OSHA Inspection: SHREINER TREE CARE

Issued

Aug 16, 2012

Abate by

Sep 28, 2012

Penalty

Initial $4,900 · Current $3,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 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 an employee was exposed to fall, struck by and crushing hazards while performing tree removal.     a) Jobsite: Upper Main Line YMCA, 1416 Paoli Road, Berwyn - The employer did not protect employees from death or serious physical harm by 1) developing and/or implementing adequate measures for evaluating tree integrity, 2) determining potential effect(s) of loading forces while cutting and removing limbs, and 3) in developing the tree removal plan. The employees were removing a large, dead red oak tree by first cutting the large limbs and then by removing the trunk in sections.  The upper one third of that tree broke, during limb removal, catching and lowering, carrying the chain saw operator to the ground.   The employee who fell 70-80 feet to the ground sustained serious injuries including a broken left leg, broken left ankle, puncture lung, fractured ribs, fractured pelvis and fractured neck vertibrae.    Among other methods, one feasible means of abatement is to comply with the American National Standards Insititute (ANSI) Safety Requirements for Aboricultural Operations, ANSI Z133.1, 2006.  These safety requirements include:      8.4.1 Arborists performing rigging operations shall inspect trees for their integrity to determine whether the trees have any visible defect that could affect the operation. If it is determined that the tree poses a risk of failure due to the forces and strains that will be created by the design of the rigging operation, an alternate plan shall be used.   8.4.6 Rigging points shall be assessed for their structural integrity by a qualified arborist. The rigging plan and the tree shall be considered relative to the forces being applied to any part of the tree, including branch attachments and anchoring roots, before a rigging point is chosen and established.   8.4.8 Arborists performing rigging operations shall be educated to understand and trained to estimate the potential forces at any point in the rigging system being used. The system components shall comply with working-load limits relative to the operation and the maximum potential forces.    8.4.9 Careful consideration shall be given to the potential forces resulting from the specific influences of rope angles as well as the number of lines and/or line parts that will act on any rigging point.   8.5.1 Before beginning any tree removal operation, the chain-saw operator and/or crew leader shall carefully consider all relevant factors pertaining to the tree and site and shall take appropriate actions to ensure a safe removal operation. The following factors should be considered:   (a)  the area surrounding the tree to be removed, including nearby trees;  (b)  species and shape of the tree;  (c)  lean of the tree;   (d)  loose limbs, chunks, or other overhead material;   (e)  wind force and direction;  (f)  decayed or weak spots throughout the tree (be aware of additional hazards if these  conditions exist in the hinge area);  (g)  location and means to protect other persons, property, and electrical conductors;  (h)  size and terrain characteristics or limitations of the work area; and  (i)  evidence of bees or wildlife habitation in the tree.   8.5.5 When it is necessary to shorten or remove branches before removing the tree, the arborist shall attempt to determine whether the tree can withstand the strain of the lowering procedures. If not, other means of removing the tree should be considered.  Note: This includes but is not limited to aerial lifts and cranes.      Abatement certification and documentation required within 10 days after abatement date. The certification shall include a statement that abatement is complete, the date and method of abatement, and state that employees and their representatives were informed of this abatement. Abatement documentation shall include documents demonstrating that abatement is complete, such as evidence of the purchase or repair of equipment, photographic or video evidence of abatement or other written records.