Tim Walsh, CTSP, The Townsend Co

The Z133 standard serves as the foundational safety guideline for arboricultural operations in the United States, incorporating best practices for tree work, pruning, rigging, electrical hazard mitigation, and aerial operations. This presentation provides an in-depth overview of key revisions in the forthcoming Z133-2025 update, highlighting critical changes from the 2017 version and their implications for safety compliance, operational practices, and regulatory alignment.

Key updates include new classifications for Electrical-Level Arborists, revised Minimum Approach Distances (MADs) based on voltage exposure, enhanced job briefing and worksite setup requirements, and clarifications on the use of chainsaws, climbing equipment, and rigging practices. The revision also introduces more explicit competency and training requirements, aligning with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.269 to reinforce safety in line-clearance and non-line-clearance operations.

This session will explore the rationale behind these changes, their impact on daily arboricultural work, and how companies can proactively integrate these revisions into their safety programs. Attendees will gain insights into compliance considerations, emerging industry trends, and best practices for implementing the 2025 Z133 standard effectively.

Biography

Walsh, Timothy, CTSP – The Townsend Company, LLC
Tim is the vice president of safety and training for The Townsend Company, LLC. He is pursuing a PhD in industrial engineering and safety from the University of Massachusetts. He holds a master’s in Ergonomics from UMass-Lowell and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in Urban Forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Tim’s credentials include Certified Utility Safety Professional, TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), ISA Certified Arborist, and Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist. With over three and a half decades as a climbing arborist and ownership of a tree care business, Tim has global experience in the field.

He actively contributes to industry standards, serving as a voting member for ANSI 2133 revisions and as task chair for two groups for the 2024 revision. He is involved with the National Occupational Research Agenda Safety Workgroup, stimulating innovative research.

He is on the board of directors for the International Society of Arboriculture and is the past president of the Utility Arborist Association (UAA), Tim has chaired the Safety and Professional Development Committees. In 2022, he received the UAA Will Nutter Silver Shield Award. Additionally, he serves on the Tree Care Industry Magazine Editorial Advisory Committee.