OSHA Inspection: KRAMER TREE SPECIALISTS, INCORPORATED

Issued

2011-03-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-03-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $4900.00

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:
On or about December 3, 2010 - at the above addressed jobsite, the
employer allowed employees
to conduct pole felling operations with a pull line that was not long
enough to place the
employees at a minimum of one tree length clear of the tree being felled,
thereby exposing
employees to struck by hazards. Due to this hazard, an employee was struck
and killed by a pole
being felled.
One feasible and acceptable method to correct this hazard, among other
means, would be for the
contractor to follow the ANSI Standard Z133.1-2006 which states in section
8.5.12,"When a pull
line is being used, workers involved in removing a tree or trunk shall be
clear by a minimum
of one tree length."

Issued

2011-03-08 00:00:00

Abate by

2011-03-18 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4900.00 · Current $4900.00

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:
a. On or about December 3, 2010 - at the above addressed jobsite, the
employer allowed
employees that could not convey communication due to language differences
to conduct felling
operations. The employees were thereby exposed to struck by hazards do to
the
miscommunication during felling operations. Due to this an employee was
struck by the pole
being felled.
One feasible and acceptable means of correcting this hazard, among other
means, would be for
the contractor to ensure communication between the employees involved in
accordance with
ANSI Standard Z133.1-2006, section 8.5.18 which states, "Before making the
back cut, there
shall be a command such as 'stand clear' from the arborist operating the
chain saw and a
response such as 'all clear' from the workers supporting the removal
operation. Pre-arranged,
two-way hand signals may also be used. Only designated persons shall give
such signals. All
workers in the vicinity shall be out of range when the tree or trunk
falls. Visual contact should
be maintained with the tree or trunk until it is on the ground."