OSHA Inspection: NATIONAL PROJECTS, INC.

Issued

Aug 29, 1997

Abate by

Sep 11, 1997

Penalty

Initial $2,500 · Current $1,250 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 trees that were not guided safely during
their
fall on or about 08/13/97 and at times prior thereto while falling timber
at the
Katka Siding, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway construction site, along
the Kootenai River approximately 15 miles NE of Bonners Ferry, ID.
Sawyers were staying at the stumps while the trees fell, and cutting the
necessary holding wood which could cause the trees to prematurely twist
from
the stump.  In addition, backcuts were below or even with the undercuts
(matchcut) which would not prevent the tree from kicking-back over the
stump.
Feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct these hazards is to
develop a
comprehensive logging safety program which includes, but is not limited to
all of the
following:
1) Establishing a comprehensive employee training program.
2) Establishing positive felling methods that will prevent cutting of the
holding (hinge)
wood so that the tree can be safely guided during its fall.
3) Making backcuts level as possible and always at least 1 inch above the
horizontal
cut of the undercut.
4) Establishing methods where, once a backcut has been made, the feller
shall
immediately release the throttle of the saw and move a safe distance away
from the
tree on a preplanned retreat path.
Note: Abatement certification and supporting documentation are required
for this item.

Issued

Aug 29, 1997

Abate by

Sep 4, 1997