Inspection Detail

Case Status: OPEN

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: 1652857.015 - Viking Tree Service

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Inspection Nr: 1652857.015

Report ID: 0950643

Date Opened: 02/09/2023

Site Address:
Viking Tree Service
5700 N. Etiwanda Ave.
Tarzana, CA 91356

Mailing Address:
7210 Jordan Ave. Unit C-86, Canoga Park, CA 91303

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:

NAICS: 561730/Landscaping Services

Inspection Type: Fat/Cat

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 08/09/2023

Emphasis:

Case Closed:

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	1997764

Case Status: OPEN

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	4			4		8
Current Violations	4			4		8
Initial Penalty	$37,800	$0	$0	$1,300	$0	$39,100
Current Penalty	$37,800	$0	$0	$1,300	$0	$39,100
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event
1.	01001	Other	3395(I)	08/09/2023		$325	$325	$0	10/10/2023	C - Contested
2.	01002	Other	3421(A)	08/09/2023		$325	$325	$0	10/10/2023	C - Contested
3.	01003	Other	3421(L)	08/09/2023	09/12/2023	$325	$325	$0	10/10/2023	C - Contested
4.	01004	Other	3421(M)	08/09/2023	09/12/2023	$325	$325	$0	10/10/2023	C - Contested
5.	02001	Serious	3421(D)	08/09/2023	08/21/2023	$5,400	$5,400	$0	10/10/2023	C - Contested
6.	03001	Serious	3421(G)	08/09/2023	08/21/2023	$10,800	$10,800	$0		Z - Issued
7.	04001	Serious	5A0001	08/09/2023	08/21/2023	$10,800	$10,800	$0	10/10/2023	C - Contested
8.	05001	Serious	3427(A)(2)	08/09/2023	08/21/2023	$10,800	$10,800	$0	10/10/2023	C - Contested

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 154075.015

Event: 02/09/2023

Employee is killed from blunt trauma in fall from tree

On February 9, 2023, an employee working for a tree care service was trimming a tree. The employee was not properly tied into the tree and was only tied in at one point. The employee tied his secondary line to the branch he was cutting. When the branch fell to the ground, the employee fell approximately 40 feet with the branch. As a result, the employee impacted the ground with blunt force and died.

Keywords: Blunt force, Blunt force trauma, Cutting, Distracted, Engineering Controls, Fall, Fall From Elevation, Fall Protection, Falling Object, Fracture, Hand Tool, Insufficient Supervision, Lack of Engineering Controls, Lack of Work Procedures, Misjudgment, Misjudgment of Hazardous Situation, PPE, PPE Hazard Assessment, Supervision, Torso, Tree Section, Tree Trimming, Tree Worker's Saddle

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1652857.015	42	M	Fatality		Miscellaneous hand working occupations

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