OSHA Inspection: ASPLUNDH TREE EXPERT COMPANY

Issued

Jan 13, 1987

Abate by

Jan 16, 1987

Penalty

Initial $420 · Current $210 Reduced

General-duty citation text

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:
a) The hazard of being struck by a dead or rotted tree that was not
removed prior to felling a nearby tree, in that, on or about 9/22/86
an employee helping to remove "danger trees" from powerline right-of-
way was struck by a dead bay tree that fell unexpectedly after a
danger tree was felled.
Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is to check for and remove dead or rotted trees and
limbs in the surrounding area before beginning felling operations.