Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1710874.015 - The Professional Tree Care Company

Inspection Information - Office: Foster City District Office

Investigation Summary

At 8:30 a.m. on November 16, 2023, an employee was operating a Caterpillar 518 skidder to pull a cut tree trunk down a hill. As the employee was driving down the hill on a fire road and approached a left turn in the road, he continued straight forward instead of turning left for unknown reasons. As a result, the skidder continued off the fire road and down the hill. The skidder struck several small trees and continued down into a ditch, which had an approximate 5-foot drop. A coworker witnessed the employee on the ground next to the skidder. The employee was initially observed on his knees and then collapsed. The employee had blunt force trauma to the chest, which was fatal.

Keywords: Blunt force trauma, Chest, Ditch, Hill, Pulling, Skidder, Struck Against, Tree, Tree Skidding