Tie-in points and second attachment: what each country's code says

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, and the systems the codes name are in the guide on climbing systems compared.

Credits: HSE text is adapted from HSE pages published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. 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.

One row per country

Source	What it says
United States, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.140	Anchorages used for personal fall arrest are independent of any anchorage used to support or suspend platforms, and capable of supporting at least 5,000 pounds (22.2 kN) per worker, or designed and used under a qualified person with a safety factor of at least two. OSHA's 2021 tree care memo says these criteria apply to climbing in trees.
United States, California Title 8 section 3427	A saddle plus at least two means of being secured. Tied in while ascending. The tie-in point is over the work area, on the main leader or a major upright branch with a wide crotch. A second worker is present when work is above 12 feet.
Canada, WorkSafeBC Part 26 (26.12.0.1 to 26.12.0.6, in force December 1, 2021)	Qualified arborist or trainee, and a climbing plan. Anchors assessed, and independent where practicable. A stopper knot at the end of each climbing line. Cutting is done only while the climber is tied in with a climbing line or lanyard and has a second means of securement.
Canada, WorkSafeBC Part 11 and Alberta Part 39	Part 11 sets fall protection where a fall of 3 m (10 ft) or more may occur, an anchor load capacity of at least 22 kN (5,000 lb) in a temporary fall arrest system, and a separate independent attachment point for each personal fall protection system. Alberta Part 39 (sections 792 to 796) calls for a work positioning system where the general fall rule is impracticable.
United Kingdom, HSE and ICoP	HSE: two load-bearing anchors where possible, supplementary anchors where practicable to reduce pendulum swing, no climbing above anchors in work positioning, and a backup in work positioning. ICoP: backup on an independent anchor where possible, with primary system fall distance not exceeding 500 mm.
Ireland, S.I. 299/2007 regulations 109 to 113	Work positioning with a backup (110), rope access with two lines (111), fall arrest with a clear zone for pendulum effect (112), restraint (113). Text read is the regulations as made.
Australia, SafeWork NSW code section 4.9 and Section 4	At least two methods of attachment. A second attachment is expected when cutting, where uncontrolled swing is possible, where main line or anchor failure is a risk, or where the anchor is not above the work area. The code also says the existing system stays connected until the new one is checked, preloaded and supporting body weight.
Australia, WorkSafe Victoria	A second point of attachment in case the primary rope is accidentally severed when cutting.
New Zealand, WorkSafe ACOP 3.1.6 and 3.2.2	Two anchor points when cutting aloft. Tied in while ascending. No more than 0.5 metres of slack. Supplementary anchors where a fall or swing is possible. A false crotch is covered in 3.2.2.

Where the sources agree

Every source read asks for a second means of attachment in at least some cases, and most tie it to cutting. British Columbia, New South Wales, Victoria and New Zealand each name the cutting task. California asks for two means of being secured as the general rule for employees aloft. The ICoP and HSE ask for the backup on an independent anchor where possible.

Where they differ

OSHA states a number for the anchorage, 5,000 pounds, while the ICoP gives minimum breaking strengths for parts of the system: 18 kN for a temporary anchor device, 22 kN for connectors, 15 kN for a rope with termination and 22 kN without, and 15 kN for a lanyard. The NSW code limits work positioning harnesses to a free fall of 600 mm. The rules on slack and fall distance are compared on the guide to fall distance and slack.

What the sources leave out

The Irish forestry code of practice from the Health and Safety Authority has no climbing section, so the regulations above are the only Irish source read. ANSI Z133 is not quoted here, because only its release page is public.