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Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program 

California Department of Public Health

Occupational Health Branch

FATALITY ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL EVALUATION

PROGRAM (CA/FACE)

A Tree Trimmer is Electrocuted While Trimming a Palm Tree

Case Report: 18CA001

SUMMARY

A tree trimmer was electrocuted while trimming palm trees in the back yard of a private 

residence. The trees were located in the northwest corner of the back yard and in close 

proximity to the utility power pole and high voltage lines. The victim was working alone when 

the incident occurred. Although unwitnessed, it is likely that a trimmed palm frond contacted 

the high voltage line and conducted electricity to and through the victim. The CA/FACE 

investigator determined that, in order to prevent similar future incidents, tree trimming 

companies and palm tree trimmers should:

• Ensure that a proper job hazard assessment and briefings are performed prior to

starting work by a qualified tree worker who can assess the hazards, including electrical

hazards.

• Ensure that a qualified line clearance tree worker is used when tree trimming is within

10 feet of energized high voltage power lines.

In addition, homeowners and property management companies who need palm trees trimmed 

or removed should:

• Hire only tree workers who are trained or certified by organizations such as the Tree

Care Industry Association (TCIA) or the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

INTRODUCTION

On March 15, 2018, at approximately 2:30 p.m., a 29-year-old Hispanic male tree trimmer was 

electrocuted while trimming a palm tree in close proximity to primary voltage electrical lines.

The CA/FACE investigator received notification of this incident on March 21, 2018, from the

Cal/OSHA Region 4 District 3 office. On April 2, 2018, contact was made with the owner of the 

business who employed the victim. On April 11, 2018, the CA/FACE investigator traveled to the 

incident scene and interviewed the resident renting the home where the incident occurred. 

Photographs were taken of the incident scene. Later that same day, the investigator traveled to 
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the business owner’s place of residence and interviewed him, the supervisor, and co-worker 

who were with the victim on the day of the incident. The interviews were conducted with the 

help of a Spanish interpreter. On April 16, 2018, the CA/FACE investigator interviewed a 

representative of the property management company that contracted with the employer of the 

victim to trim the palm tree. The coroner, fire department, and sheriff’s department incident 

reports were also obtained and reviewed.

EMPLOYER

The employer of the victim was a family-owned and operated business that specializes in tree 

trimming and removal. The employer had a business license but was not a State-licensed tree 

service contractor, and no one was a certified tree trimmer. The owner had purchased the 

business just three months prior to this incident. There were six employees (including the 

victim), all of whom had worked for the previous owner. They all spoke Spanish as their primary

language and two spoke some English but not fluently.

WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAMS AND TRAINING

The business did not have a written safety or injury and illness prevention program (IIPP). None 

of the employees had ever received formal training in tree trimming or were certified tree 

trimmers; they all learned their trade through observation and on-the-job training (OJT). None 

were trained in first aid, CPR, or electrical hazard identification.

WORKER INFORMATION

The victim was a 29-year-old Hispanic male who had been working for this owner for three

months. He had been an employee of the former owner doing the same work for eight years. 

The victim was born in Mexico and his primary language was Spanish.

INCIDENT SCENE

The incident scene was a private residence located on a short cul-de-sac street. The home was 

managed by a property management company that rented the residence to a private party. 

This property management company hired the employer of the victim to remove a pepper tree 

and trim all the palm trees in the front and back of the residence. The residence was a singlestory building with an attached garage. The front of the house faced east and the back faced 

west. The back yard was rectangular in shape with a grass lawn bordered by flower beds and 

different planted vegetation of shrubs and trees. In the northwest corner of the back yard were 

three palm trees that had grown to different heights. The tallest tree (the tree involved in the 

incident) exceeded 50 feet in height and its fronds extended outward within 10 feet from high 
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voltage power lines. Also located in that corner of the yard was a utility pole that contained 

numerous communication lines as well as primary and secondary high voltage electrical lines.

WEATHER

The weather on the day of the incident was partly cloudy and overcast, with a slight breeze of 7

mph and an average temperature of 65 degrees F.

INVESTIGATION

On the day of the incident, the victim was assigned to a crew of four, including three tree 

trimmers and a foreman/supervisor. The crew had just completed two other jobs that morning 

before reporting to the residence where the incident occurred. They arrived at the location at 

approximately 12:30 p.m. and evaluated the worksite. The supervisor looked over the palm 

trees in the front and back of the house and then assigned the victim to trim the palm trees in 

the back yard and another member of the work crew to the front yard. When a crew member

asked about the utility lines, the supervisor stated that he saw them but thought they were a 

safe distance from the trees and wouldn’t be a problem. The supervisor and one of the other 

workers then left the site to drive to another jobsite.

The victim donned his climbing spurs and safety belt, attached a chain saw to his work belt, and 

climbed the tallest palm tree to begin trimming. The worker in the front yard did the same and 

both continued working until they stopped for lunch. After lunch, both workers went back to 

their respective areas to continue their work assignments. At approximately 2:15 p.m., the 

worker in the front yard finished trimming the palm trees. He then started picking up the palm 

fronds when he heard a chainsaw idling. When it continued to idle for a long period of time

(approximately 15 minutes), the co-worker thought that was unusual and went to the back yard 

to check on the victim. He looked up and saw the victim arched backwards in his safety belt and 

noticed he was not moving or responding when he called out to him. The co-worker then called 

911.

The fire department and paramedics arrived within five minutes of the call and surveyed the 

situation. They observed the victim hanging from a palm tree about 40 feet up. The victim’s 

body was in a reverse arch position and was being held in place by his safety harness and 

climbing gaffs attached to his feet. They also observed an idling chainsaw dangling from the 

victim’s tool belt. Fire department personnel were able to reach the chain saw and turn it off. 

When they saw the electrical lines in close proximity to the tree, they immediately contacted 

the electrical company and explained the situation to them. The electrical company came out 

and turned off all the power to the area to ensure the safety of the fire department personnel 

who were to retrieve the victim. The power lines were rendered safe at approximately 4:57
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p.m. About 20 minutes later, the victim was lowered to the ground and placed on his back. The 

paramedics pronounced the victim dead at 5:20 p.m. The body was released to the county 

medical examiner at 5:57 p.m. The resident of the home stated that when he came home on 

the day of the incident he was unaware tree work was going to be performed that day. He 

stated that the property management company had notified him that the trees were going to 

be trimmed, but was not given a specific date.

CAUSE OF DEATH

The cause of death according to the death certificate was electrocution.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future incidents, tree trimming 

companies and palm tree trimmers should:

Recommendation #1: Ensure that a proper job hazard assessment and briefing are performed 

prior to starting work by a qualified tree worker who can assess the hazards, including electrical 

hazards.

Discussion: In this incident, the supervisor was not a qualified tree worker and did not recognize 

the electrical hazard in close proximity to the palm trees. A qualified tree worker is a person who, 

through related training and on-the-job training experience, has demonstrated familiarity with 

the techniques and hazards of tree maintenance, removal, and the equipment used in the specific 

operations involved. This individual should have the knowledge and training to assess the 

presence of high voltage electrical lines and take appropriate steps to safely trim the tree. If high 

voltage electrical lines are within 10 feet of the tree, tree trimming work should be performed by 

a qualified line clearance worker or the utility company notified prior to starting work. The utility 

company can de-energize or ground the power lines, or cover them with insulating hoses or 

blankets prior to starting the work. If the employer had a qualified tree trimmer who conducted a

proper hazard assessment prior to starting work, the high voltage line would have been identified

in close proximity to the palm tree and this fatal incident prevented.

Recommendation #2: Ensure that a qualified line clearance tree worker is used when tree 

trimming is within 10 feet of energized high voltage power lines.

Discussion: In this incident, the victim and his co-worker did not identify the high voltage 

electrical lines and were not aware of the dangers associated with working in close proximity to 

these lines. A qualified line clearance tree worker has knowledge about hazard recognition and 
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safety procedures when working in the vicinity of high voltage power lines.1 They are aware that 

utility lines energized with potentially fatal voltages should never be touched (contacted) either 

directly or indirectly. They also are aware that electrical shock will occur when a person, by either 

direct or indirect contact with an energized electrical conductor, energized tree limb, tool, 

equipment, or other object, provides a path for the flow of electricity to a grounded object or to 

the ground itself and will result in serious or fatal injury. Safe procedures when working in close 

proximity to energized lines include:

• Wearing insulated gloves and using insulated tools to prevent the flow of electricity if 

accidental contact is made.

• Using an insulated bucket truck to gain access to the work area, thereby preventing the 

direct path for electricity to the ground if accidental contact is made.

• Calling the utility company to have the line covered with insulated tubes or blankets or 

have the line de-energized for the duration of the job.

If a qualified line clearance worker performed this work, he would have chosen proper safety 

procedures and this incident may have been prevented.

Recommendation #3: Hire only tree workers who are trained or certified by organizations such 

as the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) or International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Discussion: In this incident, the property management company hired a tree trimming company 

that had employees who were not certified tree trimmers. A certified tree trimmer is an 

individual who has met specific qualifications and has demonstrated an acceptable level of skill 

and proficiency. When hiring a company or a contractor with certified tree trimmers, property 

management companies and homeowners are more likely to ensure a standard of 

professionalism that protects consumers by:

• Having policies that promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.

• Ensuring that tree trimming is performed in a safe, competent, and professional manner.

• Adhering to the laws, regulations, and standards governing tree trimming.

• Providing resolution to disputes that arise from tree trimming activities.

 1 Qualified line clearance workers have received additional training about electrical hazards and the special 

techniques used to work safely near electrical conductors. This training is available through several organizations, 

including the Tree Care Industry Association 

(http://www.tcia.org/EHAP/@/TCIA/SAFETY/EHAP/TCIA/SAFETY/EHAP/EHAP.aspx?hkey=bcb8b307-f70a-4153-

8466-442c728f7153).
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• Educating consumers so that they make informed choices.

Had the property management company hired a company with certified tree trimmers, this

incident may have been prevented.

GLOSSARY:

Palm frond skirt: One or more year's accumulation of dead and drooping palm fronds at the

bottom of the palm's canopy and along its trunk.

Proximity: An area within 10 feet (3.05 meters) of energized overhead electrical conductors rated

50 kilovolts (kV) phase-to-phase or less. For overhead electrical conductors rated more than 50 

kV phase to phase, the distance is increased 4/10 inch (10 millimeters) for each additional kV.

Qualified tree worker: An employee who, through related training and on-the-job experience,

has demonstrated familiarity with the techniques and hazards of tree maintenance, removal, and

the equipment used in the specific operations involved.

Line clearance tree trimming operations: Operations which include the pruning, trimming,

repairing, maintaining, chemical treatment, removal or clearing of trees, or cutting of brush and

miscellaneous vegetation, that is within the vicinity of electric supply lines and equipment.

Competent person: One who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the

surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees,

and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

REFERENCES: 

California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Subchapter 7. General Industry Safety Orders, Group 3. 

Tree Work, Maintenance or Removal §3421. General §3423 Electrical Hazards, General §3427 

Safe Work Procedures. §3428 Operating Rules. 

California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Subchapter 5. Electrical Safety Orders, 

Group 2. High-Voltage Electrical Safety Orders Article 38. Line Clearance Tree Trimming 

Operations (Formerly Article 87) §2950. Application. §2951. Line Clearance Operations. 

Tree Care Industry Association: Pruning Palm Trees Safely 

(See: tcia.org/TCI-publications/tci-magazine/2013/06/TCI_Mag_June_2013_Digimag.pdf)

NIOSH: Preventing Falls and Electrocutions During Tree Trimming 

(See: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/92-106/default.html)
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EXHIBITS:

Exhibit #1: The palm tree involved in the incident, and its close proximity to the

high voltage electrical lines. Photo used with permission.

Palm frond on high voltage line Location of the victim on the palm tree
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Exhibit #2. The incident scene showing the utility pole, and stumps where palm trees 

were cut down after the incident. The stump with the candles and flowers on it 

(a memorial to the victim) is the one involved in the incident. Photo used with permission.

_____________________________ ______________________________

Hank Cierpich Robert Harrison, MD, MPH

FACE Investigator FACE Project Officer

______________________________ September 5, 2018 

Laura Styles, MPH

Research Scientist
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*******************************************************************************

FATALITY ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL EVALUATION PROGRAM

The California Department of Public Health, in cooperation with the Public Health Institute 

and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), conducts 

investigations of work-related fatalities. The goal of the CA/FACE program is to prevent fatal 

work injuries. CA/FACE aims to achieve this goal by studying the work environment, the 

worker, the task the worker was performing, the tools the worker was using, the energy 

exchange resulting in fatal injury, and the role of management in controlling how these 

factors interact. NIOSH-funded, state-based FACE programs include: California, Kentucky, 

Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

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Additional information regarding the CA/FACE program is available from:

California FACE Program

California Department of Public Health

Occupational Health Branch

850 Marina Bay Parkway, Building P, Third Floor

Richmond, CA 94804 

www.cdph.ca.gov/face