Michigan Administrative Code

R 408.15229 Bins, bunkers, hoppers, and fuel houses. Rule 5229. (1) An open bin, bunker, or hopper extending less than 36 inches above the working level shall be provided with a guardrail system as prescribed in General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 2 “Walking-Working …

R 408.15230 Fiber rope. Rule 5230. (1) Frozen fiber rope shall not be used in load carrying service. (2) Fiber rope that has been subjected to acid or excessive heat shall not be used for load carrying purposes. (3) Fiber rope shall be protected from abrasion by padding where it …

R 408.15231 Chippers and hogs. Rule 5231. (1) A whole log chipper or a hog shall have the feed system arranged so that an employee does not stand in direct line with the chipper hopper. (2) A guard shall be installed over the chipping or hog throat to prevent slab and wood partic…

R 408.15232 Log deck. Rule 5232. (1) A log deck shall be provided with a stop or other safeguard to prevent logs from inadvertently advancing onto the carriage of its runway. (2) A barricade or other positive stop of such strength to hold back a log shall be erected between a log…

R 408.15233 Debarkers. Rule 5233. (1) A debarker shall be guarded by an enclosure or by location so as to protect an employee from flying bark and other debris. The enclosure shall have a window between the operator and debarker of 3/8- inch plexiglass or material of equivalent o…

R 408.15234 Sawmill carriages. Rule 5234. (1) A stop or bumper with shock-absorptive qualities shall be installed at the ends of a carriage runway to prevent its leaving the track limits. (2) Dogs shall hold a log, cant, or board in such manner that the log, cant, or board cannot…

R 408.15241 Head band saws and band resaws. Rule 5241. (1) A head band saw and band resaw shall not be operated at a speed in excess of the manufacturer's rating. The rating shall be permanently marked on the wheel. (2) A band saw blade shall not be used if it has a crack greater…

R 408.15242 Circular head saw. Rule 5242. (1) A circular headsaw shall not be operated at a speed in excess of the manufacturer's rating, which shall be etched on the blade. A circular headsaw shall be equipped with guides to prevent blade wobble. (2) Horizontal distance from a c…

R 408.15243 Double circular head saw. Rule 5243. A double circular head saw shall comply with R 408.15242 and in addition, have a movable guard or hood made of a minimum of 14 gauge sheet metal or material of equivalent or greater strength over the upper blade. History: 1979 AC; …

R 408.15244 Self-feed circular gang saws. Rule 5244. (1) A bank of circular gang saws and their feed rolls, if so equipped, shall be enclosed by a cover over the top, front, and open ends, except where guarded by location. A drive mechanism to feed rolls shall be enclosed. The co…

R 408.15245 Trimmer saw. Rule 5245. (1) A trimmer saw shall be guarded by a barrier made of 11 gauge metal, or material of equivalent or greater strength, to contain the trimmings flying from the point of operation and to prevent an employee from coming in contact with any saw bl…

R 408.15246 Edger saws. Rule 5246. (1) An edger shall not be located in the main roll case behind the headsaw. Edger saw blades shall be guarded against unintentional contact. (2) A control device shall be installed and located so that the operator can stop the pressure feed roll…

R 408.15247 Bolt, cant, or slat saw. Rule 5247. (1) A bolt, cant, or slat saw shall have the point of operation guarded or the work stations of the tailer and operation shall be constructed to prevent the tailer or operator from working closer than 42 inches from the saw blade. (…

R 408.15251 Woodworking machines. Rule 5251. An employer using machines and equipment more commonly found in a woodworking shop, including but not limited to, jointers, planers, mitre saws and swing cutoff saws, shall follow the General Industry Safety and Health Standard Part 27…

R 408.15252 Kilns. Rule 5252. (1) A kiln door shall have a device to hold it open during a loading or unloading cycle. A counterweight for the kiln door shall be guarded as prescribed in General Industry Safety Standard Part 7 “Guards and Power Transmission,” as referenced in R 4…

R 408.15253 Storage and transfer of lumber. Rule 5253. (1) Lumber shall be stacked on foundations constructed to support the maximum load without sinking, sagging or permitting the pile to topple. A pile of lumber which is not stable shall be restacked at once or the area guarded…

R 408.15254 Stackers and unstackers. Rule 5254. (1) A stacker or unstacker shall be blocked whenever an employee goes beneath the hoisting platform. (2) The lifting device on a stacker or unstacker shall be constructed or equipped with safety devices to minimize the potential of …

R 408.15256 Cleaning pits. Rule 5256. An employer shall provide safe means of entrance and exit to permit cleaning of pits. History: 2014 AACS. PALLET EQUIPMENT

R 408.15261 Nailers. Rule 5261. (1) A hand-held, power operated nailer or stapler shall be equipped and maintained with a safety switch at the point of operation as well as a finger control switch. (2) An automatic nailer or stapler shall have the point of operation guarded or en…

R 408.15262 Pallet notchers. Rule 5262. A pallet notcher shall be equipped with a hood designed to contain flying pieces and chips and controls to prevent the hands of the operator from entering the point of operation. A method of feeding shall be provided to prevent kickbacks. H…

R 408.15271 Hauling trucks, egress, and pickup points. Rule 5271. (1) A truck used to haul lumber or logs shall have a bulkhead extending to the top of the operator's compartment and capable of containing the movement of the load caused by a sudden stop. (2) Stakes, stake pockets…

R 408.15272 Securing of truck loads. Rule 5272. (1) A trip stake shall be released from the side of the truck or trailer opposite the location of the trip stake. (2) When the entire load of logs are unloaded by a device or sling from a truck or trailer, in a single operation, the…

R 408.15273 Log and material handling equipment. Rule 5273. (1) Equipment used for handling logs and material shall be equipped with a braking system capable of holding the imposed load of equipment and material. (2) A hydraulic system of log and material handling equipment shall…

R 408.15274 Log unloading and storage, general. Rule 5274. (1) A log unloading area and road beds will be arranged and maintained to allow a safe operation. (2) Signs prohibited unauthorized foot traffic shall be posted in the log unloading and storage area. (3) A brow log or equ…

R 408.15275 Water log dumps. Rule 5275 (1) Ungrounded electrically powered hoists using handheld remote control in grounded locations, such as log dumps or mill log lifts, shall be actuated by circuits operating at less than 50 volts to ground. (2) Roadbeds at log dumps shall be …

R 408.15276 Dry deck storage. Rule 5276. (1) A dry deck storage area shall be maintained in a condition to allow safe operation of mobile equipment. (2) Logs shall be stored in a safe and orderly manner. Logs shall be piled in the yard and arranged on the deck in a manner to prev…

R 408.15280 Air requirements. Rule 5280. (1) Ventilation shall be provided to supply adequate fresh healthful air to rooms, buildings, and work areas. (2) Employees shall not be exposed to airborne concentration of toxic dusts, fumes, vapors, mists, or gases that exceed the thres…

R 408.15284 Pond boats and rafts. Rule 5284. (1) Pond boats and rafts shall comply with the provisions of NFPA 302 “Fire Protection Standard for Pleasure and Commercial Motor Craft,” 1968 edition, as adopted in R 408.15209. (2) Decks of pond boats shall be covered with nonslip ma…

R 408.15301 Scope. Rule 5301. This part covers safety requirements for tools and equipment, their maintenance and repair, and the work practices used in spraying, trimming, pruning, repair and removal of trees by an employer and their use by an employee in, around and about a pla…

R 408.15303 Definitions; B to I. Rule 5303. (1) "Bucking" means to cut a felled tree into lengths. (2) "Cabling" means to secure a limb into a position by means of a cable from the limb to another limb. (3) "Chipper" means a mechanical device that reduces limbs and branches to sm…

R 408.15304 Definitions; L to T. Rule 5304. (1) "Limbing" means to cut limbs from a felled tree. (2) "Qualified line clearance tree trimmer" means an employee trained to work in the proximity of energized conductors such as, but not limited to, an employee for an electric power o…

R 339.15304 Relicensure requirements. Rule 304. (1) An applicant whose license has lapsed for less than 3 years after the expiration date of the last license may be relicensed under section 411(3) of the code, MCL 339.411, by satisfying all the following requirements: (a) Provide…

R 408.15311 Employer responsibility. Rule 5311. An employer shall: (a) Provide training to each new employee regarding the requirements of this standard, the job hazards and safeguards before starting his assigned job. A job briefing shall be conducted before any tree job involvi…

R 408.15312 Employee responsibility. Rule 5312. An employee shall: (a) Report to his leader or supervisor any tool, equipment or safeguard which is defective. (b) Use personal protective equipment prescribed by the state safety standards. (c) Not remove a guard except for authori…

R 408.15313 Personal protective equipment. Rule 5313. (1) Eye protection shall be provided and used, as prescribed in general industry safety standard, Part 33. Personal Protective Equipment, being R Page 3 Courtesy of Michigan Administrative Rules 408.13301 to R 408.13369 of the…

R 408.15314 Fire prevention. Rule 5314. (1) Flammable liquids shall be stored in an approved safety container equipped with an automatic closing cap and flame arrester. (2) Equipment shall be stopped while being refueled, serviced or maintained. Restarting of portable equipment s…

R 408.15321 Electrical hazards. Rule 5321. (1) An electric conductor or communication line shall be considered energized unless the systems utility or owner indicates otherwise and they have visibly grounded the conductor or line. (2) The location of underground utilities shall b…

R 408.15331 Climbing. Rule 5331. (1) An approved safety belt, tree trimming saddle belt or rope saddle shall be used by an employee when aloft. (2) A climbing rope shall be crotched as soon as possible after the employee is aloft and located in a crotch, when possible, at a heigh…

R 408.15332 Pruning and trimming. Rule 5332. (1) If another employee is present, a verbal warning shall be given by the employee aloft before dropping a limb. (2) A separate work rope, controlled by an employee on the ground, shall be used to lower limbs which cannot be dropped. …

R 408.15333 Limbing. Rule 5333. (1) When possible, an employee cutting a limb shall work from the side opposite and uphill of the cut. (2) Branches bent under tension shall be considered hazardous and the situation corrected. History: 1979 AC.

R 408.15334 Topping. Rule 5334. (1) When topping, equipment such as a crane shall be used to lower branches and limbs if the tree cannot stand the strain. (2) When lowering large limb sections, the employee aloft shall position himself, whenever possible, above the limb being low…

R 408.15335 Cabling. Rule 5335. When cabling: (a) The limbs or branches to be connected shall be brought to position by a block and tackle, hand winch or come-along. (b) Not more than 2 employees shall be aloft working at opposite ends. (c) An employee on the ground shall not be …

R 408.15336 Felling. Rule 5336. (1) Before a cut is started, a feller shall check for other employees and dead limbs, angle of tree, wind condition, location of other trees and other hazards, and plan his path of retreat. (2) Each assisting employee on the ground shall be instruc…

R 408.15337 Bucking. Rule 5337. When bucking: (a) An employee shall work from the uphill side. (b) The log or limb shall be blocked to prevent rolling. (c) Wedges shall be used on trunks and limbs of large trees to prevent binding the saw guide bar or chain. History: 1979 AC. R 4…

R 408.15341 Mobile equipment; general. Rule 5341. (1) The muffler and exhaust pipe of mobile equipment used in tree trimming and removal operations shall be guarded or so located as to prevent contact by an employee during normal use. (2) Defects or malfunctions of mobile equipme…

R 408.15342 Aerial lifts. Rule 5342. (1) An aerial lift used for tree trimming, pruning or removal of a tree shall be used and maintained as prescribed in the occupational safety standards commission standard, Part 58. Vehicle Mounted and Rotating Work Platforms, being R 408.1580…

R 408.15343 Brush chippers. Rule 5343. (1) A brush chipper shall be equipped with a locking device on the ignition system which shall be kept locked with the key removed when the chipper is unattended. (2) Access panels for maintenance and adjustment shall be closed and secured b…