Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: STRUCK BY

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 the hazard of being struck by falling trees or falling limbs, which could result in serious physical harm or death: a) William job. Wooded area behind 13456 Gowanda State Road. Employee cutting down hemlock tree was exposed to a dead branch (widowmaker) from a hard maple tree. A feasible and acceptable method, among others, to correct this hazard is to enforce the company training program which states, among other items: 1) Demonstrate to the individual on a given tree the proper technique of cutting and felling. He is always instructed, before cutting, to look around for any widowmakers, snags etc., making sure he has a clear path away from and around the tree being cut. 2) Demonstrate proper notching and bore cutting of the tree in order to fell the tree in the proper direction. 3) Before the cut tree begins to fall, the individual is instructed to stand back and observe tree tops for any falling objects, especially checking for widowmakers made upon felling.