CATS Safety and ANSI 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: ANSI Z133 requires that all arboricultural workers be trained in which emergency procedure before beginning tree work?
- Confined space rescue
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid (Correct answer)
- Defibrillator operation
- Vehicle extraction techniques
Correct answer: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid
ANSI Z133 mandates that all workers involved in arboricultural operations must be trained in CPR and first aid to respond to on-site emergencies.
Question 2: When a climber is performing aerial rescue of an incapacitated worker in a tree, which rigging technique is typically used to lower the victim?
- Running bowline secured to the victim's harness
- Friction hitch descent with a load-releasing hitch (Correct answer)
- Figure-8 knot tied to the victim's lanyard
- Prussik loop attached to the victim's saddle
Correct answer: Friction hitch descent with a load-releasing hitch
A friction hitch combined with a load-releasing hitch (such as a Valdôtain tresse) allows the rescuer to control and lower an incapacitated climber safely.
Question 3: Struck-by hazards during tree felling are BEST mitigated by establishing an escape route at what angle relative to the planned felling direction?
- Directly behind the tree, away from the fall
- 45 degrees to the rear, away from the intended felling direction (Correct answer)
- 90 degrees perpendicular to the tree
- 180 degrees opposite the felling direction
Correct answer: 45 degrees to the rear, away from the intended felling direction
ANSI Z133 recommends an escape route at approximately 45 degrees to the rear of the intended felling direction to avoid the butt kickback zone.
Question 4: Which ANSI standard specifically governs the design and performance requirements for tree care equipment such as aerial lift devices?
- ANSI Z133
- ANSI A92.2 (Correct answer)
- ANSI B11.1
- ANSI Z87.1
Correct answer: ANSI A92.2
ANSI A92.2 covers vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating aerial devices, establishing design, testing, and performance standards for aerial lifts used in tree care.
Question 5: A drop zone established during a tree removal operation should extend at minimum how far from the base of the tree in all directions?
- Equal to 50% of the tree height
- Equal to the full height of the tree (Correct answer)
- 10 feet beyond the drip line
- 25 feet regardless of tree size
Correct answer: Equal to the full height of the tree
Best practice and ANSI Z133 guidance recommend a drop zone extending at least the full height of the tree to account for bounce and roll of cut sections.
Question 6: Under ANSI Z133, an aerial lift operator must inspect the machine before each work shift for all of the following EXCEPT:
- Hydraulic fluid levels and leaks
- Structural cracks or welds in the boom
- Operator's liability insurance documentation (Correct answer)
- Outrigger and stabilizer function
Correct answer: Operator's liability insurance documentation
Pre-shift inspections cover mechanical and structural items; insurance documentation is an administrative matter not part of the equipment safety inspection.
Question 7: When two climbers are working in the same tree simultaneously, ANSI Z133 requires that they coordinate to avoid:
- Using the same type of climbing system
- Working directly above or below one another without protection (Correct answer)
- Sharing anchor points on the same stem
- Communicating via radio while climbing
Correct answer: Working directly above or below one another without protection
Working directly above or below another climber creates a struck-by hazard from falling tools, limbs, or debris, which must be mitigated through positioning and communication.
CATS Safety and ANSI 3
ANSI Z133 requires that all arboricultural workers be trained in which emergency procedure before beginning tree work?