UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Abstract: On June 22, 2012, an employee was working for a tree service company. He was limbing a tree in preparation of felling it. The tree had three forks with two branches that were nearly vertical and one that was approximately 30 degrees from vertical. He climbed the tree using spurs and an appropriate saddle, tying off to a branch situated 20 degrees from vertical that was approximately 35 feet (10.7 meters) above ground. The crown had been removed from one of the near-vertical branches, leaving an approximate 20-foot (6.1-meter) section. The employee positioned himself between the branch he was tied off to and the one being cut. He was turned to the right approximately 135 degrees, and he was making his cut at approximately the height of his chest. Ropes were improperly secured to the branch and to the rear bumper of a car. The car's operator had been instructed to keep tension on the rope. As the cut was finished, the branch rolled toward the employee and fell into him. He sustained a fracture to his head, and he was killed.