The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has concluded that Serious Tree Services, based out of Marietta, could have prevented the electrocution death of a 38-year-old tree trimmer in Acworth back in May. According to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta, the worker was fatally injured when his equipment contacted an unprotected power line while he was trimming a tree.
OSHA's investigation revealed that the company exposed employees to hazardous conditions by allowing them to work dangerously close to power lines. As detailed by Atlanta News First, the worker was using a conductive stabilizing line with a steel core—a violation of industry standards when working near energized and ungrounded power lines. This lapse cost a life and cast a grim light on the serious consequences of disregarding safety protocols.
In response, OSHA issued four serious violations to Serious Tree Services and imposed penalties exceeding $29,000. The citations highlight the company's failure to keep its workers safe from electrical hazards and reflect the oversight body's commitment to enforce regulations intended to protect workers.
"Serious Tree Services failed to meet their obligation to protect workers by adhering to industry safety standards, resulting in the preventable tragedy," stated OSHA Area Director Jeffery Stawowy in a report by Atlanta News First. He emphasized employers' duty to prioritize training and prevent hazards to circumvent devastating outcomes like this incident. Serious Tree Services has two weeks to respond to OSHA's report and the proposed penalties.
