Inspection Detail
Inspection: 112374095 - Virginia Department Of Transportation
Inspection Information - Office: Va-E-Richmond (Regional Office) - Safety 0355111
Site Address:
Virginia Department Of Transportation
Route 17
Port Royal, VA 22535
Mailing Address:
Pob 369, Bowling Green, VA 22427
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:0783
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: StateGovt
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 04/29/1991
Planning Guide: Safety-Construction
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 06/12/1991
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360303267 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Current Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 510001 A | 05/20/1991 | 06/10/1991 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
An employee was supervising a crew that was removing one living and one dead tree; both trees were growing from the same stump. The supervisor had instructed an employee to saw the living tree while a front-end loader was applying pressure so that the tree would not fall into the adjacent roadway. After the green tree had fallen, the supervisor instructed the employee operating the front-end loader to try to push the dead tree down, but it would not fall. The supervisor then told the operator to stop pushing against the dead tree, which sprang back when pressure was released. A whipping action caused the treetop to break off and strike the supervisor on the head. He sustained multiple injuries to his neck, back, face, and ribs and died of a heart attack as a result of trauma 5 days after the accident.
Keywords: HEART, HEAD, TREE FELLING, HEART ATTACK, TREE, TREE SECTION, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, UNSTABLE POSITION
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 112374095 | Fatality | Fracture | Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators |
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