Logging Injury Alert: Timber Cutter Killed When Struck by Alder Snag Top

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  In September 2015, a 49-year-old cutter with over 20 years of experience died after he was struck in the torso by an alder top. The victim had just felled a 14-inch diameter alder, which was five feet from the base of an adjacent alder that had a broken top. The cutter seemed to be unaware that the tree that he previously felled was potentially limb bound with the broken snag top. As he went to start facing up the alder with the broken top in it, the 15-foot long by 9-inch diameter broken top came free and fell about 45 feet from the standing tree, striking the cutter on his left side as he was bent over, causing fatal injuries. Safety Requirements: 1.The person in charge of cutting crews must regularly inspect the work of the cutting crews and is responsible to ensure the work is performed in a proper and safe manner. 2. Before falling or bucking, conditions such as, but not limited to, snow and ice accumulation, the wind, the lean of tree, dead limbs, and the location of other trees, must be evaluated by the cutter and precautions taken so a hazard is not created for an employee. Accumulations of snow and ice that may create a hazard for an employee must be removed before beginning falling in the area, or the area must be avoided. 3. One worker must not fall a tree or danger tree when the assistance of another worker is necessary to minimize the risk of injury caused by overhead hazards, loose bark, or interlocked limbs, conditions of the tree, terrain or cutting conditions. Recommended Safe Practices: 1. Always make a thorough risk assessment of hazards in your work area. 2. Always utilize available escape paths once a tree is committed to its fall, and remain at a safe distance from the stump until all disturbances have settled before proceeding to the next tree. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Forestry Mortality Occupational Health Safety Safety Management
• Keywords:
  Climatic Conditions Fatalities Hazards Injuries Injury Prevention Logging Industry Logging Safety Logging Workers Safety Measures Safety Monitoring Safety Practices Traumatic Injuries

  More +
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058828
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 92-33-2020, 2020 Feb; :1
• Contact Point Address:
  Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP) Program, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Logging injury alert: timber cutter killed when struck by alder snag top
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:749440597fbb6499c2c59fb0ac830b1a2dba2496f7c256997cb4a5e44c42e260ae205f172dd5f167156545b12af7d99733cd47f04da730831815045a34d3fe5d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223219/cdc_223219_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 670.43 KB ]