Tree Removal JHA (Job Hazard Analysis / Activity Hazard Analysis)
Updated 2026-06-23
A Tree Removal JHA (Job Hazard Analysis / Activity Hazard Analysis) is the plan that keeps the tree crew from being struck by the falling tree and limbs, injured by the chainsaw, or electrocuted by contact with power lines. Tree removal fells and removes trees and large limbs — one of the more dangerous outdoor operations, combining the struck-by hazard of falling trees and limbs, the chainsaw hazards, the electrocution hazard near power lines, and the climbing or aerial work. This guide walks through building a Tree Removal JHA that names the struck-by, chainsaw, and electrical hazards and assigns the felling, chainsaw, and electrical controls that hold up in the field.
Why tree removal needs its own JHA
Tree removal fells trees, removes large limbs, and processes the material — by felling from the ground, climbing the tree, or working from an aerial lift, using chainsaws and a chipper. It is recognized as one of the more dangerous operations, with a high fatality rate. The hazards combine the struck-by (the falling tree, falling limbs, and the tree's stored energy in bent and bound limbs — the leading killer), the chainsaw (cuts, kickback — a serious laceration hazard), the electrocution (trees near power lines, where the tree, limbs, or worker contacting an energized line is electrocuted — a major fatality cause), the climbing and aerial work (falls), and the chipper (amputation/entanglement). The struck-by from falling trees and limbs and the electrocution near power lines justify a dedicated JHA.
Breaking tree removal into steps
The steps for a Tree Removal JHA follow the removal:
- Assess the tree, the hazards, and the power-line proximity
- Establish the felling plan, escape routes, and drop zone
- Make the felling cuts or climb/aerial-access the tree
- Fell the tree or remove the limbs
- Manage the struck-by, stored-energy, and electrical hazards
- Process the material (chipper)
- Manage the chainsaw throughout
- Clean up and verify
Each step carries a hazard, and the felling (struck-by), the power-line proximity (electrocution), and the chainsaw are where the most serious risks concentrate.
The hazards step by step
Struck-by from falling trees and limbs
The falling tree, falling limbs (including dead limbs dislodged during the work — "widowmakers"), and the stored energy in bent, bound, and spring-loaded limbs are the leading killers in tree work. The controls are a felling plan (assessing the lean, the drop zone, the hazards), planned escape routes (the cutter retreats along an escape route as the tree falls), a clear drop zone with everyone out of the fall path, recognizing and managing stored energy in bound limbs (which release violently when cut), overhead hazard assessment for dead limbs, and never positioning workers under the tree or limbs being cut. The falling tree and the stored energy are the defining struck-by hazards.
Electrocution near power lines
Trees near power lines create a serious electrocution hazard — the tree, a limb, the worker, or the equipment contacting an energized line, or a felled tree/limb falling onto a line, electrocutes. The controls are assessing power-line proximity, maintaining the required clearances from energized lines, treating lines as energized, coordinating with the utility for de-energization or line clearance where the work is close, and using qualified line-clearance tree workers for work near energized lines (work near power lines requires specialized qualified workers). Power-line contact is a major tree-work fatality cause.
Chainsaw
The chainsaw is a serious laceration and kickback hazard. The controls are chainsaw PPE (chaps, gloves, eye and face protection, hearing protection, helmet), safe chainsaw operation (proper technique, avoiding kickback, two hands, proper footing), chain brake and safety features, and training. The chainsaw cuts and kicks back severely.
Climbing, aerial work, and chipper
Climbing the tree and aerial-lift work bring fall hazards, and the chipper is an amputation/entanglement hazard. The controls are certified climbing systems and fall protection for climbing and aerial work, and safe chipper operation (never reaching into the feed). (These follow the working-at-height and landscaping- chipper fundamentals.)
A simple Tree Removal JHA structure
| Step | Hazard | Control | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assess tree/lines | Struck-by / electrocution | Felling plan, assess lean/hazards/power lines | OSHA 1910.331 |
| Plan drop zone/escape | Struck-by | Clear drop zone, escape routes, everyone clear | ANSI Z133 |
| Fell tree/remove limbs | Struck-by / stored energy | Felling technique, manage bound limbs, clear of fall path | ANSI Z133 |
| Work near power lines | Electrocution | Maintain clearances, qualified line-clearance workers, utility coord | OSHA 1910.269 |
| Operate chainsaw | Cuts / kickback | Chainsaw PPE (chaps), safe operation, chain brake | ANSI Z133 |
| Climb/aerial/chip | Fall / amputation | Certified climbing/fall protection, safe chipper use | OSHA 1926.502 |
Felling plan and power-line awareness
A Tree Removal JHA centers on the felling plan and power-line awareness, the two controls for the deadliest hazards. The felling plan addresses the struck-by — the falling tree and limbs are the leading killers — so the tree is assessed, a drop zone and escape routes are planned, stored energy in bound limbs is managed, and everyone stays clear of the fall path. The power-line awareness addresses the electrocution — trees near energized lines electrocute through contact — so clearances are maintained, lines are treated as energized, and qualified line-clearance workers and utility coordination are used near power lines. A JHA built on a felling plan and power-line awareness, with chainsaw and climbing controls, addresses the hazards that make tree removal one of the more dangerous operations.
From the field: what actually goes wrong
In fourteen years across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects, tree removal is genuinely one of the more dangerous operations, with a high fatality rate, and the two deadliest hazards are the struck-by from falling trees and limbs and the electrocution near power lines. The struck-by is the leading killer: the falling tree, falling and dead limbs ("widowmakers"), and the stored energy in bent, bound, and spring-loaded limbs that release violently when cut. The controls are a felling plan that assesses the lean and hazards, a clear drop zone with everyone out of the fall path, planned escape routes the cutter retreats along, and recognizing and managing the stored energy in bound limbs. Workers are never under the tree or limbs being cut.
The electrocution near power lines is the other major killer, and it is specific to tree work. Trees grow into and near power lines, and the tree, a limb, the worker, or a felled limb contacting an energized line electrocutes — this is a major cause of tree-work fatalities. On the projects I have run, work near power lines requires assessing the proximity, maintaining clearances, treating lines as energized, coordinating with the utility, and using qualified line-clearance tree workers for work near energized lines — this is specialized work, not for a general crew. The chainsaw is a serious cut and kickback hazard requiring chaps and proper technique, and climbing and aerial work bring falls. The JHA built on a felling plan and power-line awareness is the one that protects the tree crew.
The bottom line
A Tree Removal JHA names the struck-by, the chainsaw, and the electrical hazards with specific controls — a felling plan with a clear drop zone, escape routes, and stored-energy management for the struck-by, clearances and qualified line-clearance workers for the power-line electrocution, and chainsaw PPE (chaps) and safe operation for the chainsaw. The falling trees/limbs and the power-line electrocution are the deadliest hazards. The JHA that manages both is the one that protects the crew.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the struck-by hazard the leading killer in tree removal?
The falling tree, falling and dead limbs ("widowmakers"), and the stored energy in bent, bound, and spring-loaded limbs (which release violently when cut) are the leading killers in tree work. Controls are a felling plan assessing the lean and hazards, a clear drop zone with everyone out of the fall path, planned escape routes, managing stored energy in bound limbs, and never positioning workers under the tree or limbs being cut.
Why is power-line proximity so dangerous?
Trees near power lines create a serious electrocution hazard — the tree, a limb, the worker, or equipment contacting an energized line, or a felled limb falling onto a line, electrocutes, and it is a major cause of tree-work fatalities. Controls are assessing proximity, maintaining clearances, treating lines as energized, coordinating with the utility, and using qualified line-clearance tree workers for work near energized lines (specialized work).
What chainsaw controls does tree removal require?
The chainsaw is a serious laceration and kickback hazard. Controls are chainsaw PPE (chaps, gloves, eye and face protection, hearing protection, helmet), safe operation (proper technique, avoiding kickback, two hands, proper footing), the chain brake and safety features, and training.
What about climbing and aerial tree work?
Climbing the tree and aerial-lift work bring fall hazards. Controls are certified climbing systems and fall protection for climbing and aerial work, performed by trained climbers, along with safe chipper operation (never reaching into the feed) when processing the material.
Related JHAs
- Landscaping Operations JHA — related vegetation work and chippers
- Working at Height JHA — climbing and aerial tree work
- Electrical Work JHA — power-line and electrical hazards
- Site Clearing and Grubbing JHA — related vegetation clearing
Written by Mustafa Tok, CSP, ASP, CHST — OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer with 14+ years of international construction safety experience across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects.