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

Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 a felled section of tree trunk while positioned and cutting when aloft in a tree during tree removal operations: JOBSITE: The employer failed to conduct an onsite job briefing, training and visual hazard assessment, prior to commencement of work of cutting the piece of tree trunk, with the employees on the specific step by step procedures, methods, proper cutting techniques and relevant topics for safeguarding employees against being struck, either aloft in the tree, or on the ground, especially during the process of felling a tree section to the ground. On or about 01/7/2013, an employee aloft in a tree during tree removal operations attempted to fell a section of tree trunk to the ground, with a rope pulled (manual rig system) by employees on the ground, when the employee in the tree sustained fatal injuries as the section of felled tree struck the employee.