UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Abstract: At 1:45 p.m. on September 9, 2021, Employee #1 and Employee #2, along with two o ther grounds workers and a chainsaw operator, were removing a poplar tree, appro ximately 90 feet in height, from a resident's backyard. The chainsaw operator us ed a throw ball and a 120-foot nylon rope to secure the top of the tree. Once th e grounds workers were in position to pull the tree using the rope, the chainsaw operator began to cut a notch into the tree using the chainsaw (Manufacturer: S TIHL; Model: M5 362). As the chainsaw operator was cutting into the tree, the fo ur grounds workers continued to pull on the tree to guide it where they wanted i t to fall to the ground. After approximately 15 - 20 minutes, when the tree bega n to fall and the rope started to give some slack, the grounds workers took thei r preplanned exit routes. As the tree fell where it was being guided, the limbs at the top of the tree struck a smaller tree which contained a cavity. The small er tree snapped, approximately 5 to 6 feet from the bottom, and fell to the grou nd towards the exit paths of Employee #1 and Employee #2. Once Employee #2 notic ed the second tree falling toward Employee #1, Employee #2 attempted to push Emp loyee #1 out of the way. The second tree struck Employee #1 in the back of the h ead and shoulder, and landed on top of Employee #2. Employee #2 suffered a broke n rib. Employee #1 was hospitalized and remained in ICU until September 17, 2021 . Employee #1 died from the injuries which included, closed head injury secondar y to blunt force trauma, facial/skull fractures, neck (C6) fracture, pneumothora x, subarachnoid hematoma, and hypoxic respiratory arrest, as a result of being s truck by the tree.