Incident date: 2017-10-31
NAICS industry code: 237310

A crew was removing trees from a drainage swale using chainsaws and a small excavator. The excavator was moving a tree limb when one end of the limb became stuck in the ground. As the excavator advanced, the limb bent until it suddenly released, springing forward and striking two employees. One of the employees was struck in the leg, requiring hospitalization and possible surgery.

Hazard classification:
code_event: title: Pedestrian struck by vehicle in nonroadway area, n.e.c.
code_source: title: Mini excavators
code_nature: title: Soreness, pain, hurt-nonspecified injury
code_body: title: Leg(s), unspecified
severity: moderate