OSHA Inspection: ASPLUNDH TREE EXPERT CO.

Issued

Mar 5, 2015

Abate by

Mar 24, 2015

Penalty

Initial $7,000 · Current $7,000

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 employees were exposed to struck by hazards.   On or about September 24, 2014,  an employee was exposed to a struck by hazard when he was working 40-50 feet up in a truck lift topping out a tree next to a power line in a heavily wooded area.  After making the bed cut and the back cut, the top of the tree fell and struck the bucket of the truck lift.  This caused the bucket and the employee tied off inside to fall to the ground below.  Among other methods, a feasible and acceptable means to abate this hazard is to follow the recommendations outlined in the American National Standard Institute for Arboricultural Operations Safety Requirements (ANSI Z133.1-2006) sections:  8.4.15 - Arborists working aloft shall position themselves so as to be above or to the side of the piece being rigged and out of the path of movement of the piece when it has been cut.  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 as required in section (a) - the area surrounding the tree to be removed, including nearby trees and (h) - size and terrain characteristics or limitations of the work area.   8.5.2 - Work plans for removal operations shall be communicated to all workers in a job briefing before commencing work.