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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 315509646 - Southern Tree Services, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Birmingham Area Office
Site Address:
Southern Tree Services, Inc.
1155 Lodge Drive
Guntersville, AL 35976
Mailing Address:
590 Pearson Rd, Sylvester, GA 31791
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:0783
NAICS: 561730/Landscaping Services
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Complete
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 08/23/2011
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 06/11/2012
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 101275857 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $4,900 | $0 | $0 | $3,000 | $0 | $7,900 |
| Current Penalty | $2,500 | $0 | $0 | $500 | $0 | $3,000 |
| 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 | 5A0001 | 08/23/2011 | 08/29/2011 | $2,500 | $4,900 | $0 | 09/12/2011 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 02001 | Other | 19040039 A | 08/23/2011 | 08/26/2011 | $500 | $3,000 | $0 | 09/12/2011 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
On June 6, 2011, Employee #1 was working for a tree service company that operated out of Sylvester, GA. The company was cutting trees that had been damaged by tornadoes that passed through Guntersville State Park, located in Guntersville, AL, in April of 2011. The owner of the company was cutting trees, while Employee #1 and a coworker cleaned up debris, such as limbs and bark. The owner had cut a wedge out of a 29-foot tree that was approximately 30 feet from the road and on a 37-degree slope of a hill. After the owner cut a notch out of the tree and wedged it, he asked one of the employees to get a sledge hammer, so that he could knock the wedge out of the tree, and it would fall in the path that he had designated for it to fall. Employee #1 walked 12 feet to the left of the tree, and when the owner knocked the wedge out the tree, it started to fall. As the tree started to fall, Employee #1 turned to the right and tried to run up the hill to get out of the way of the falling tree. Employee #1 got to the top of the hill, and the top of the tree struck him in the shoulder. Employee #1 was flown to Huntsville Hospital, where he died later that afternoon.
Keywords: CLEARANCE, SHOULDER, TREE FELLING, TREE, STRUCK BY, SLOPE, TREE TRIMMING
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 315509646 | Fatality | Concussion | Occupation not reported |