OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14565667
LOWER SONDRAN DESERT PALM TREE SERVICE
TUCSON, AZ·
Event description
CAUGHT BETWEEN TREE AND FALLING PALM FRONDS.
Investigation abstract
ON NOVEMBER 23, 1985 AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 AM, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS IN THE PROCESS O F PRUNING AND TRIMMING A PALM TREE. HE WAS AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 40 F EET, USING A SAFETY BELT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE TREE, AND HE HAD CLIMBING SPIK ES ON HIS SHOES. HE WAS UNDER A BUNCH OF ROTTED AND DRIED-UP PALM FRONDS THAT WE RE NOT WELL SECURED TO THE TREE. APPARENTLY, HIS ACTIVITY AROUND THESE FRONDS CA USED SEVERAL HUNDRED POUNDS OF FRONDS TO COLLAPSE AROUND HIM AND PIN HIM IN A BA CKWARD POSITION TO THE TREE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FREED HIM IN ABOUT 22 MINUTES A ND TRANSPORTED HIM TO THE TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM EMPLOY EE #1 DIED OF CARDIAC ARREST, APPARENTLY CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT.
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 28 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 2
- Source
- 43
- Occupation code
- 486
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 6
- Task assigned
- 1
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