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Hunt Club Member Died When Struck by the Top of the Tree He Had Felled
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2015/03/04
[PDF-147.97 KB]
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Description:In fall 2013, a male hunt club member in his 70s died when the top portion of a tree he had felled broke off and came back toward him, striking his head/face. The tree diameter was estimated at six to eight inches. The height of the tree was unknown. The decedent was not wearing any personal protective equipment. The decedent started his generator in the back of his pickup that was parked approximately six feet from a two-track road to power his Craftsman 16-inch, 3.5 HP electric chainsaw. Police pictures show that the tree fell directly toward another tree. As it was falling, the top portion of the tree broke away, presumably when the top of the tree struck the tree in its path, and came back toward him and struck his head. The actions of the decedent just prior to being struck by the top of the tree were unknown. After placing a deer camera, a hunt club member who had spoken with the decedent approximately 10 minutes earlier, came back down the two-track but did not see him. He went to look for him and saw the decedent lying on his back near the stump of the tree he had just felled. He called for emergency response. The Medical Examiner arrived and declared him dead. MIFACE identified the following causal factors contributing to this incident: 1. Insufficient felling and site assessment techniques. 2. Lack of personal protective equipment. 3. Working alone. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Fellers should adhere to proper felling techniques, including conducting both a tree and a site assessment to determine and mitigate identified hazards, use proper notching techniques, appropriate personal protective equipment, and never turn their back on a falling tree. 2. Fellers should work in teams while felling trees, or alternatively, have a reporting procedure in place if working alone while felling trees. 3. Hunt clubs should develop a safety policy for members that includes at a minimum, working alone policies, emergency phone numbers, location of nearest emergency medical facility, etc.) and post them at the facility/circulate them among the membership.
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Pages in Document:1-6
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NIOSHTIC Number:20045952
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NTIS Accession Number:PB2015-104093
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Citation:Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 13MI197, 2015 Mar; :1-6
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Federal Fiscal Year:2015
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Performing Organization:Michigan State University
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Peer Reviewed:False
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Start Date:2005/07/01
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End Date:2026/06/30
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Resource Number:FACE-13MI197
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