OSHA Inspection: FITZPATRICK & WELLER, INC.

Issued

Mar 23, 1988

Abate by

Mar 26, 1988

Penalty

Initial $720 · Current $430 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
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.