ACWORTH, Ga. — A U.S. Department of Labor investigation into the death of an arborist by electrocution while tree trimming in Cobb County has ended with the federal agency saying safety failures led to the man’s death.
According to USDOL and investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a 38-year-old worker was trimming trees on contract from Serious Tree Services and was fatally electrocuted when his equipment touched an unprotected power line less than 10 feet from the work site in Acworth.
OSHA investigators found that the worker’s stabilizing line touched a residential power line while trimming lower branches on a 60-foot-tall tree on May 20.
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During their investigation, OSHA said the company was found to have failed to meet industry safety standards and that the death was preventable.
“Serious Tree Services failed to meet their obligation to protect workers by adhering to industry safety standards, resulting in a preventable tragedy,” said OSHA Area Director Jeffery Stawowy in Atlanta-West. “Employers must prioritize training and hazard prevention to avoid such devastating outcomes. This incident highlights the severe consequences of neglecting workplace safety.”
OSHA also said that Serious Tree Services let employees work without arc-rated personal protective equipment, while using stabilizing lines that were conductive and had steel cores. As a result, the agency issued four serious violations to the company.
On top of the violations issued, OSHA hit them with $29,035 in penalties to be paid by Serious Tree Services LLC. They have 15 days to comply, request a meeting with the area director for OSHA or to contest the agency’s findings before the OSHA Review Commission.
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