Tree care is one of the most hazardous professions in the United States, and the need for a dedicated OSHA safety standard has never been greater. A tree-care-specific OSHA standard would dramatically improve safety by providing clear, practical, and enforceable requirements tailored to the unique hazards of our industry.

Beyond safety, this rule has the effect of a deregulatory action. It would replace the current patchwork of regulations with a single, coherent framework, reducing confusion, improving regulatory clarity, and enhancing worker protection. For companies, this means streamlined compliance; for workers, it means safer job sites.

On December 17, TCIA safety expert Peter Gerstenberger and Amy Burkett, a TCIA Board member and owner of Burkett Arbor Care, a small Texas tree care company, met with Assistant Secretary Keeling and the OSHA leadership team in Washington to discuss the progress on the new OSHA standard.

Our message was clear: release the tree care safety standard Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) by the April 2026 regulatory agenda target. “We emphasized that if OSHA misses this deadline, the rule risks falling through the cracks during another administration transition – a fate that has already delayed this effort for 20 years,” said Gerstenberger. “We reminded OSHA that this proposed standard enjoys 20 years of bipartisan, bicameral support in Congress, and we are unaware of any opposition.”

Meanwhile, the need for the rule is growing. America faces an urgent challenge to safely maintain vegetation around power lines to ensure power reliability, especially as AI-driven energy demand surges, and to reduce the escalating risk of wildfires.

The tree care safety standard OSHA is considering is more than a regulatory update; it’s a critical step toward protecting workers, supporting businesses, and meeting the infrastructure and environmental challenges of our time. TCIA will continue to advocate for this rule and keep our members informed as we work toward its release.

Your Voice in Washington. TCIA advocates in Washington on behalf of all our members, and the tree care industry at large.  We work to ensure lawmakers understand the unique challenges and risks of our profession, while pushing for industry-specific legislation that supports safety, growth, and operational success. Learn more about TCIA’s advocacy efforts.