Tree Stands Guidelines

OMB Control Number 3041-0029

Investigation Guideline
Product: Tree Stands
Appendix #: 133
Date amended: March 2005
I.
A.

Introduction
Background Information
Hunting tree stands, or simply tree stands, are devices used while hunting to give a
hunter an elevated position above his/her prey. Hunters perceive that there are several
benefits of hunting from a tree stand, including (a) the elevated sight improves seeing
game; (b) game on the ground are less likely to see hunters who are elevated; (c) the
hunter's scent is dispersed higher, thus improving the chances of not being detected;
and (d) shots are typically safer due to the angle towards the ground.
The CPSC staff estimates that several thousand injuries associated with tree stand use
are treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms annually, based on a review of NEISS
data. A majority of these injuries were due to falls from tree stands where the cause of
the fall was not reported. In only a few cases was staff able to determine that a failure
occurred to the stand and contributed to the fall. It is unknown how many of these
injuries are from commercial stands versus homemade stands. In-depth investigations
potentially could help determine the extent and specific causes of tree stand failures in
addition to providing information about how many tree stands are commercial versus
homemade.
Tree stand manufacturers/sellers are required, according to the voluntary standard, to
provide a full body harness with the purchase of a tree stand. Full body harnesses and
other types of fall arrest systems (FAS) can also be purchased separately. Staff also
has information pertaining to several incidents involving hanging or traumatic
asphyxiation by a safety belt, chest harness or full body harness that resulted in death.

B.

Product Descriptions
Tree stands are grouped into four broad classes: (1) climbing stands, (2) ladder stands,
(3) fixed stands, and (4) homemade stands. A climbing stand is constructed of two
pieces, a base platform and a seat platform. There is often a strap that attaches the
base platform to the seat platform. To ascend a tree, the stand is “walked” or “inched”
up a tree by alternately raising the seating platform and the standing platform in a
stand up, sit down pattern. This pattern is reversed to descend the tree. The climbing
function is integral to the design of the tree stand, making additional climbing

equipment (ladders, tree steps, climbing sticks, etc.) unnecessary. Figure 1 is an
example of a typical climbing stand.

Figure 1 Typical Climbing Tree Stand
Ladder tree stands are comprised of a ladder that has a seat at the top. The ladder is
propped up against the tree where it is secured by means of a chain or strap. The
height of ladder stands ranges from 12-17 feet. Most models are for a single user.
However, there are models that are marketed for two or more persons. Figure 2 is an
example of a typical ladder stand.

Figure 2 Typical Ladder Tree Stand

A fixed tree stand consists of a base and a seat. These tree stands are fastened to the
tree by means of webbing or chains. These tree stands require a separate means to
reach the desired elevation. This can be accomplished by a ladder, climbing sticks, or
tree steps. Climbing sticks are portable devices that have steps that can be used to
climb the tree. Tree steps are portable steps that are attached to the tree by straps or
screwed into the tree. Multiple tree steps are used to climb the tree. Figure 3 is an
example of a typical fixed tree stand.

Figure 3 Typical Fixed Tree Stand
Homemade tree stands can vary in construction from copies of the three previously
mentioned stand types to tree fort style houses constructed of wood. Many homemade
stands are constructed on private property as most state and federal lands restrict the
use of permanently constructed hunting stands on these properties.

C. Fall Arrest Systems (FAS)
A FAS is any type of fall protection devices marketed for tree stand use. A FAS can
be classified as one of three different types: safety belts, chest harnesses, and full body
harnesses. All of these devices use a lanyard to secure the device to an anchor point
on the tree. The lanyard usually attaches to the harness at the user's back. A safety
belt has a single loop that can be worn around the waist or chest area. These belts are
generally the simplest and least expensive of the three types. Before the current
voluntary standards became effective, tree stands used to come with a safety belt. The
hazard associated with these FAS is that they save the hunter from falling, but then the
hunter will quickly asphyxiate from hanging from the tree. Figure 4 is an example of a
safety belt.

Figure 4 Safety Belt

A chest harness incorporates shoulder straps into the basic safety belt design. Even
with the addition of the shoulder straps, the same asphyxiation hazard exists as with
the safety belt. Figure 5 is an example of a typical chest harness.

Figure 5 Chest Harness

A full body harness consists of a waist belt, shoulder straps, and straps for the pelvic
and thigh area, that help distribute the forces incurred from a fall evenly across the
body. It also gives the suspended hunter more time to get down from the tree before
being asphyxiated. A full body harnesses is the most expensive of the three fall
protection devices and is the type of FAS required by the current ASTM standards to
be sold with all tree stands. Figure 6 is an example of a typical full body harness.

Figure 6 Full Body Harness

D.

Headquarters Contacts
Natalie Marcy, EPHA (301) 504-7329
Patty Hackett, ESME (301) 504-7577

II. Instructions for Collecting Incident Information
A. Synopsis of Incident
It is important to describe clearly the sequence of events. Describe what happened
immediately before, during, and after the incident. Include the position of the victim
relative to the tree stand, and a detailed description of how the tree stand was being
used at the time. Try to establish whether the victim was ascending, descending or in
the process of hunting at the time of the incident. If the tree stand was homemade,
obtain basic accident scenario and information about the FAS, and the use of the FAS.
If the incident resulted in a death, obtain the medical records, accident reports and any
other information that might help determine the sequence of events leading to the
incident.

B. Description of Incident Environment
Describe all relevant information on environmental factors such as lighting (what time
of day did the incident occur), the weather conditions, the type of tree the stand was
attached to, the height at which the stand was attached, the diameter of the tree, and
the ground condition under the tree stand.

C. Description/Background of Injured Person
Obtain information pertaining to the victim – age, height, weight, physical and mental
condition at time of incident (taking any medications, drinking alcohol, level of
alertness), the length of time in the stand at the time of the incident, years of hunting
experience (had they taken any hunter safety courses), years of tree stand experience,
and personal use of the FAS (did they always use one, sometimes use one, never use
one)?
If the injured party was not using the FAS at the time of the incident, interview the
subject to determine the following:
•
•
•
•

Was a fall arrest system supplied with the tree stand? If so, what kind was
it?
If not, did the victim purchase one separately? If so, what kind was it?
Was a training video or manual supplied with the tree stand? If so, did the
victim review it prior to using the tree stand?
Why did the victim not wear the fall arrest system?

D. Description of Product
Document the type of tree stand and FAS involved in the incident. Visually examine
the tree stand for signs for abuse, missing or broken parts, modified safety devices, or
other problems. Document the manufacturer, model number, and any other identifying
information on the stand. Obtain purchase and use history of the stand and FAS.
Where and when was it purchased, how much did it cost, how often had it been used,
were there any prior problems, were any modifications made to the stand or FAS.
If the FAS was being used at the time of the incident, document its condition. Are any
of the straps broken, frayed, or stretched? Are there any signs of unusual wear or tear?

III. Obtaining samples and documents related to the investigation
If the cause of the incident appears to be related to the mechanical failure of the tree stand
or one of its components (including the FAS), obtain the tree stand and FAS as a sample.
If the instruction manual, any instructional video or DVD, or box for the tree stand are
still available, collect them as part of the sample or obtain copies/photographs. If the tree
stand is a homemade unit, photo-documentation of the stand and FAS, if applicable, will
be sufficient. If the cause appears to be related to user error or misjudgment, photograph
the stand and fall arrest system only.
Local jurisdictions that provide hunting licenses may also require all accidents be
documented, using a hunter accident report form. Contact the licensing body to obtain a
copy of any reports. If the incident resulted in injury or death, obtain a copy of the
medical records.

DATA RECORD SHEET
Tree Stand Investigation Guideline
TASK NUMBER __________________________ INCIDENT DATE ___________________________

1. Brand name (manufacturer), model name and number of the tree stand? (If the stand
was homemade, report who made the stand – victim or relative of victim?)
2. What type of tree stand was being used: climbing, ladder, fixed, or homemade? If
homemade, is it a permanent installation?

3. Age of tree stand (when was it purchased)? When was the stand first used? Prior to
the incident, how often was the tree stand used? On average, how long was the tree stand
in use each time?
4. Did anyone besides the victim use the tree stand? If so, how often?

5. Had the tree stand been changed, modified, or repaired in anyway since purchase? If
so, how was the stand changed or modified? Who did it?
6. How long had the victim been using the tree stand the day the incident occurred?
7. What exactly was the victim doing at the time of the incident? Was he/she ascending/
descending or stationary? Provide a description of the incident from the victim’s point of
view.

8. Describe the physical location and interaction between the victim and the product at
the time of the incident.
9. What time of day did the incident occur? Was lighting an issue?

10. What was the weather like? Temperature? Precipitation? Wind conditions?
11. What kind of tree was being used at the time of the incident? Had this tree ever been
used before by the victim? Estimate the height of the tree stand at the time of the
incident. If a climbing stand was used, estimate the diameter of the tree at the base and
where the tree stand was on the tree at the time of the incident.
12. If the injury was due to a fall to the ground, ask about the presence of branches and
the ground condition under the stand.
13. Victim Information (at the time of the incident):
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Age:
Height:
Weight:
General Physical Condition:
Mental Condition (use of drugs, alcohol, sleep deprived, etc.):
Years of hunting experience:
Years of tree stand experience:

14. Use of a FAS – did the victim use the FAS when using the tree stand? (Always,
sometimes, never, during the incident)?
•

If use was sometimes, ask what determined whether or not it was used?

•

If the FAS system was not being used at the time of the incident, inquire as to
why?

•

What type of FAS was used and describe how the FAS system was worn (e.g., if a
safety belt, was it worn around the waist or chest)

•

Subsequent to the fall, describe whether it moved upwards and/or constricted
around the body in such a way as to make it difficult to breathe.

15. If FAS stopped the victim’s fall, explain how the victim got down from the tree. How
long was he/she hanging? How far did the victim fall before the fall was stopped by the
FAS? How far was the victim from the ground when suspended by the FAS?
16. Was a FAS supplied with the tree stand? Was it the one used in the incident? If it
wasn’t the one used in the incident or no FAS was used, what type of FAS came with the
tree stand?

17. If no FAS was supplied with the tree stand, did the victim purchase one separately?
If so, what kind?
18. Was a safety video or instructional book supplied with the tree stand that discussed
the use of a FAS? If so, did the victim review it prior to using the tree stand?
19. What is the condition of the FAS? Look for broken, stretched, frayed or worn
straps/buckles.
20. In the victim’s opinion, what caused the accident?
21. Was an accident report filled out to document the incident? If so, by whom?