OSHA Inspection: A GONZALEZ LANDSCAPING LLC

Issued

Feb 23, 2016

Abate by

Mar 2, 2016

Penalty

Initial $2,800 · Current $2,000 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 employees were exposed to serious multiple injuries or death from falling while trimming and/or cutting branches of a tree:    JOBSITE:  The employer did not ensure through conducting onsite job briefings and visual hazard assessment and providing employees with specific and step-by-step procedures, methods and other relevant topics prior to "commencing" trimming and/or cutting branches of a tree (Tasks) so that the employees were performing the Tasks safely at all times by not only wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), but also positioning at proper and safe location.    On or about December 3, 2015 , a "upper" branch, which was being cut by an employee who was standing on a lower branch with a chain saw while wearing no PPE, fell and struck the lower branch on which the employee was standing. The lower branch and the employee fell approximately 32 feet to the ground, and the employee sustained multiple serious injuries from the incident.