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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 1578875.015 - Penn Line Corporation
Inspection Information - Office: Wilkes Barre Area Office
Site Address:
Penn Line Corporation
232 Church St.
Catawissa, PA 17820
Mailing Address:
300 Scottdale Avenue, Scottdale, PA 15683
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:
NAICS: 561730/Landscaping Services
Inspection Type: Referral
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 05/12/2022
Emphasis: L:Treetrim
Case Closed: 07/25/2022
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Referral | 1867004 | Yes |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | ||||||
| Initial Penalty | $7,770 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $7,770 |
| 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 | 19100269 G02 IV B | 06/29/2022 | 07/19/2022 | $0 | $7,770 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
Investigation Summary
At 3:30 p.m. on February 15, 2022, Employee #1 and two coworkers were performing utility line clearance tree trimming work along a 7.2 kilovolt distribution line. Employee #1 had climbed a cherry tree approximately 35 ft high by 7 in diameter at the base. One lanyard of his personal fall arrest system (PFAS) had a tie-in location approximately 29 ft from the ground. As he descended the tree, Employee #1 removed the second lanyard of his PFAS so he could reattach it and continue his descent. Before he could reattach the second lanyard, his climbing line position and the outward lean of the tree caused his body to move away from the main stem of the tree. When his weight shifted, the limb (serving as a tie-in location for the first lanyard) broke about 6 ft below the tie-in point, causing the employee to fall approximately 13 feet to the ground. When his coworkers heard a noise and a yell, they responded and called 911. Employee #1 was hospitalized to treat compression fractures to L1 & L2 vertebrae.
Keywords: Fall, Fall From Elevation, Fall Protection, Fracture, Spine, Tree Care, Tree Failure, Tree Limb, Tree Pruner, Vertebra
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1578875.015 | 31 | M | Hospitalized injury | Construction laborers |