OSHA Inspection: PENNS WOODS TREE COMPANY

Issued

2010-03-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2010-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $1050.00 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 crushing and head trauma
injuries from falling tree limbs:
a)  618 Westmister Street, Allentown PA - On or about November 4, 2009, an
arborist working from
a aerial lift during a tree removal operation, dropped a 31 pound limb
from the bucket onto the head
of a employee below, resulting in a fatal injury as the arborist above was
unaware of the employee's
location.
ABATEMENT NOTE:  Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of
abatement would be to
comply with ANSI Z133.1-2006 entitled "Safety  Requirements for
Arboricultural Operations", Section 8.4.10
"Arborists working aloft (either climbing the tree or from an aerial
device) shall establish a communication
system with arborists or other workers on the ground" and section 8.4.11
which
states that "A method of
verbal/visual communication shall be discussed and established during the
job briefing, prior to the start of
removal/rigging operations.  The verbal/visual communication system shall
use an established command and
response system or pre-arranged, two-way hand signals.  The communication
method shall be clearly
understood and used during all rigging operations."
No abatement certification or documentation required.tion

Issued

2010-03-02 00:00:00

Abate by

2010-03-05 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $1500.00 · Current $1050.00 Reduced