ISA UTILITY SPECIALIST 400 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
2026/2027 || ARBORICULTURE CERTIFICATION || UTILITY
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, TREE SAFETY & LINE
CLEARANCE || VERIFIED QUESTIONS & ACCURATE
ANSWERS || HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE || GRADED A+
400 Questions and answers
In the U.S., enforcement of safety work rules resides with: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA)
Utility pruning is the pruning of trees located in the vicinity of power lines for the
purpose of __________ __________ __________. - CORRECT ANSWER - ensuring
reliable service
A comprehensive vegetation management program should be __________ rather
than reactive, & based on principals of __________ vegetation management. -
CORRECT ANSWER - proactive;
integrated
What is a volt? - CORRECT ANSWER - a unit of electrical force
Major storms or __________ weather events are the usual cause of power outages
over large areas. - CORRECT ANSWER - catastrophic
,Without __________, messages can have multiple meanings. - CORRECT ANSWER
- context
ISA BMPs provide a practical guide for implementing __________ __________. -
CORRECT ANSWER - industry standards
Electrical resistance determines how much __________ is required to move
electricity along a conductor and is measured in __________. - CORRECT ANSWER
- energy;
ohms
When communicating, a person's experience & __________ will influence how the
person reacts. - CORRECT ANSWER - perceptions
Crew mobilization for a storm event is much more rapid from a __________
status. - CORRECT ANSWER - standby
NERC standards are specific to what line voltages? - CORRECT ANSWER - 200 kV
& above
An important first step in any vegetation management program should be to asses
system conditions, which is often done through an __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER - inventory
Which type of cuts are less unacceptable? - CORRECT ANSWER - internodal cuts
(e.g. topping)
,A worker neglecting to wear cut-resistant chaps while operating a chainsaw is
committing an unsafe __________, while an employer failing to provide chaps is
creating an unsafe __________. - CORRECT ANSWER - act;
condition
A conductor carrying more than __________ volts would be considered a NERC
line. - CORRECT ANSWER - 200,000
Communication is both verbal & nonverbal. When a customer is confronted with
contradictory information, the person will usually believe the __________
message. - CORRECT ANSWER - nonverbal
Voluntary safety standards for pruning, trimming, repairing, maintaining &
removing trees, & cutting brush: - CORRECT ANSWER - ANSI Z133
NERC standards require the reporting of all tree caused outages by __________
categories - CORRECT ANSWER - three
A traditional cycle will schedule maintenance __________ trees grow into
conductors. - CORRECT ANSWER - before
Which type of cuts are more acceptable? - CORRECT ANSWER - nodal cuts
(e.g. drop-crotch, thinning)
, The __________-__________ rule suggests that workers should take time before
starting a job to check for potentially unsafe conditions & discuss them. -
CORRECT ANSWER - two-minute
According to ANSI Z133, the minimum approach distance for persons other than
qualified line-clearance arborists for 50 kV & less is __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER - 10 feet
Trees growing into contact with a single-phase distribution conductor pose
__________ threat of a tree-ground fault. - CORRECT ANSWER - little
Where should the final cut be made for proper utility pruning? - CORRECT
ANSWER - just outside of the branch bark ridge and the branch collar
A vegetation management scheduling unit may be an entire __________ or a
__________ __________. - CORRECT ANSWER - circuit;
geographical area
2 examples of protective equipment: - CORRECT ANSWER - circuit breakers
lightning receptors
On a storm site, cutting should not begin until all risks have been assessed & the
__________ approach has been decided & adopted. - CORRECT ANSWER - safest
2026/2027 || ARBORICULTURE CERTIFICATION || UTILITY
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, TREE SAFETY & LINE
CLEARANCE || VERIFIED QUESTIONS & ACCURATE
ANSWERS || HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE || GRADED A+
400 Questions and answers
In the U.S., enforcement of safety work rules resides with: - CORRECT ANSWER -
Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA)
Utility pruning is the pruning of trees located in the vicinity of power lines for the
purpose of __________ __________ __________. - CORRECT ANSWER - ensuring
reliable service
A comprehensive vegetation management program should be __________ rather
than reactive, & based on principals of __________ vegetation management. -
CORRECT ANSWER - proactive;
integrated
What is a volt? - CORRECT ANSWER - a unit of electrical force
Major storms or __________ weather events are the usual cause of power outages
over large areas. - CORRECT ANSWER - catastrophic
,Without __________, messages can have multiple meanings. - CORRECT ANSWER
- context
ISA BMPs provide a practical guide for implementing __________ __________. -
CORRECT ANSWER - industry standards
Electrical resistance determines how much __________ is required to move
electricity along a conductor and is measured in __________. - CORRECT ANSWER
- energy;
ohms
When communicating, a person's experience & __________ will influence how the
person reacts. - CORRECT ANSWER - perceptions
Crew mobilization for a storm event is much more rapid from a __________
status. - CORRECT ANSWER - standby
NERC standards are specific to what line voltages? - CORRECT ANSWER - 200 kV
& above
An important first step in any vegetation management program should be to asses
system conditions, which is often done through an __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER - inventory
Which type of cuts are less unacceptable? - CORRECT ANSWER - internodal cuts
(e.g. topping)
,A worker neglecting to wear cut-resistant chaps while operating a chainsaw is
committing an unsafe __________, while an employer failing to provide chaps is
creating an unsafe __________. - CORRECT ANSWER - act;
condition
A conductor carrying more than __________ volts would be considered a NERC
line. - CORRECT ANSWER - 200,000
Communication is both verbal & nonverbal. When a customer is confronted with
contradictory information, the person will usually believe the __________
message. - CORRECT ANSWER - nonverbal
Voluntary safety standards for pruning, trimming, repairing, maintaining &
removing trees, & cutting brush: - CORRECT ANSWER - ANSI Z133
NERC standards require the reporting of all tree caused outages by __________
categories - CORRECT ANSWER - three
A traditional cycle will schedule maintenance __________ trees grow into
conductors. - CORRECT ANSWER - before
Which type of cuts are more acceptable? - CORRECT ANSWER - nodal cuts
(e.g. drop-crotch, thinning)
, The __________-__________ rule suggests that workers should take time before
starting a job to check for potentially unsafe conditions & discuss them. -
CORRECT ANSWER - two-minute
According to ANSI Z133, the minimum approach distance for persons other than
qualified line-clearance arborists for 50 kV & less is __________. - CORRECT
ANSWER - 10 feet
Trees growing into contact with a single-phase distribution conductor pose
__________ threat of a tree-ground fault. - CORRECT ANSWER - little
Where should the final cut be made for proper utility pruning? - CORRECT
ANSWER - just outside of the branch bark ridge and the branch collar
A vegetation management scheduling unit may be an entire __________ or a
__________ __________. - CORRECT ANSWER - circuit;
geographical area
2 examples of protective equipment: - CORRECT ANSWER - circuit breakers
lightning receptors
On a storm site, cutting should not begin until all risks have been assessed & the
__________ approach has been decided & adopted. - CORRECT ANSWER - safest
