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 employees were exposed to serious multiple injuries or death from falling while trimming branches of a tree: JOBSITE: The employer did not conduct a onsite job briefing and visual hazard wearing a position body belt attached to a point below the waist height by wrapping the belt around the "above" branch, fell to the ground with the branch when the cable was cut by the employee and sustained fatal injuries from the fall. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct the hazard is to: 1. Conduct a onsite job briefing and visual hazard assessment with employees involved in the above tasks. 2. Ensure through providing training and instructions that specific and step-by-step procedures are followed by every employees at all times. 3. Utilize other methods, such as (but not limited to) utilizing mechanical equipment. 4. Utilize other available engineering technologies. 5. Comply with the appropriate sections of the following American National Standard Institute, ANSI Z133.1-2006, publications: A) ANSI Z133.1-2006, Section 3.1.4: "A job briefing shall be performed by the qualified arborist in charge before the start of each job. The briefing shall be communicated to all affected workers. An employee working alone need not conduct a job briefing, however, the employer shall ensure that the tasks are being performed as if a briefing were required." B) ANSI Z133.1-2006, Section 8.1.1: "A visual hazard assessment, including a root collar inspection, shall be performed prior to climbing, entering, or performing any work in a tree."