Tree Trimmer Dies After Falling 60 Feet From A Tree
Friday, June 25, 2010 at 12:26PM 
The victim was the 38 year-old owner and operator of a small tree trimming and landscaping service. Although he employed two helpers at the time of the incident, the victim was the only tree climber in the company. The incident occurred at the rear of a small residential apartment building located in the center of a small town.
He was reportedly wearing a climbing harness consisting of a safety belt and leg loops with a metal D-ring fixed to the front of the belt. Attached to the back of the belt was a chain saw that was not in use. He also used two lengths of 100 foot, 5/8 inch diameter climbing rope, one of which had a safety hook attached at the end. As he fell, he became entangled in the ropes before striking the ground on his right side and shoulder. OSHA failed to determine the exact cause of the fall. Examinations of the ropes and harness did not find any equipment failures, and the cuts in the rope were accounted for by rescue efforts. One possible explanation was that the victim was tied off to the rope with a figure eight knot, which he may have loosened in order to reach for the saw.
Recommendation #1: Tree trimmers must be properly trained in the positioning and securing of climbing ropes.
Recommendation #2: Employers should conduct a job hazard analysis of the work area before starting a job.
Recommendation #3: Employers should consider certifying their supervisors and other interested workers
Safety should be taken very seriously when operating any business. Make sure you have a safety program and conduct saftey meetings on a regular basis. As a business owner, how would you handle it if one of your employees died on the job? Not only the emotional aspect, but also the financial repercussions.
If you have questions regarding this topic, or any risk management needs please feel free to contact Sean Leigh at sleigh@pi-ins.com or 405-507-2757.
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