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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: 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 to employees in that before beginning any tree removal operation, the chain saw operator and/or crew leader did not carefully consider the following conditions in the planning process to address tree and site factors and take appropriate actions to ensure a safe removal operation, the result of which exposed himself and other employees to electrical shocks: (a)Species and shape of the tree. (b)Lean of the tree. (c)Location and means to protect other persons, property and electrical conductors. (d)Size and terrain characteristics or limitations of the work area. RIVER ROAD, MONROE, MA: THE CREW LEADER/CHAINSAW OPERATOR FAILED TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS WHEN FELLING A TREE WHICH CONTACTED LIVE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS WHICH, IN TURN, ELECTRIFIED THE GROUND WHERE HE AND FOUR OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO SHOCKS OF 69K VOLTS: (A)THE TREE WAS A YELLOW BIRCH WHICH WAS MEASURED TO BE 27 FEET TALL, APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET HIGHER THAN THE CONDUCTORS. (B)THE TREE WAS UPHILL APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET FROM LIVE OVERHEAD 69KV CONDUCTORS AND APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL TO THE ECLECTIC LINES. (C)THE TREE WAS FELLED USING A BACK CUT ONLY WITHOUT USING ANY TYPE OF NOTCH WHICH ALLOWED THE TREE TO FALL DOWNSLOPE TOWARD THE LIVE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, CONTACTING THEM AND BREAKING THE LINE THEREBY ENERGIZING THE SURROUNDING RAIN SATURATED GROUND. THE FELLER ALSO FAILED TO ATTACH A ROPE TO THE TREE THAT COULD HAVE CONTROLLED THE DIRECTION OF THE FALL OF THE TREE. NO OTHER PROVISIONS FOR PROTECTION OF THE FOUR OTHER EMPLOYEES WAS PROVIDED. (D)THE CREW LEADER/CHAIN SAW OPERATOR EXECUTED THE BACK CUT ON THE UPHILL SIDE OF THE TREE AND GRAVITY CAUSED THE TREE TO FALL DOWNWARD TOWARD THE LIVE ELECTRICAL LINES.ICAL