Description:
The ASC Z133 standard serves as the cornerstone of arboricultural safety in North America. The upcoming 2026 revision introduces some of the most significant structural and technical changes in the standard’s 50-year history. This presentation provides a focused overview of the Z133–2026 updates, with particular attention to high-impact changes affecting electrical hazard classification, drop zone management, aerial operations, rigging practices, chainsaw use, and emergency response requirements.
The session will explore the new four-level electrical arborist qualification system, updated Minimum Approach Distances (MADs), and revised language that shifts many practices from “should” to “shall.” Attendees will gain insight into OSHA alignment, consensus standard development, and practical field implications of the updated standard. Special emphasis will be placed on how these changes reflect a modern, learning-based safety philosophy—one that balances compliance with operational realities.
Whether you are a utility arborist, municipal forester, safety manager, or crew leader, this session will help prepare you to adapt field practices, training programs, and safety plans in alignment with the new standard.