OSHA Inspection: TREE REMOVAL SERVICE

Issued

Jun 23, 1995

Abate by

Jun 28, 1995

Penalty

Initial $1,050 · Current $750 Reduced

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety & 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) LOCATION: ESTABLISHMENT
EMPLOYEES WERE NOT TRAINED AND INSTRUCTED IN THE RECOGNITION
AND AVOIDANCE OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TREE WORK
BEFORE THE START OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT AND WHENEVER NEW UNSAFE
CONDITIONS EXISTED.  EMPLOYEES WERE ALLOWED TO BEGIN WORK WITH NO
SAFETY INSTRUCTION IN AREAS SUCH AS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT,
EQUIPMENT OPERATION, FALL PROTECTION, OVERHEAD HAZARDS, AND PROPER
TREE TRIMMING PROCEDURES. ONE FEASIBLE METHOD TO CORRECT THIS
HAZARD WOULD BE TO REVIEW WITH EACH EMPLOYEE THE SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS FOR TREE TRIMMING AND REMOVAL GIVEN IN THE ANSI
STANDARD Z133.1-1972. INCLUDED IN THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE ACCEPTABLE
METHODS FOR FELLING TREES AND THE FOLLOWING ARE SOME AMONG MANY
OF THE KEY TECHNIQUES TO BE ADDRESSED:
1.THE PROPER NOTCHING TECHNIQUES WHERE THE NOTCH OPENING
IS 2 1/2" FOR EACH FOOT IN DIAMETER OF THE TREE.
2.BACK CUTS SHALL BE MADE HIGHER THAN THE POINT OR APEX OF
THE NOTCH TO PREVENT KICKBACK.
3.THE DEPTH OF PENETRATION OF THE NOTCH SHALL BE ABOUT
ONETHIRD
THE DIAMETER OF THE TREE.
4.JUST BEFORE THE TREE IS READY TO FALL, AN AUDIBLE WARNING
SHALL BE GIVEN TO THOSE IN THE AREA. ALL PERSONNEL IN THE
VICINITY SHALL BE SAFELY OUT OF RANGE.