F.A.C.E. INVESTIGATION REPORT

Transcription

1 F.A.C.E. INVESTIGATION REPORT Fatality Assessment and Cntrl Evaluatin Prject FACE #94-NJ Tree Trimmer Electrcuted While Trimming a Tree New Jersey Department f Health and Senir Services Occupatinal Disease and Injury Services P.O. Bx 360 Trentn, New Jersey (609)

2 TO: Divisin f Safety Research Natinal Institute fr Occupatinal Safety and Health Mrgantwn, West Virginia FROM: Fatality Assessment and Cntrl Evaluatin (FACE) Prject New Jersey Department f Health (NJDOH) SUBJECT: FACE 94 NJ Tree Trimmer Electrcuted While Trimming a Dead Tree DATE: Nvember 30, 1994 SUMMARY On May 6, 1994, a 22 year-ld male tree trimmer died when he cntacted a 220 vlt pwer line while trimming a tree. NJDOH FACE investigatrs cncluded that, in rder t prevent similar incidents in the future, the fllwing safety guidelines shuld be fllwed: Hazard assessments shuld be cnducted fr each tree-trimming jb; A minimum clearance f ten feet must be maintained between the wrker, equipment, and energized pwerlines t prevent inadvertent cntact. Trees shuld nt be climbed when wet. Emplyers shuld develp a written emplyee training prgram in safe tree trimming and hazard recgnitin. Their standard perating prcedures shuld be in writing. 1

3 INTRODUCTION On May 6, 1994, NJDOH FACE persnnel learned abut this wrk-related fatality frm the cunty medical examiner's investigatr. A site visit was cnducted n May 19, Infrmatin fr this reprt was derived frm the OSHA file, medical examiner's reprt, plice reprt and interviews f the deceased wrker's emplyer and c-wrker. The victim's emplyer was a tree trimming cmpany that had been in business fr apprximately 7 years and emplyed five peple at the time f the incident. The emplyer was a member f the Natinal Arbrist Assciatin. The victim, a 22 year-ld tree trimmer, was emplyed fr three years by the cmpany. He was a tree climber and crew supervisr. The cmpany required a wrker t have three years f emplyment with the cmpany t climb trees. Wrkers with less experience functined as grundmen. INVESTIGATION The incident site was the back yard f a huse in a large city. The cmpany cntracted with the hme wner t remve a dead 45-ft tree at the edge f the prperty line. Less than tw weeks prir t the incident, a cmpany representative visited the site in rder t estimate the cst f the jb. He gave the hmewner an estimate f the cst withut explaining hw the tree wuld be taken dwn. On the day f the incident, wrk started at 8 a.m.. The victim and his c-wrker, a grundman with fur years experience and 1 1/2 years with the cmpany, received their written assignments fr the day. Apparently, the victim received verbal directins als. They went t the huse where they were t remve the dead 45-ft tree. The tw men inspected the tree and nted pwer lines running between the branches. The c-wrker stated that the victim was wearing a climbing saddle, bts, spikes, hard hat with ear muffs fr hearing prtectin, cttn glves, and rain gear because it was drizzling rain. He climbed the tree with a chain saw (weight f saw unknwn) and used a new rpe t "crtch" (tie himself int) the tree. The grundman prepared the saws and his equipment fr chipping branches. Accrding t the c-wrker, the climber planned t trim the branches n the side f the tree near the wires with the chain saw and, after the wires were free, t cut dwn the tree at the trunk. The lines were abut three feet frm the three-ft diameter 2

4 tree trunk. The victim cut tw tree branches and the grundman tk them t the chipper. As he wrked, arund 9:30 a.m., the grundman became aware that the chain saw was silent. He heard a buzzing sund cming frm the pwer line and reprts seeing the victim hlding the pwer line with tw hands, his back t the tree. The victim had cntacted a single phase secndary pwerline that carried 220 vlts f electricity. The wrker yelled fr help and asked smene t call 911. A neighbr heard him and called fr assistance. The wrker als ran t his truck and phned his emplyer t reprt the incident. Rescuers arrived quickly but the grundman (wh was experienced with anther tree trimming cmpany) had already tied a rpe arund his waist and climbed the tree. He wre n climbing harness and n spikes. He jumped frm a fence t the first branch. The victim, at this time, was free frm the pwer line. The c-wrker unhked the victim's chain saw, threw it dwn t the grund, and planned t use the rpe t lwer bth f them t the grund. Plice wh arrived n the scene rdered the wrker t cme dwn frm the tree. After the pwer line was deenergized by the utility cmpany, the victim was remved frm the tree by rescuers wh used the fire department ladder truck. He was taken t the lcal emergency rm where he was prnunced dead. CAUSE OF DEATH The medical examiner determined that death was caused by electrcutin. The victim had burns n his right arm, left fingers, ankle and ft. RECOMMENDATIONS/DISCUSSIONS RECOMMENDATION #1: Hazard assessments shuld be cnducted fr each tree-trimming jb; DISCUSSION: Assessment f the tree t be trimmed and ptential hazards fr the trimmers shuld be cnducted fr each jb. The assessment shuld be a tw step cmplementary prcess. The persn wh estimates the jb shuld als lk fr the hazards f cutting and climbing the tree, including the ptential fr cntact with energized pwer lines. Thse ptential hazards can 3

5 be incrprated in planning fr the jb and wrk assignments. The secnd step in the prcess invlves the tree trimming crew at the site. They shuld cnduct an independent assessment f ptential hazards and pstpne any jb cnsidered hazardus. RECOMMENDATION #2: A minimum clearance f ten feet must be maintained between the wrker, equipment, and energized pwerlines t prevent inadvertent cntact. DISCUSSION: The victim cntacted the energized pwerlines while he was wrking t clsely t the energy surce. ANSI Standard Z requires a minimum clearance f ten feet fr persns r equipment frm energized pwer lines, unless that persn is a qualified line clearance tree trimmer. On request, the lcal utility cmpany will prvide free line clearance tree trimmers t trim branches near pwer lines. After these branches have been remved, tree trimming cmpanies can safely trim the tree r remve the remaining sectin f a tree. RECOMMENDATION # 3: Trees shuld nt be climbed when wet. DISCUSSION: Whether it cntributed t this fatal injury is unknwn, but wet tree bark may be slippery even in drizzling rain and culd cause a climber t lse his balance. Wet branches may als cntribute t electrical cnductin. RECOMMENDATION # 4: Emplyers shuld develp a written emplyee training prgram in safe tree trimming and hazard recgnitin. Cmpany standard perating prcedures shuld be in writing. DISCUSSION: It is recmmended that a written, n-ging training prgram be develped fr safe tree trimming practices. Althugh emplyees were encuraged t attend seminars, trade events and meetings and use tapes frm training rganizatins, an rganized training prgram fsters cnsistency and dcuments the backgrund and educatin f emplyees. Training shuld include the recgnitin and avidance f electrical hazards as required by the ANSI Standard. The cmpany's perating prcedures shuld als be standardized and put in writing. 4

6 Surces f infrmatin fr small tree trimming cmpanies include: The Cmmittee fr the Advancement f Arbriculture. This rganizatin ffers curses n basic and advanced tree climbing and ther pertinent curses in tree safety and arbriculture. Fr infrmatin, cntact David Shaw, Mnmuth Cunty Shade Tree Cmmissin, P.O. Bx 1255, Freehld, NJ The telephne number is (908) Lcal utility cmpanies ffer seminars fr tree trimmers in aviding electrical hazards. Natinal Arbrists' Assciatin ffers vides n safety and a manual titled "Tailgate Safety fr Tree Care Prfessinals." The address f the Assciatin is The Meeting Place Mall, Rute 101/P.O. Bx 1094, Amherst, NH The telephne number is (603) NJ Department f Labr Cnsultative Service will prvide free advice fr business wners n methds f imprving health and safety in the wrkplace and cmplying with OSHA standards. The telephne number is (609) REFERENCES American Natinal Standards Institute, Inc., ANSI Z American Natinal Standard fr Tree Care Operatins-Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining, and Remving Trees, and Cutting Brush-Safety Requirements. Natinal Safety Cuncil Data Sheet I-244-Rev. 84 ATTACHMENTS NIOSH [1992]. NIOSH Alert:request fr assistance in preventing electrcutins and falls during tree trimming. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department f Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers fr Disease Cntrl and Preventin, Natinal Institute fr Occupatinal Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publicatin N The Cmmittee fr the Advancement f Arbriculture: Brchure f curses and seminars ffered. 5