Just as in other industries, the tree care industry has ANSI (American National Standards Institute)standards for all tree care operations, including safety.

ANSI A300 Standards are divided into multiple parts, each focusing on a specific aspect of woody plant management (e.g. Pruning, Fertilization, etc.) ANSI A300 standards apply to professionals who provide for or supervise the management of trees, shrubs, and other woody landscape plants. ANSI Z133.1 provides safety criteria for arborists and other workers engaged in arboricultural operations.

These standard have been developed by the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), an ANSI-accredited Standards Developing Organization (SDO). Prior to 1991, various industry associations and practitioners developed their own standards and recommendatioins for tree care practices. Recognizing the need for a standardized, scientific approach, green industry associatioins, goverment agencies and tree care companies agreed to develop consensus for an official American National Standard. The result - ANSI A300 standards - unify and take authoratative precedence over all previously existing tree care industry standards. ANSI requires that approved standards be developed according to accepted principles, and that they be reviewed and, if necessary, revised every five years.

Because of the many specialized procedures utilized during arboricultural operations, it must be emphasized that exceptions to provison of these standards may be acceptable and that flexibility and/or a decision as to the applicability of these standards to professional operations may be required.

What's the bottom line regarding what this mean for you as a prospective client? It means that if you are dealing with a company that doesn't recognize or adhere to ANSI standards then you are not dealing with professionals.