Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 002 Hazard: STRUCK BY

29 USC 654.5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act: 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 getting struck by, tripping, cuts, and punctures. a/ Before felling was started, the feller did not plan and clear a retreat path. A safe path for egress was not cleared prior to felling a sycamore tree in a flood plain wetland forested area. The felling area was surrounded by other trees, broken and fallen limbs, waste materials, and underbrush. Employees were not adequately trained to clear a retreat path or to follow safe work practices as those required in ANSI Z133.1-1994 Annex B, or similar work practices and procedures. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct this hazard would be for workers to follow the requirements of ANSI Z133.1-1994 for Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining, and Removing Trees, and Cutting Brush - Safety Requirements, specifically Section 9.5.8 for felling trees. 9.5.8 states, "A planned escape route shall be prepared before felling any log or trunk. The escape preferable is 45o on either side of a line drawn opposite the intended direction of the fall. (The only person permitted in this area as the tree falls is the saw operator.)" Employees shall follow the requirements of these procedures. Abatement certification and abatement documentation is required for this violation. The documentation should include written verification of abatement, applicable measurements or monitoring results, and photographs or videos which you believe will be helpful. The abatement certification sheet is enclosed with the citation(s).