NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in Preventing Falls and
Electrocutions During Tree Trimming
CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) periodically issues alerts on workplace hazards that have
caused death, serious injury, or illness to workers. One such
alert, Request for Assistance in Preventing Falls and
Electrocutions During Tree Trimming (1) recently was released and
is available to the public. * This alert describes eight
representative incidents that resulted in five electrocutions and
three fatal falls of tree trimmers and provides recommendations to
prevent falls and electrocutions during tree trimming and cutting.
Data from the NIOSH National Traumatic Occupational Fatality
database indicate that during 1980-1988, at least 181 workers
involved in tree trimming and cutting (approximately 20 each year)
died from injuries sustained at work. The two leading causes of
death were electrocution (68 {38%} workers) and falls (52 {29%}
workers). Recent NIOSH investigations conducted under the Fatal
Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology program (now called the
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation program) suggest that
many tree trimmers and their employers lack training and knowledge
of relevant Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards
and may be unaware of the risks posed by inadequate or improper
safety procedures and equipment.
Reference
NIOSH. NIOSH alert: request for assistance in preventing falls
and electrocutions during tree trimming. Cincinnati: US Department
of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, NIOSH,
1992; DHHS publication no. (NIOSH)92-106.
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