Local Tree Removal Service Fined After Worker Struck By Tree Limb

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Landgraff Forestry Ltd. has pleaded guilty and has been fined $50,000 after a worker suffered critical injuries after being struck by a tree limb.

Investigators say that on July 19th, 2014 Landgraff had been retained by the owner of a residence in Windsor to remove two dead trees. The company owner, David Landgraff, was operating a bucket truck cutting the tree limbs, while two workers were situated on the ground and waiting for a tree limb to be lowered.

Landgraff observed that both ground workers were clear and proceeded to cut the limb on the south tree. A rope was attached to the limb being cut, which was strung through a fulcrum point on a neighbouring tree and through a device called the Hobbs device to the worker on the ground in control of the other end of the rope.

The cut limb – approximately 12 feet long and weighing between 100 to 125 pounds – was swung across to the tree with the fulcrum point. The limb then struck that tree with sufficient force that it likely caused the rope knot to loosen; in addition, an earlier rainshower made the bark somewhat wet. The limb then slipped from the rope and fell about 30 feet, where it struck one of the workers on the ground. As a result the worker suffered critical injuries, including fractures.

A Ministry of Labour inspector investigated the incident and determined that in the tree-cutting industry, the area around the work site into which tree limbs being cut may fall is known as the drop/fall, hazard or danger zone. The Arborist Industry Safe Work Practices Manual describes this zone as being twice the length of the tree, in all directions. Workers in the drop/fall zone are exposed to the hazard of falling tree limbs. The Arborist Industry Safe Work Practices Manual recommends the arborist identify and mark the drop/fall zone, and ensure that workers do not enter into that zone while cutting is going on. Both the employer and the injured worker held certificates of qualification from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities as utility arborists.

Landgraff failed to take the reasonable precaution of ensuring that workers did not enter into the drop/fall zone in which they may be exposed to the hazard of falling tree limbs.

In addition to the fine, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.