Inspection Detail

Inspection: 313231805 - Trugreen Landcare Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Sacramento District Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 12:15 pm on December 7, 2009, an employee of a national lawn care and maintenance company was trimming a tree in a gated community for which they perform contract landscape maintenance services. The company had two sections, the "Enhancement" and "Arborist." The Enhancement side involved all nonclimbing related tree/plant/shrub/lawn care and maintenance. The Arborist side involved all tree-climbing. Employee #1 was employed as an Enhancement Supervisor and was trained appropriately for all tasks and hazards associated with that work. Prior to the start of work, Employee #1 and his supervisor did an on-site hazard assessment and determined that the tree could be fallen from the ground, which Employee #1 was qualified to do. When Employee #1 and his crew returned to complete the job, a car was parked in the way of the original tree falling plan. Employee #1 decided, instead, to climb and delimb the tree. Because he was not an arborist and not expected to perform any tree climbing, he was not provided with any climbing equipment and was not using a tree workers' saddle and tie-in with an approved safety strap or rope. Employee #1 stated that the last limb was very heavy and hit him in the neck and shoulder, causing him to fall from the tree, approximately 15 feet.

Keywords: TREE, FALL PROTECTION, STRUCK BY, FALLING OBJECT