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Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Unit Addresses New Safety
Rule on Hazards in Tree Care & Removal Industry
BALTIMORE, MD (October 9, 2012) - The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation's (DLLR) Maryland Occupational
Safety and Health (MOSH) unit will host a Tree Care Safety Conference on October 10, 2012 from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00
p.m. at the Howard County Fairgrounds, located at 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, MD. 21794 in the Main
Exhibition Building. Participants will receive information on Maryland’s New Tree Care and Removal Regulation and
gain information on how to become a DNR Licensed Tree Care Expert (LTE). The afternoon will be filled with
educational demonstrations on Crane Safety, Chipper Safety and Climbing Safety. The Department of Natural Resources
(DNR), Injured Workers Insurance Fund (IWIF), Maryland Arborist Association (MAA) and The Tree Care Industry of
America (TCIA), partnered with DLLR on this event.
"Workers must be trained to identify existing and predictable hazards associated with tree care and removal
work. Then they will be able to eliminate the potential for serious injury and death," said Ron DeJuliis, DLLR
Commissioner of Labor and Industry.
The purpose of the Maryland Tree Care and Removal Regulation addresses safe work practices for tree care and
removal as well as safety requirements for tools and equipment. DLLR seeks to prevent injuries and accidents
related to tree care and removal in construction, demolition, and general industry.
In the United States from 2003 through 2010, there were 493 tree-trimmers and pruners working in landscaping,
construction, utilities, and other industries who were fatally injured while performing on the job. Of this
number 313 were killed when they were struck by a tree or log, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics'
occupational injuries and illnesses data. Since 2008, in the state of Maryland, 10.2 percent of occupational
fatalities investigated by MOSH occurred while working in tree care and removal activities.
The Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation protects and
empowers Marylanders by safeguarding workers, protecting
consumers, providing a safety net and cultivating a thriving
workforce that can meet the demands of Maryland’s dynamic
economy. Follow DLLR on Twitter
(@MD_DLLR) and Facebook.
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