OSHA Inspection: INDEPENDENT TREE LLC

Issued

Oct 7, 2008

Abate by

Nov 9, 2008

Penalty

Initial $2,100 · Current $1,575 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:
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 exposed to being
struck by falling tree sections while removing cut tree branches on the
ground to a shredder.
On or about April 22, 2008, private residence at 18745 Auburn Glen Drive
in Auburn, Ohio,
employees were removing cut tree branches to a shredder located next to
the drop zone area
where a cutter was preparing to cut down a large tree section.  There were
no visual signals or
adequate verbal or audio signal given with mechanical machinery and
equipment running when
the felling of a 15-foot section of trunk fell onto an employee who was
walking with branches
inside the drop zone.  The employee was struck on the head and shoulder
area causing serious
injuries.
Among others, one acceptable and feasible abatement method to correct this
hazard is to follow
the requirements outlined in the American National Standard Institute's
standard for
Arboricultural Operations - Safety Requirements, Section 8, Work
Operations (ANSI Z133.1-
2006).  These requirements include, but are not limited to: 1) Workers not
directly involved in
manual land clearing operations shall be at least two tree lengths away
from the tree or trunk
being dropped. Other arborists and workers shall be beyond the trees'
striking range and as close
to twice the height as practicable. 2) Workers returning to the work area
shall not enter until the
chain saw operator has acknowledged that it is safe to do so. 3) Before
making
the back cut,
there shall be a command such as "stand clear" from the workers supporting
the removal
operations.  Pre-arranged, two hand signals may be also used.  When heavy
machinery and
equipment, such as but not limited to, commercial wood shredder, chain
saws, and mobile aerial
lift are being used and making it difficult for arborists to hear the
cutters verbal commands or
see visual signals given by him due to the high noise level and with thick
and heavy brush type
terrain around the drop zone, another means of both audio and visual
communication needs to
be in place to clearly and adequately communicate to all affective workers
that a tree or trunk
is about to be fell.