Equipment World

September 2014

Equipment World Digital Magazine

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Major miscalculations Information for this Safety Watch is from an accident report, the Center for Disease Control's NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program, and OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.266. It is meant for general information only. The accident: A site develop- ment contractor on a parking lot project had assigned three workers to clear the site. A worker began using a hy- draulic excava- tor to remove trees, using the bucket to both dig away from the base of the tree and then to push the trunk of the tree over. A tree fell onto the cab of the excavator, pinning him inside. He was pro- nounced dead at the scene from mechanical asphyxia as a result of being pinned in a contorted position. The bottom line: A post-accident investigation determined the tree that fell onto the cab was approxi- mately 60 feet tall, with an 18-inch diameter, and had a shallow root system that made the tree unstable. Furthermore, the area the worker was clearing was muddy with shal- low ponds. The investigation deter- mined the area was not conducive to heavy equipment stability, and land-clearing applications such as tree felling should have been post- poned until conditions improved. The company also did not have a felling plan in place to familiarize operators with the hazards of the process. Landclearing lessons When clearing land, using a pur- pose-built carrier such as a forestry machine is the safest method for felling trees. If no forestry machine is available, make sure you use best practices when using an exca- vator to knock down trees: Be wary around water. Not only must the water level be no deeper than the top of the excavator's tracks, the bottom of the stream or pond where you are working must be able to support the weight of the machine. Wet, unstable soil combined with potentially shallow root systems could cause you to lose control of the tree. Don't work in high winds. What- ever hazardous conditions you may encounter will be worsened by gusting winds. Once the tree is free of the ground, changing wind directions and speeds will limit your ability to control the direction in which the tree will fall. Get the proper training. Experi- ence is your friend when taking down trees. Understanding what type of material you're dealing with and how to best remove it is key, and training will help you to understand how wind direc- tion and tree lean can impact the direction of the tree's fall. Knowing where to make the first dig is im- portant in securing your safety and the safety of your crew. safety watch | by Amy Materson | AMaterson@randallreilly.com EquipmentWorld.com | September 2014 47 Date of safety talk: Leader: _____________________ Attending: Illustration by Don Lomax When felling trees with an excavator, make sure you know when and where to dig

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