OSHA Inspection: TOMMY SMITH LOGGING

Issued

Mar 6, 2023

Abate by

Apr 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $15,625 · Current $11,000 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR 1910.266(h)(2)(ii):  Before each tree is felled, conditions such as, but not limited to, snow and ice accumulation, the wind, the lean of tree, dead limbs, and the location of other trees, was not evaluated by the feller and precautions taken so a hazard is not created for an employee:  (a)  Logging Site, Erbacon, WV:  On October 18, 2022, an employee felled an approximately 85-foot-tall red oak tree located uphill from an approximately 50 foot tall poplar tree.  The red oak tree was felled onto the poplar tree which caused the poplar tree to break off and spring back up the hillside.   An evaluation was not conducted, and precautions were not taken by the feller prior to the red oak tree being felled to prevent struck-by hazards from near-by trees.

Issued

Mar 6, 2023

Penalty

Initial $3,349 · Current $2,500 Reduced

General-duty citation text

29 CFR  1904.39(a)(1):  The employer did not report within 8-hours the death of an employee resulting from a work-related incident:  (a)  Tommy Smith Logging:  On October 18, 2022, the employer did not properly notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of work-related fatality within 8 hours.  The work-related fatality occurred on October 18, 2022 and was not reported until October 19, 2022.