Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1151101.015 - 70193 - Cl Godbolt Land Clearing

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Investigation Summary

At 12:44 p.m. on May 18, 2016, a crew of two employees of a land clearing contractor were removing large pine trees and brush from a recently purchased lot, measuring less than one acre. Employee #1 was responsible for using a chainsaw and trimming the branches off trees that had been taken down. Trees were being brought down with a Caterpillar E120B, serial number 7NF03814, yellow excavator. The owner (Employee #2) was lowering the tree with the bucket and thumb of the excavator until it reached approximately 10 feet from the ground. Once the tree dropped, Employee #1 was struck in the head by a branch approximately four inches in diameter. The branch was attached to a pine tree that was approximately 80 feet by 41.5 inches wide. A part of the branch impaled Employee #1 in the side of the head. Employee #2 did not notice Employee #1 under the tree until moments after it dropped. Employee #1 was last seen standing approximately 34 feet away from where the tree dropped. Employee #1 died upon arrival to the hospital from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest resulted from a sunken skull fracture to the right frontal skull bone as well as a broken left leg and right wrist.

Keywords: Fracture, Skull, Struck By, Tree Felling, Tree Trimming