OSHA Inspection: FLORIDA'S FINEST LANDSCAPE SERVICES

Issued

Apr 28, 1998

Abate by

May 1, 1998

Penalty

Initial $375 · Current $375

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 working at heights, 18 feet above ground level, with no
provision for fall
prevention/protection.  The operation in progress is the planting of large
palm trees.  Trees
are raised by crane into a vertical position, and lowered into a five foot
hole for planting.
An employee climbs the palm tree to remove the web straps which hold the
tree onto the
crane hook.  The employee holds onto the tree with one hand and unties the
straps with the
other.  Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable method to correct
this hazard
is to have the crane operator, after the tree is planted, to lower the
boom low enough so
that an employee, on the ground, can untie the web straps from the hook.