Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
															Search
		×
			NIOSH
			NIOSH
				All CDC
				Submit
			For a full list of topics:A-Z Index
			Advanced Search
		Advanced Search


The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)


Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate





Feller Struck by Dead Locust Tree While Felling Adjacent Tree - North Carolina										Related Pages
										NIOSH FACE Report 2015-04
April 12, 2018

SUMMARY
On August 8, 2014, a 31-year-old tree feller died after he was struck by a dead tree. At the time of the incident, two fellers were working on a wood lot in separate cut blocks approximately 600 feet apart. The fatally injured feller had cut a poplar tree and retreated to the chosen escape path. However, before he could escape the area, he was struck by a dead locust tree that had been caught in the poplar branches. Shortly after the incident, the owner arrived on-site and tried to reach the fellers by radio. Only one feller responded. The second feller went to the cut block, found the feller under the tree and radioed the owner to call 911. Emergency medical services arrived on-site within 20 minutes to find the feller unresponsive.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
Occupational injuries and fatalities are often the result of one or more contributing factors or key events in a larger sequence of events that ultimately result in the injury or fatality. NIOSH investigators identified the following unrecognized hazards as key contributing factors in this incident:
***Snagged dead tree***
***Weather***
***Emergency plan***RECOMMENDATIONS
NIOSH investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
***Conduct a site assessment and develop a site safety plan based on hazards identified before felling activities begin***
***Train fellers to evaluate the area around timber to be felled to identify potential hazards and take appropriate control measures.***
***Develop and implement a plan for inclement weather.***
***Develop, implement, and train on an emergency response plan.***
***Train employees on wilderness first responder and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).***
***Develop and implement a safety and communication plan for lone workers.***
Feller Struck by Dead Locust Tree While Felling Adjacent Tree—North Carolina pdf icon[PDF 605KB]The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), an institute within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. In 1982, NIOSH initiated the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program. FACE examines the circumstances of targeted causes of traumatic occupational fatalities so that safety professionals, researchers, employers, trainers, and workers can learn from these incidents. The primary goal of these investigations is for NIOSH to make recommendations to prevent similar occurrences. These NIOSH investigations are intended to reduce or prevent occupational deaths and are completely separate from the rulemaking, enforcement and inspection activities of any other federal or state agency. Under the FACE program, NIOSH investigators interview persons with knowledge of the incident and review available records to develop a description of the conditions and circumstances leading to the deaths in order to provide a context for the agency’s recommendations. The NIOSH summary of these conditions and circumstances in its reports is not intended as a legal statement of facts. This summary, as well as the conclusions and recommendations made by NIOSH, should not be used for the purpose of litigation or the adjudication of any claim. For further information, visit the program website at www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/ or call toll free at 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
							
					
						Page last reviewed:  April 23, 2018					Content source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health homeWorkplace Safety and Health Topics
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation(FACE) Programplus icon
New Content
About the Program
Investigations
NIOSH FACE Reports
State FACE Reports
Resourcesplus icon
Agriculture
Commercial Fishing
Construction
Energy Production
Landscaping
Logging
Robotics
Waste Management
Confined Space
Electrocution
Falls
Machine Related
Motor Vehicle
Trenching
Other
Crossing Guards
Hispanic
Youth
Contact Us To receive the NIOSH eNews newsletter, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit
 Contact FACE Nancy Romano, M.S., CSHM
FACE Project Officer
Fatality Investigations Team
Division of Safety Research
NIOSHnioshface@cdc.gov **Press Inquiries**nioshmedia@cdc.gov
 Related Topics Traumatic Occupational Injuries
Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
Law Enforcement Officer Motor Vehicle Safety
 Follow NIOSH Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
YouTube
 NIOSH Homepage NIOSH A-Z
Workplace Safety & Health Topics
Publications and Products
Programs
Contact NIOSH


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue