Palm Tree Trimmer Dies from Asphyxia When Crushed by Palm Fronds — California

Cierpich, Hank

doi:10.26616/NIOSHSFACE23CA001

Advanced Search

Select up to three search categories and corresponding keywords using the fields to the right. Refer to the Help section for more detailed instructions.

Search our Collections & Repository

Advanced Search
Custom Query

All these words:

For very narrow results

This exact word or phrase:

When looking for a specific result

Any of these words:

Best used for discovery & interchangable words

None of these words:

Recommended to be used in conjunction with other fields

Language:

Dates

Publication Date Range:

to

Document Data

Title:

Document Type:

Library

Collection:

Series:

People

Author:

Clear All

Query Builder

Query box

Clear All

For additional assistance using the Custom Query please check out our Help Page

i

Palm Tree Trimmer Dies from Asphyxia When Crushed by Palm Fronds — California

2024/02/09
By Cierpich, Hank
Series: Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)

[PDF-1.35 MB]

English

Details You May Also Like

Details:

Personal Author:

Cierpich, Hank
Corporate Authors:

California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program (CA/FACE) ; California. Department of Public Health. Occupational Health Branch

California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program (CA/FACE) ; California. Department of Public Health. Occupational Health Branch Less -
Description:

On February 13, 2023 a 39-year-old Hispanic tree trimmer (the victim) was trimming a palm tree in the front yard of a private residence. The victim and the landscape company owner who hired him were not certified tree workers. The victim climbed underneath the dead palm fronds and started cutting them from the tree. Instead of falling to the ground, the skirt of dead palm fronds directly above him broke loose and slid down the trunk, crushing and suffocating him. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS - Improper work practices (removing fronds from below); Incorrect equipment to do the job safely; Homeowner hiring tree trimmers and supervisors that are not certified or licensed. RECOMMENDATIONS - The California FACE (CA/FACE) investigator determined that, in order to prevent similar incidents, landscaping companies and self-employed tree trimmers should ensure that: Palm tree trimming or removal is performed or supervised by workers trained and certified by organizations such as the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Proper work procedures and equipment are used, such as using an aerial lift and cutting fronds from above. Homeowners should: Only hire tree trimmers and/or supervisors who are certified by organizations such as ISA, and have a tree service contractor's license (in states where this is applicable).
Subjects:

[+]

Accidents, Occupational Occupational Health Safety
Keywords:

[+]

Accident Analysis Fatalities Landscape Services Workers NIOSH Region 9 Safety Equipment Safety Practices Training Tree Trimmers
FACE - NIOSH and State:

All (0000) ; Hispanic (0009) ; Landscaping Services (0028)

All (0000) ; Hispanic (0009) ; Landscaping Services (0028) Less -
Series:

Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
Subseries:

State
DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHSFACE23CA001
Publisher:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Document Type:

Text
Funding:

Cooperative Agreement
Genre:

Field Study
Place as Subject:

California
CIO:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Topic:

Workplace Safety & Health
Location:

North America
Pages in Document:

1-8
Contributor:

Harrison, Robert; Styles, Laura; Shor, Glenn
NIOSHTIC Number:

20069509
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 23CA001, 2024 Feb; :1-8
Contact Point Address:

California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, P-3, Richmond, CA 94804
Federal Fiscal Year:

2024
Performing Organization:

California Department of Public Health
Peer Reviewed:

False
NAICS and SIC Codes:

56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services - (NAICS 2022) ; 561730 - Landscaping Services - (NAICS 2022)

56 - Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services - (NAICS 2022) ; 561730 - Landscaping Services - (NAICS 2022) Less -
Start Date:

2005/07/01
Source Full Name:

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
End Date:

2026/06/30
Resource Number:

FACE-23CA001
Collection(s):

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Main Document Checksum:

[+]

urn:sha-512:b98b0a97c62980048d9611d580937558d7805f99b39380e0845612176c5176e38e7e54dc018302c2c31ad84a1454bd820f5b054067ebf9e84e43bc316f2fce92
Download URL:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/164829/cdc_164829_DS1.pdf
File Type:

No Additional Files

More +

Palm Tree Trimmer Dies from Asphyxia When Crushed by Palm Fronds — California

Details:

Supporting Files

You May Also Like