OSHA Inspection: AC TREE EXPERTS, INC.

Issued

May 2, 2022

Abate by

May 26, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $8,310 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 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:  (a) Jobsite located at Reservoir Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380: On or about November 3, 2021, a qualified arborist did not complete an assessment of the tree felling operation conducted by employees, including the danger tree to determine possible hazards. An employee used a Vemeer CTX 100 skid steer without overhead protection to push over a dead ash tree and was exposed to struck-by hazards from falling decayed branches.    Among other methods, feasible and acceptable means of hazard abatement include but are not limited to:  1. Follow American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z133-2017 for Arboricultural Operations-Safety Requirements Section 3 and Section 8: a. Ensure a qualified arborist conducts a hazard assessment of the worksite to identify at a minimum the types of trees involved, possible hazards related to the structure, indicators of decay, weakly attached branches, and if the tree can withstand the forces to be applied during work.  b. Develop a tree removal work plan and identify job task assignments. The qualified arborist should then perform a job briefing before the start of the job. 2. Follow United States Forest Service Danger Tree Mitigation Guidelines for Managers. a. Ensure machines used in mechanical felling of danger trees have falling object protective structures.

Issued

May 2, 2022

Abate by

May 26, 2022

Penalty

Initial $3,108 · Current $1,781 Reduced

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 was 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 traffic hazards:  (a) Jobsite located at Reservoir Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380:  On or about November 3, 2021, an employee for the company was exposed to struck-by hazards in that the employer did not ensure that employees while conducting traffic control operations on an active roadway were wearing high visibility vests.  ABATEMENT NOTE: One feasible means of abatement would be to provide and enforce the use of high-visibility vests while performing tasks near moving vehicles as described in the Federal Highway Administrations Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) 2009 edition, Section 6D.03.

Issued

May 2, 2022

Abate by

May 26, 2022

Penalty

Initial $14,502 · Current $8,309 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1910.135(a)(1): The employer did not ensure that each affected employee wore a protective helmet when working in areas where there is a potential for injury to the head from falling objects:   a) Jobsite located at Reservoir Road, West Chester, Pennsylvania 19380 - The Employer failed to provide all employees performing tree trimming operations with head protection. An employee for company suffered fatal injuries after being struck in the head by a loose branch and suffered fatal injuries.  Observed on or about 03 NOV 2021.