Inspection Detail

Inspection: 125823450 - Lucich Contract Falling

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

On November 3, 2007, an employee, tree feller, was working on the side of a hill felling a sugar pine, 36-in. in diameter. The tree faller cut down the pine tree and when the pine tree fell, a black oak, 16-in. diameter; tree fell in the same direction of the falling pine tree. When the black oak tree fell, it struck the employee in the mid section, pinning him against the stump of the cut pine tree. The employee died due to the injuries. There was no evidence discovered as to exactly what caused the Black Oak tree to fall. But, the black oak fell when the sugar pine fell. This leads to the conclusion that the Pine tree was in contact the black oak tree in the top braches. It was touching in a way that the branches were lodged together enough that the force of the pine tree falling pulled the black oak with it due to the weak base of the black oak. When the black oak fell, it struck the employee, killing him.

Keywords: TREE FELLING, PINNED, TREE, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT, LOGGING