OSHA Inspection: ROCKLAND TREE EXPERT CO., INC.

Issued

Aug 1, 2007

Abate by

Aug 6, 2007

Penalty

Initial $2,100

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 caught in a tree collapse:
Location: 20 Carlisle Rd Chestnut Ridge NY 10977
On or about 2/5/07,
a) A black birch tree, which had significant defects, failed at the base
during tree removal
operations exposing an employee to the hazard of being caught-in a tree
collapse.
"Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable abatement method to
correct this hazard is
to follow section 8.5 Tree Removal found in ANSI Z133.1-2006 Safety
Requirements for
Arboricultural Operations." In addition, follow the more comprehensive
guidelines for
assessing/inspection/rigging and removing trees outlined in USDA Forest
Service's "Urban Tree
Risk Management: A Community Guide to Program Design and Implementation"
NOTE: Because abatement of this violation is already documented in the
inspection case
file, the employer need not submit certification or documentation of
abatement for this
violation as normally required by 29 CFR 1903.19.