Landscaping · Canada

FLHA for tree removal

By Safety PaperworkBuilt from provincial OHS law and CCOHS guidance · How we write and check theseUpdated November 9, 2026

Provincial OHS law requires hazards to be assessed and controlled before work starts. A field level hazard assessment (FLHA) for tree removal is done on site at the start of the shift and again whenever conditions change.

It lists the tasks, hazards and controls, and every worker signs on before starting and signs off at the end of the shift. The main hazards are falling from height, road traffic, aerial work platform tip-over or crush and falling tools and materials.

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FLHA example: tree removal

This is a complete FLHA for tree removal, with 10 job steps. Open it in the builder to add your site, crew and signatures, change anything, and download a PDF. Or download the free Word template below and fill it in by hand.

Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA)

Tree removal and pruning with a chainsaw · Landscaping · Example

Document FLHA-001 · Rev 1

Job steps, hazards and controls

#	Job step	Hazards	Risk before	Controls	Risk after
1	Assess the tree for lean, decay and dead wood, check for power lines and buildings, and plan escape routes; keep 2 tree lengths clear when felling	Contact with overhead power lines Falling tools and materials	High	Ask the utility to de-energize, move or insulate the lines before work starts. Elimination Use non-conductive (fibreglass) ladders near any power lines. Substitution Mark the safe distance with flags, tape or goal posts and keep all equipment and people outside it. Engineering (guarding) Keep to the provincial limits of approach and contact the utility before working near lines. Administrative Use a dedicated spotter whenever equipment moves or raises anything near lines. Administrative Treat all lines as live. If equipment touches a line, stay in the cab and keep everyone well away. Administrative Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Engineering (guarding) Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Engineering Falling tools and materials: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
2	Set up the drop zone with barriers and traffic or pedestrian control	Public entering the work area Road traffic	Critical	Fence off the site with secure temporary fencing and lock the gates when you leave. Engineering (guarding) Give pedestrians a safe, marked path around the work, with ramps for strollers and wheelchairs. Engineering (guarding) Use hoarding, covered walkways or catch fans where work is above public areas. Engineering Put signs at each entry: site name, contact number and "No unauthorised entry". Administrative Make the site safe at the end of each day: cover holes, lower buckets and booms, remove ladders and lock tools away. Administrative Use a spotter when moving equipment or materials across public paths. Administrative Do the work at low-traffic times, or close the road or lane with approval. Elimination Put solid barriers between the work and traffic where speeds are high, not just cones. Engineering (guarding) Use a truck-mounted attenuator or buffer vehicle on high speed roads. Engineering Set up signs and cones to your provincial traffic control manual, with trained traffic control persons. Administrative Get a road occupancy permit from the municipality or road authority before you start. Administrative Park work vehicles to shield the work zone, with beacons on. Administrative Wear high-visibility clothing to CSA Z96. PPE	Medium
3	Check the chainsaw, chain brake and PPE before starting	Chainsaw injuries Loud noise	High	Use a different tool where you can, such as a pole saw or hand saw for small branches. Substitution Use a saw with a working chain brake, chain catcher and low-kickback chain, kept sharp and tensioned. Engineering Only trained operators use chainsaws. Administrative Never cut above shoulder height or from a ladder. Administrative When felling, keep everyone at least two tree lengths away. Administrative Wear chainsaw chaps, chainsaw boots, gloves, a helmet with face screen and hearing protection. PPE Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitution Keep noisy equipment away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Engineering (guarding) Loud noise: see step 10 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
4	Look for nests, wasps and snakes before climbing or cutting	Bites and stings	Medium	Check work areas before starting, and get pest control to remove nests. Elimination Look before you reach into dark spaces. Administrative Ask owners to keep pets away from the work area. Administrative Know who has allergies and keep their medication, such as an epinephrine auto-injector, close by. Administrative Wear gloves, long sleeves and boots. Use insect repellent outdoors. PPE	Medium
5	Set up the aerial work platform on firm ground outside the drop zone	Aerial work platform tip-over or crush Contact with overhead power lines	Critical	Check the ground before setting up. Use outriggers and spreader pads, and keep clear of trenches, pits and slopes. Engineering Use a platform with tilt alarm and secondary guarding (anti-entrapment) where there is an overhead crush risk. Engineering Operators are trained to CSA B354.8 and the manufacturer's instructions, and the platform is inspected to CSA B354.7. Administrative Do a pre-start check each day. Keep a trained person on the ground who can lower the platform in an emergency. Administrative Never exceed the safe working load, climb on the rails or use a ladder in the basket. Administrative In boom-type platforms, wear a harness clipped to the basket anchor point. PPE Contact with overhead power lines: see step 1 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
6	Cut from the ground or the aerial work platform, never from a ladder	Falling from height Chainsaw injuries	Critical	Do the work from the ground where you can, for example pre-assemble on the ground or use extension poles. Elimination Install guardrails or edge protection on all open edges before work starts. Engineering (guarding) Use a scaffold, mobile work platform or aerial work platform instead of working off a ladder. Engineering Where edge protection is not practical, use a fall restraint or fall arrest system on a rated anchor point. Engineering Fall protection plan in place where required. Workers trained in fall protection (Working at Heights training in Ontario). Administrative Have a rescue plan so a worker hanging in a harness can be brought down within minutes. Administrative Wear a full body harness with a shock-absorbing lanyard, clipped on at all times when using fall arrest. PPE Chainsaw injuries: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
7	Drop limbs in sections into the clear drop zone. Before cutting bent or loaded wood, work out which side is under tension and stand clear of where it will spring	Falling tools and materials	High	Barricade and sign the drop zone under overhead work so nobody walks beneath. Engineering (guarding) Fit toe boards, kick plates and mesh screens on scaffolds and edges. Engineering Use catch fans, debris netting or covered walkways where people pass below. Engineering Tether hand tools when working at height. Engineering Keep platforms tidy. Do not stack materials near edges or above toe board height. Administrative Lower materials with a hoist, chute or rope. Never throw or drop anything down. Administrative Wear a hard hat anywhere objects could fall. PPE	Medium
8	Fell the stem with a scarf cut on the felling side and a back cut that leaves a hinge, call a warning, then step back along the planned escape route	Falling tools and materials Chainsaw injuries	High	Falling tools and materials: see step 7 for the full controls Administrative Chainsaw injuries: see step 3 for the full controls Administrative	Medium
9	Refuel with the engine off and the saw cool, on bare ground away from ignition, using an approved fuel can, with an extinguisher at the vehicle	Fire and emergencies	High	Provide fire extinguishers suited to the site, checked and easy to reach. Engineering Keep exits and escape routes clear and signed. Engineering Have a site emergency plan: alarm, exits, assembly point and emergency contacts. Administrative Keep a stocked first aid kit and at least one trained first aider on site. Administrative Know the site address and how emergency services get in. Call 911. Administrative Go through the emergency plan with every worker and visitor at induction. Administrative Keep flammable materials and rubbish away from exits and escape routes. Administrative	Medium
10	Chip or stack wood: feed the chipper butt first from the side, never reach past the feed control bar or kick material in, and stop and isolate it before clearing a jam; then clean up	Lifting and carrying heavy loads Hand-arm and whole-body vibration Loud noise Poor housekeeping and waste	High	Plan to avoid carrying: have materials delivered, and old items picked up, as close as possible to where they are used. Elimination Use lighter or smaller loads: order smaller bags and shorter lengths, and drain or break down old items before moving them. Substitution Use trolleys, pallet jacks, hoists, vacuum lifters or equipment instead of carrying by hand. Engineering Use a two-person lift for anything heavy, long or awkward. Plan the route first and clear it. Administrative Use low-vibration tools and methods, such as a breaker on an excavator instead of a hand jackhammer. Substitution Keep tools sharp and well maintained, and use anti-vibration handles and seats. Engineering Limit trigger time on high-vibration tools and rotate workers. Administrative Keep hands warm and dry, and take regular breaks. Administrative Use quieter tools and methods, such as cut-to-size materials, low-noise machines and battery tools. Substitution Keep noisy equipment away from work areas, and use screens or distance between the noise and people. Engineering (guarding) Keep tools maintained and use mufflers on compressors and generators. Engineering Limit time on noisy tools and rotate workers. Administrative Order materials to size and send packaging back where you can. Elimination Put waste bins and chutes close to the work. Engineering Clean as you go, and do a full clean up at the end of each day. Administrative Keep exits, stairs and walkways clear at all times. Administrative	Medium

PPE

Chainsaw pants or chapsHard hat (CSA Z94.1)Face shieldHearing protectionWork glovesCSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195)High-visibility vest (CSA Z96)Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3)Cut-resistant glovesCoverallsFull body harness (fall arrest)

Plant and equipment

ChainsawBoom lift: Provincial aerial work platform operator training (CSA B354.8)TrailerHand tools

Permits and plans

Fall protection plan

Emergency

Call 911. Add the nearest hospital, the muster point and the first aid attendant for your site.

Sign-off

Supervisor and every worker sign to confirm they have read and understood this FLHA, then sign off at the end of the shift.

Free FLHA template for tree removal

Word (.docx) and PDF, Letter landscape, no email needed. Fill in your site details, then print or send it.

Word template (.docx)PDF template

Make yours in 2 minutes

Same document, filled in for your job. Answer a few yes or no questions, the crew signs on the phone, and you send the PDF.

Start this FLHA

Pre-start checklist for tree removal

Tick these off before work starts. They come from the hazards, permits and equipment in this job.

FLHA read, explained and signed by everyone on the job
Guardrails or fall protection in place before anyone works at 3 m or more
Aerial work platform pre-use inspection done and the operator is trained (CSA B354.8)
Overhead lines identified and safe distances marked
Exclusion zone and spotter set up for equipment and traffic
Exclusion zone below the work and public kept out
First aid attendant, first aid kit and emergency number (911) confirmed
PPE checked and worn: chainsaw pants or chaps, hard hat (CSA Z94.1), face shield, hearing protection

The safe sequence of work

Assess the tree for lean, decay and dead wood, check for power lines and buildings, and plan escape routes; keep 2 tree lengths clear when felling
Set up the drop zone with barriers and traffic or pedestrian control
Check the chainsaw, chain brake and PPE before starting
Look for nests, wasps and snakes before climbing or cutting
Set up the aerial work platform on firm ground outside the drop zone
Cut from the ground or the aerial work platform, never from a ladder
Drop limbs in sections into the clear drop zone. Before cutting bent or loaded wood, work out which side is under tension and stand clear of where it will spring
Fell the stem with a scarf cut on the felling side and a back cut that leaves a hinge, call a warning, then step back along the planned escape route
Refuel with the engine off and the saw cool, on bare ground away from ignition, using an approved fuel can, with an extinguisher at the vehicle
Chip or stack wood: feed the chipper butt first from the side, never reach past the feed control bar or kick material in, and stop and isolate it before clearing a jam; then clean up

Hazards to watch on tree removal

The hazards most specific to this job, and the step where each one comes up.

Step 3, 6, 8Chainsaw injuriesChainsaw kickback or contact with the chain causes deep cuts to the legs, arms and face.

Step 4Bites and stingsSpiders, wasps, ticks and dogs bite or sting workers in attics, crawl spaces and yards.

Step 5Aerial work platform tip-over or crushThe platform tips on soft or sloping ground, the worker is crushed against a beam or ceiling, or is thrown out of the basket.

Step 2Road trafficPassing cars and trucks hit workers or plant working on or next to a road.

Step 9Fire and emergenciesA fire, injury or other emergency happens and workers cannot get out, raise the alarm or get first aid in time.

Step 1, 5Contact with overhead power linesA ladder, aerial work platform, crane, dump truck or long length of material touches or gets close to an overhead line and electrocutes people.

Highest risk on tree removal: Critical before controls (B), down to Medium after controls (A), on the Canada 5 by 5 risk matrix (likely and fatality becomes unlikely and serious injury).

What changes on your site

This example covers the job itself. Your site may add more. Add controls for any of these that apply (the builder asks you these as yes or no questions):

Will anyone use a ladder or stepladder?
Will anyone work on a roof?
Is there a fragile roof, skylight or clear roof sheet?
Will you use a scaffold or mobile tower?
Was the building built before 1990?

Licences and legal requirements in Canada

Equipment on this job that needs a licence, ticket or training:

Boom lift: Provincial aerial work platform operator training (CSA B354.8)

Employers must identify hazards before work starts and control them, and workers must be told about them. A field level hazard assessment is done on site, at the start of each shift or task, and reviewed again when conditions change.

Rules that apply: Provincial OHS regulation and CSA B354.7, B354.8; Provincial OHS regulation, fall protection.

Why FLHAs get rejected

Prime contractors and COR auditors send documents back for these reasons. This example avoids them, but check yours too.

End of shift boxes already say "None" when the form was signed at the start of the shift.
One FLHA reused for days or weeks, or a "review by" date a month away, when the work and conditions change daily.
No time of assessment and no record of any revision, which Alberta s.7(3) requires.
Workers signed that they "read" it, but nothing shows they took part, which Alberta s.8(1) requires.
Work at height with no fall protection plan where the province requires one, or no written rescue procedure for workers using fall arrest.
Permits or locates required on site but no permit or ticket numbers recorded.
No re-assessment entry after an obvious change such as weather, a new task or a new crew member.

Rules by province for tree removal

Province or territory	Key local rule	Regulator
Ontario	Fall protection (O. Reg. 213/91 s.26) applies at a fall of more than 3 m, more than 1.2 m where the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment, and at any height into operating machinery, water or other liquid, a hazardous substance, or through an opening.	Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
British Columbia	Fall protection is required where a fall of 3 m or more may occur (s.11.2). A written fall protection plan is required at 7.5 m or more where there are no permanent guardrails (s.11.3).	WorkSafeBC
Alberta	A hazard assessment must be done before work begins, and before a new work site is built (OHS Code s.7(1)). The results must be written down with the controls (s.7(2)).	Alberta Occupational Health and Safety
Quebec	Guardrails (Safety Code s.2.9.1, as amended by Decret 63-2025) are needed where a worker could fall into liquid or a hazardous substance, onto moving parts or dangerous equipment, 1.2 m or more when using a vehicle, 1.5 m or more when handling a load, and more than 3 m in all other cases.	CNESST (Commission des normes, de l'equite, de la sante et de la securite du travail)
Manitoba	A prime contractor is required whenever more than one employer or self employed person works on the site at the same time (Act s.7).	Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Branch
Saskatchewan	An occupational health committee is required at 10 or more workers of one employer (Act s.3-22).	Saskatchewan Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety, OHS Division
Nova Scotia	Workers must be trained in fall protection before using it or working in, supervising or planning work in a fall protection area, with a refresher at least every 3 years (WHSR s.21.19).	Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration, Safety Branch (OHS)
New Brunswick	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above water or the nearest permanent safe level (Reg 91-191 s.49(1)(a)(i)).	WorkSafeNB
Newfoundland and Labrador	Give written notice to the minister before starting a construction project that will last 30 days or more, with the site, location, type of work and number of workers (Regs s.8).	Government Services, Occupational Health and Safety Division
Prince Edward Island	Fall protection is needed from 3 m above the nearest safe surface or water (Fall Protection Regulations s.2(1)(a)).	Workers Compensation Board of PEI, OHS Division
Yukon	Every employer must do hazard assessments with the committee, representative or workers, and redo them after significant changes or incidents (Regs s.1.03.01).	Yukon Workers' Safety and Compensation Board
Northwest Territories	Fall protection is needed from 3 m, or lower if there is a risk of injury (s.119(1)). Guardrails are needed for falls of 1.2 m to 3 m at permanent work sites (s.119(2)).	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)
Nunavut	No 911. To reach the RCMP in an emergency, dial your community's first three digits then 1111 (Iqaluit: 979-1111). Put the local fire, ambulance and RCMP numbers on every FLHA.	Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)

Questions

Do I need an FLHA for tree removal?

Who signs the FLHA?

The supervisor and every worker take part in the assessment and sign on before work starts, then sign off at the end of the shift. Review it and re-sign whenever the task or conditions change.

How long do I keep it?

Keep completed hazard assessments for at least 3 years (COR auditors sample the last 12 months). Review this FLHA and re-sign whenever the task, crew or conditions change.

What PPE is needed for tree removal?

Usually Chainsaw pants or chaps, Hard hat (CSA Z94.1), Face shield, Hearing protection, Work gloves, CSA green triangle safety boots (CSA Z195), High-visibility vest (CSA Z96), Safety glasses (CSA Z94.3), Cut-resistant gloves, Coveralls, Full body harness (fall arrest). The site rules may add more, so check with the general contractor.

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Blank FLHA template: free FLHA templates. Also for other countries: Australia (SWMS) · United Kingdom (RAMS) · United States (JHA)