, B175.1, A10.14, Z41, Z87.1, Z89.1, Z308.1 and Z359.1) and says that compliance with ANSI standards does not ensure compliance with OSHA policy. State Plan states may differ.
| Item | What the regulator names, and the source |
|---|---|
| Helmet | 29 CFR 1910.135 accepts helmets that meet ANSI Z89.1-2009, Z89.1-2003 or Z89.1-1997. See the OSHA 1910.135. |
| Eye and face | 29 CFR 1910.133 accepts ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2010, ANSI Z87.1-2003 or ANSI Z87.1-1989 (R-1998). See the OSHA 1910.133. |
| Hearing | 29 CFR 1910.95 names no product standard. The employer judges whether a protector's attenuation is adequate using methods in its appendix B. See the OSHA 1910.95. |
| Chainsaw leg protection | Paragraph (d)(1)(iv) of 29 CFR 1910.266 calls for leg protection of cut-resistant material, such as ballistic nylon. It names no standard. See the OSHA 1910.266. |
| Chainsaw boots | Paragraph (d)(1)(v) of 29 CFR 1910.266 calls for cut-resistant foot protection for chain saw operators. General footwear in 1910.136 accepts ASTM F-2412 and F-2413-2005, or ANSI Z41-1999 or Z41-1991. See the OSHA 1910.136. |
| Gloves | 29 CFR 1910.138 names no glove standard. See the OSHA 1910.138. |
| Hi-vis | The federal MUTCD, 11th Edition (December 2023), Section 6C.05, calls for ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 (or equivalent revisions) Performance Class 2 or 3 for workers inside a temporary traffic control zone. See the MUTCD Part 6. |
| Harness | 29 CFR 1910.140 sets its own criteria and test protocols in its appendices rather than naming a product standard. See the OSHA 1910.140. |
Canada: British Columbia
WorkSafeBC's OHS Regulation names Canadian CSA standards alongside American and, for chainsaw legwear, European and ISO ones.
| Item | What the regulator names, and the source |
|---|---|
| Helmet | CSA Z94.1-05 or Z94.1-15, or ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2009 or Z89.1-2014. See the WorkSafeBC Part 8. |
| Eye and face | CSA Z94.3-07 or Z94.3-15, or ANSI/ISEA Z87.1-2015. See the WorkSafeBC Part 8. |
| Hearing | CSA Z94.2-02. See the WorkSafeBC Part 7. |
| Chainsaw leg protection | Section 8.21 accepts the WorkSafeBC standard, ASTM F1414-04 at 16.8 m/s, ISO 11393-2 Class 2 at 24 m/s, or BS EN 381-5:1995 Class 2. See the WorkSafeBC Part 8. |
| Chainsaw boots | Footwear standards listed are CSA Z195-M92, ANSI Z41-1991 and BS EN 345/346:1993. See the WorkSafeBC Part 8. |
| Gloves | Part 8 names no glove standard. See the WorkSafeBC Part 8. |
| Hi-vis | CSA Z96-15 Class 2 or 3 where traffic moves faster than 30 km/h. See the WorkSafeBC Part 8. |
| Harness | Part 11, section 11.5 asks for an applicable CSA or ANSI standard. See the WorkSafeBC Part 11. |
Canada: Alberta
The Alberta Part 18 page read carries a note dated March 2023. Alberta has a separate Part 39 for tree care operations.
| Item | What the regulator names, and the source |
|---|---|
| Helmet | CSA Z94.1-15 or ANSI Z89.1-2003 Type II. See the Alberta Part 18. |
| Eye and face | CSA Z94.3-15. See the Alberta Part 18. |
| Hearing | CSA Z94.2-14 (R2019). See the Alberta Part 16. |
| Chainsaw boots | CSA Z195-14 or ASTM F2413-05, including chainsaw protection, for footwear made on or after March 31, 2023. See the Alberta Part 18. |
| Harness | Section 795 lists a harness approved to NFPA 1983, EN 813:1997, CSA Z259.10-18, ANSI/ASSE Z359.1-2007 or EN 361:2007. See the Alberta Part 39. |
United Kingdom
HSE's tree work pages name EN standards. HSE also publishes an aerial tree work PPE page that names EN 12492, EN 1731 or EN 166, EN 352, EN 381-5 and EN ISO 20345. Legal status of an EN number in Great Britain follows the government's designated list.
| Item | What the regulator names, and the source |
|---|---|
| Helmet | HSE names EN 397, EN 14052 or EN 12492 for work on the ground, and EN 12492 for work off the ground. See the HSE chainsaw PPE. |
| Eye and face | A mesh visor to EN 1731, or glasses or goggles to EN 166. The GOV.UK list shows EN 1731:2006 and EN 166:2001 ended legal effect on November 11, 2025, and EN ISO 16321-1:2022 designated from August 4, 2023. See the HSE chainsaw PPE. |
| Hearing | EN 352-1, EN 352-2 and EN 352-3. See the HSE chainsaw PPE. |
| Chainsaw leg protection | EN 381-5, with AFAG recommending Type C for aerial work. Gaiters are EN 381-9. The GOV.UK list shows EN 381-5, -7, -9 and -11 ended legal effect on November 19, 2021, and the EN ISO 11393 parts 2, 4, 5 and 6 (2019) designated from January 1, 2021. See the GOV.UK designated list. |
| Chainsaw boots | EN ISO 17249 for chainsaw boots. The aerial work page names EN ISO 20345 for general footwear. See the HSE chainsaw PPE. |
| Gloves | EN 381-7 for chainsaw gloves. The GOV.UK list also holds EN 388:2016+A1:2018 and EN ISO 21420:2020. See the HSE chainsaw PPE. |
| Hi-vis | HSE says to wear it where justified by risk assessment and names no standard on that page. See the HSE chainsaw PPE. |
| Harness | The GOV.UK list shows EN 361:2002 designated from January 1, 2021, and EN 813:2024 from April 12, 2025. EN 813:2008 ended legal effect on August 14, 2026. See the GOV.UK designated list. |
Australia
SafeWork NSW's Tree works Code of Practice, commenced March 27, 2026, lists standards in a PPE table. The code itself notes that it may refer to withdrawn or superseded standards. Standards Australia's page for AS 16321.1:2026 says it supersedes AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 among others.
| Item | What the regulator names, and the source |
|---|---|
| Helmet | AS/NZS 1801:2024. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
| Eye and face | AS/NZS 1337.1:2010. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
| Hearing | The AS/NZS 1269 series and AS/NZS 1270:2002. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
| Chainsaw leg protection | AS/NZS 4453.3:1997. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
| Chainsaw boots | AS/NZS 2210.1:2025 for safety and occupational footwear in general. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
| Gloves | AS/NZS 2161.3:2020. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
| Hi-vis | AS 4602.1:2024. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
| Harness | AS/NZS 1891.1:2020 and AS/NZS 1891.4:2025. See the SafeWork NSW code, Table 7. |
New Zealand
WorkSafe New Zealand has a code for arboriculture and a separate forestry code with an appendix of standards. The two pages name different editions in places, so both are shown.
| Item | What the regulator names, and the source |
|---|---|
| Helmet | The arboriculture code says NZS 5806:1980 or better, with a chin strap recommended. The forestry code appendix lists AS/NZS 1801:1997, NZS 8600:2002 or EN 397. See the WorkSafe NZ arboriculture. |
| Eye and face | The forestry appendix lists AS/NZS 1337:2010. See the WorkSafe NZ forestry appendix 7. |
| Hearing | The arboriculture page calls for protection in harmful noise without a standard in the section read. The forestry appendix lists AS/NZS 1270:2002. See the WorkSafe NZ forestry appendix 7. |
| Chainsaw leg protection | AS/NZS 4453.3 1997 in the arboriculture code and AS/NZS 4453.3:1997 in the forestry appendix. See the WorkSafe NZ arboriculture. |
| Chainsaw boots | AS/NZS 2210 Part 1 in the arboriculture code, and AS/NZS 2210.1:2009 in the forestry appendix. See the WorkSafe NZ arboriculture. |
| Gloves | The forestry appendix lists NZS 5812:1982. See the WorkSafe NZ forestry appendix 7. |
| Hi-vis | The arboriculture code gives colour only. The forestry appendix lists AS/NZS 4602 or AS/NZS 1906. See the WorkSafe NZ forestry appendix 7. |
| Harness | Relevant AS/NZS 1891 standards in the arboriculture code. The forestry appendix lists AS/NZS 1891.1:2007 and AS/NZS 1891.4:2009. See the WorkSafe NZ forestry appendix 7. |
Sources
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.135 head protection, read October 8, 2026
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.133 eye and face protection, read October 8, 2026
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.95 occupational noise exposure, read October 8, 2026
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.266 logging operations, read October 8, 2026
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.136 foot protection, read October 8, 2026
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.138 hand protection, read October 8, 2026
- OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.140 personal fall protection systems, read October 8, 2026
- OSHA, tree care standards page, read October 8, 2026
- Federal Highway Administration, MUTCD 11th Edition Part 6, read October 8, 2026
- WorkSafeBC, OHS Regulation Part 8, read October 8, 2026
- WorkSafeBC, OHS Regulation Part 7, read October 8, 2026
- WorkSafeBC, OHS Regulation Part 11, read October 8, 2026
- Government of Alberta, OHS Code Part 18, read October 8, 2026
- Government of Alberta, OHS Code Part 16, read October 8, 2026
- Government of Alberta, OHS Code Part 39, read October 8, 2026
- HSE, chainsaw personal protective equipment, read October 8, 2026
- HSE, personal protective equipment for aerial tree work, read October 8, 2026
- Department for Business and Trade via GOV.UK, designated standards for PPE version 13, read October 8, 2026
- SafeWork NSW, Tree works Code of Practice March 2026, read October 8, 2026
- WorkSafe New Zealand, safety and health in arboriculture, read October 8, 2026
- WorkSafe New Zealand, forestry code appendix 7 standards and qualifications, read October 8, 2026
- Standards Australia, AS 16321.1:2026 store listing, read October 8, 2026