Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

OSH Act of 1970 Section (5) (a) (1): The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards while performing tree felling operations: Jobsite: 31 Flat Hills Rd., Amherst, MA: On or about December 11, 2018, an employee performing tree felling was exposed to struck by hazards from an uncontrolled felled tree cut with a chain saw and knocked over by an excavator. Feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard involve having employees follow the practices set forth in ANSI Z133.1-2017 for Arboricultural Operations Safety Requirements, including but not limited to the following specific sections below: 1. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.6.1 Before any tree removal operation, the chain saw operator and/or crew leader shall carefully consider all relevant factors pertaining to the tree and site and shall take appropriate actions to ensure a safe removal operation. Factors to include may be, but are not limited to tree decay, tree lean, and wind (see Annex C.3, Manual Tree felling Procedure, for a more inclusive list). 2. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.6.5.1 and 8.6.5.3. During manual tree felling, the preferred retreat/escape path is 45 degrees on either side of a line drawn opposite the intended direction of the fall. The chainsaw operator shall use this path for egress once the cuts have been completed or the tree begins to fall. 3. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth section 8.6.8. When there is a risk of damage to property from a tree piece or tree falling in an unintended direction, rope(s), block and tackle, come-alongs/winches, wire cable (except where an electrical hazard exists), or other appropriate devices shall be used to control the direction of the fall. 4. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.6.12. During manual tree felling operations, notches shall be used on all trees and trunks greater than 5 inches (12.7 cm) diameter at breast height (dbh). 5. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.6.13.2. The notch cut used shall be an open-face notch, a conventional notch, or a Humboldt notch. 6. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.6.13.3. Notches shall be 45 degrees or greater and wide enough to guide the fall of the tree or trunk.