OSHA Inspection: MARTIN TREE SERVICE, LLC

Issued

2010-01-05 00:00:00

Abate by

2010-01-28 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

The General Duty Clause or 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 struck by
falling trees or
falling limbs during felling operations:
a) 125 Honey Tree Lane, Chadds Ford, PA - Before a tree with a large
broken branch
which was on an a slope of approximately six (6) degrees was felled,
conditions such as,
but not limited to, the area surrounding the tree to be removed, nearby
trees, loose
limbs, weak spots throughout the tree, and size and terrain
characteristics or limitation
of the work were not adequately evaluated and appropriate actions were not
taken to
ensure a safe removal operation as determined on or about July 28, 2009.
NOTE: Among other methods, one feasible and acceptable means of abatement
to
correct
these hazards are: (1) using a aerial bucket so an employee can cut the
broken branches
into easily handled pieces, and (2) follow the recommendations outlined in
the American
National Standard Institute for Arboricultural Operations Safety
Requirements (ANSI
Z133.1 - 2006).
ABATEMENT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED.