Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 143837.015 - Employee fractures vertebrae in fall from tree to ground

Accident Summary Nr: 143837.015 -- Report ID: 0317700 -- Event Date: 02/15/2022
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1578875.015	02/17/2022		561730	Penn Line Corporation

Abstract: At 3:30 p.m. on February 15, 2022, Employee #1 and two coworkers were performing utility line clearance tree trimming work along a 7.2 kilovolt distribution line. Employee #1 had climbed a cherry tree approximately 35 ft high by 7 in diameter at the base. One lanyard of his personal fall arrest system (PFAS) had a tie-in location approximately 29 ft from the ground. As he descended the tree, Employee #1 removed the second lanyard of his PFAS so he could reattach it and continue his descent. Before he could reattach the second lanyard, his climbing line position and the outward lean of the tree caused his body to move away from the main stem of the tree. When his weight shifted, the limb (serving as a tie-in location for the first lanyard) broke about 6 ft below the tie-in point, causing the employee to fall approximately 13 feet to the ground. When his coworkers heard a noise and a yell, they responded and called 911. Employee #1 was hospitalized to treat compression fractures to L1 & L2 vertebrae.

Keywords: Fall, Fall From Elevation, Fall Protection, Fracture, Spine, Tree Care, Tree Failure, Tree Limb, Tree Pruner, Vertebra

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1578875.015	31	M	Hospitalized injury		Construction laborers

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