Inspection Detail

Inspection: 305392078 - Mountain Logging, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

On May 30, 2002, a crew was engaged in logging operations. The owner was operating the knuckle boom at the base of the mountain cutting logs to length, and loading them onto tractor trailers when the tractor trailers arrived. A coworker was operating the skidder dragging cut-down trees and logs down the mountain to the knuckle boom. Employee #1 was cutting down and limbing the trees. Employee #1 was working in his designated area cutting down trees. Employee #1 just cut down a tree and after waiting several minutes he had started down the tree trunk cutting off the limbs and branches (limbing). About halfway along the tree trunk as Employee #1 was cutting a tree limb, another limb that had been hung up in a still standing tree fell from the standing tree striking Employee #1 in the right arm and cutting his arm open. Employee #1 dropped his chain saw and proceeded down the side of the mountain. Along the way Employee #1 met a coworker who he sent down the mountain ahead of him to get help. The coworker got to the base of the mountain and found out that the company owner had left the site to get drinks for the crew. The coworker then went back up to Employee #1 and helped him the rest of the way down the mountain. They then got into Employee #1's car and drove out to a gas station and called for medical help. Employee #1 sustained a deep laceration to his right forearm, requiring surgery to reattach torn ligaments. Employee #1 was hospitalized.

Keywords: TREE LIMB, LACERATION, STRUCK BY, ARM, FALLING OBJECT, LOGGING