UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Abstract: On September 12, 2012, Employee #1, a ground man and the crew's supervisor, was working under a small grove of Redwood trees chipping branches being cut and dropped from a coworker above. The coworker indicated to the employee that he would first make sure the drop zone was clear before cutting and dropping the branches, but indicated that he did not typically give an audible warning signal. The coworker indicated that he made sure the drop zone was clear. The coworker grabbed and cut the limb, then visually checked the drop zone again before dropping the limb. Just as the coworker let loose of the limb, he saw, Employee #1 enters the drop zone. At that point, the coworker let out an audible warning but the employee did not have enough time to react and was struck in the head by the felled limb. Employee #1 was knocked unconscious and medical help was summoned. The employee was transported to a nearby hospital, where he remained for 5 five days with fractures to his skull and cervical spine. Employee #1 remains hospitalized.