Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1145138.015 - The Original Mowbray'S Tree Service, Incorporated

Inspection Information - Office: Bakersfield District Office

Investigation Summary

At 8:36 a.m. on May 4, 2016, a tree worker (Employee #1) was part of an 8 employee crew who were assigned to remove 54 Ponderosa Pine trees at the site. The crew worked until 5:30 pm and removed 50 of the 54 trees. There was a Foreman on the jobsite who conducted the morning job briefings, supervised and directed the work. Employee #1 was assigned as the feller and used a chain saw to fell the trees and do the limbing once the tree was on the ground. Employee #1 worked with a team of two other ground men. The Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) varied from 10 inches to 43 inches for the 54 trees. The crew arrived at 7:00 am on 05/04/16 started the removal of the 4 remaining trees. Employee #1 and his team felled the first tree and it landed exactly where it was planned to land. The base of the tree was supported in the air by a large rock and a small tree. The tree was approximately 70 feet 8 inches tall. Employee #1 used the chainsaw to remove the limbs working his way from the base of the tree to the top. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Employee #1 was on the uphill side of the tree when finished limbing the tree towards the top end. The hillside in that area was approximately 23 degrees. When the limbs where removed, the base of the tree slid down the sloped rock approximately 5 feet. The small tree acted as a fulcrum causing the top section of the tree to swing uphill towards Employee #1, who was crushed between the tree and a large boulder. Employee #1 was pinned to the large boulder facing the tree in a standing position. He was struck in the head and upper torso by the tree. The cause of death was blunt force head and neck trauma.

Keywords: Crushed, Head, Neck, Tree Trimming