OSHA Inspection: KEVIN HOLDEN, INC.

Issued

2021-09-24 00:00:00

Abate by

2021-11-04 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $4096.00 · Current $2048.00 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 in that employees were exposed to struck by hazards while performing tree felling operations:  Jobsite: 45 Chivers Dr., Dalton, MA: On or about May 24, 2021, an employee performing tree felling was exposed to struck by hazards from an uncontrolled felled treetop which came free from its rigging.     Feasible and acceptable means to correct this hazard involve having employees follow the practices set forth in ANSI Z133-2017 for Arboricultural Operations Safety Requirements, including but not limited to the following specific sections below:  Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.5 Rigging , specifically the parts highlighted below   1. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.5.1.  Arborists performing rigging operations shall inspect tees for their integrity to determine whether the trees have any visible defect that could affect the operation.    2. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth section 8.5.2.  Rigging points shall be assessed for their structural integrity by a qualified arborist. The work 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.  3. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.5.9.  When establishing a rigging point horizontally distant from the parent limb or main tree stem, the arborist should consider the need to provide additional support to help disperse the force of the proposed rigging load.   Options may include:  a) Use of a backstay to support the load bearing rigging point back to a higher point on the main trunk of the tree or other higher and suitable limb; or  b)Installation of an additional and separate rigging system that utilizes supporting members, other than those already in use by the primary lowering point, in an effort to have both rigging systems share the load force  4. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.5.16.  Workers aloft shall position themselves above or to the side of the piece being rigged and out of the path of movement of the piece and attached rigging when the piece has been cut. Climbers shall have a retreat/escape plan prepared.  5. Ensure that employees follow the practices set forth in section 8.5.17.  Climbers and their climbing systems shall not make contact with moving or swinging parts of the rigging system when making a release cut or when the load is moving.