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Inspection Detail
Note: The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. OSHA citation items will be posted 30 (thirty) days after the employer receives the citation(s), except in cases of significant public interest. Posted citation items reflect any amendments to citations that are the result of a prompt settlement, which OSHA encourages. Employers and employee representatives will continue to receive copies of the citation(s) upon issuance.
Inspection: 1540054.015 - Garcia Professional Tree Service, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Oakland District Office
Site Address:
Garcia Professional Tree Service, Inc.
6415 Aspinwall Road
Oakland, CA 94611
Mailing Address:
7015 Favor Street, Oakland, CA 94621
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:
NAICS: 561730/Landscaping Services
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 11/24/2021
Emphasis:
Case Closed:
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 1775327 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
| Current Violations | 2 | 2 | 4 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $19,350 | $0 | $0 | $5,260 | $0 | $24,610 |
| Current Penalty | $10,800 | $0 | $0 | $5,150 | $0 | $15,950 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Other | 342(A) | 11/24/2021 | $5,000 | $5,000 | $0 | 03/17/2022 | O - Administrative Law Judge Order | ||
| 2. | 01002 | Other | 3421(M) | 11/24/2021 | $150 | $260 | $0 | 03/17/2022 | O - Administrative Law Judge Order | ||
| 3. | 02001 | Serious | 3421(F) | 11/24/2021 | $0 | $3,150 | $0 | 03/17/2022 | O - Administrative Law Judge Order | ||
| 4. | 03001 | Serious | 3427(B)(4) | 11/24/2021 | $10,800 | $16,200 | $0 | 03/17/2022 | O - Administrative Law Judge Order |
Investigation Summary
At 12:30 p.m. on May 18, 2021, an employee was working as a tree care worker for a company that performs tree trimming and removal operations. The employee works with five coworkers. The employer was contracted to remove a large eucalyptus tree on a slope in a residential area. The employer had removed all the horizontal branches leaving the vertical trunk to be cut by a climber in sections. The employer tasked the employee with climbing the tree to cut the tree trunk into smaller sections. The crew connected a rope to an adjacent tree located uphill to prevent the trunk from rolling down the hill and damaging property once it was cut. The crew on the ground held another rope to guide the falling trunk. This procedure had been done in the past without incident. The employee had already cut a horizontal tree section using this rigging method. Coworkers on the ground noticed that the rope connected to the tree uphill was directly above the employee. The coworkers brought this to the employee's attention several times. Despite the warning, the employee continued to cut the trunk. As the trunk fell, the rope struck the employee on his upper left leg. The employee was lowered from the tree with the assistance of the crew on the ground. An ambulance was called and the employee was taken to the hospital. The employee was hospitalized to treat a fractured femur and fibula and soft tissue damage to his knee.
Keywords: Climber, Climbing, Climbing Line, Cutting, Femur, Fibula, Flying Object, Fracture, Hoist, Hoisting Mechanism, Hoistline, Knee, Leg, Miscommunication, Rigging, Rope, Struck By, Tree, Tree Care, Tree Climber, Tree Climbing System, Tree Felling, Tree Section, Vegetation, Work Surface, Wrong Equipment
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1540054.015 | 36 | M | Hospitalized injury | Forestry workers, except logging |