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

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish to each of his employees 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: At American Grading and Landclearing, Inc.: 107 Edge water Way, Peachtree City, Georgia, employees were exposed to the hazards of being struck by tree fell while performing assigned duties involving the removal of trees, debris and other land clearing structures. The employer failed to ensure adequate work practices were implemented to ensure workers performed their assigned tree removal activities in a safe manner. On or about January 22, 2010 workers sustained serious injuries when the removal of a dead tree shifted from the intended direction toward another nearby dead tree. The chain reaction resulted in the striking of two workers. Two of the four workers sustained multiple serious injuries resulting in one worker's death. Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method: 1) Develop, implement and enforce specific written safe work practices in hazard recognition in the tree removal and trimming industry AND 2) Train employees on hazard recognition and safe work practices in the tree removal operations, to include, but not limited to: a) Assess and secure the area, to include, removal of all dead trees or materials that may expose workers to unsafe working conditions, prior to the start of the job. b) Develop specific tree felling protocol applicable to damaged and/or dead trees. c) Establish safe positioning of employees at least two times the distance of the tree length that is being removed. d) Establish means of safe egress for each jobsite prior to commencement of employee work assignments. ABATEMENT CERTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED