78 aerial device operators. There were 11 fatal (1.3%) and 3 nonfatal (0.7%) incidents where the indirect contact was through metal pole pruners or chain saws. There were also seven fatal (0.8%) and one nonfatal (0.2%) incidents where the indirect contact was through a cut branch. The dielectric properties of these aerial devices were not mentioned in the investigation summaries. Indirect contact through climbing lines or work- positioning lanyards in contact with a primary or sec- ondary conductor resulted in four fatal (0.5%) and three nonfatal (0.7%) incidents. The ANSI Z-2017 4.1.11 states ropes that are wet, contaminated, or not insu- lated for the voltage involved shall not be used within MAD. Synthetic lines were once considered insulated and recommended for breaking contact between a worker and an electrical conductor (Abbott 1994). Since this review found climbing lines, work-positioning lanyards, and even taglines providing the indirect path for a fatal electric current, this ANSI Z standard may need to be reworded. We are not aware of any manu- facturer of ropes commonly used in arboriculture that will attest to the dielectric properties of their ropes under field conditions. The most common indirect contact electrocutions involving ground workers were touching metal pole pruners (9 fatal, 1.0%), aerial devices (7 fatal, 0.8%), fallen trees (5 fatal, 0.6%), ladders (4 fatal, 0.5%), taglines (3 fatal, 0.4%), and a crane (2 fatal, 0.5%) that was in contact with the conductor. The sources of the remaining indirect contacts to ground workers were unknown. Direct Contact with an Energized Electrical Conductor Direct contact is made when any part of the human body touches an energized conductor, and contact resulted in 29 fatal (3.4%) and 5 nonfatal (1.1%) inci- dents. Direct contact incidents most often involved aerial device operators (23 fatal, 2.7%; 2 nonfatal, 0.5%). The direct contacts were mostly from a falling branch or tree forcing the boom and operator into a primary conductor. In a few instances, the bucket controls became entangled in telephone lines or branches, causing the boom and bucket to move into a primary conductor. Direct contact incidents also involved climbers and ground workers. Fatal direct contact to three (0.4%) ground workers was through primary conduc- tors pulled off the poles when struck by a falling tree ©2020 International Society of Arboriculture Ball et al: Review of Arboricultural Incidents (2001–2017) or branch. Direct contact to climbers was from an anchor failure causing the worker to swing into the primary conductor. This was the source for three (0.3%) fatal and three (0.7%) nonfatal incidents. Exposure to Temperature Extremes There were eight fatal (0.9%) heat stroke incidents in the Exposure to Temperature Extremes subcategory. These were ground workers raking, dragging brush, or chipping. Some investigation summaries men- tioned this work was being performed during heat advisories when the air temperature was above 35 o C. These heat stroke incidents may have been avoided if the crews were aware of the signs and symptoms of hyperthermia and gave first aid while calling 911 for emergency medical services. There was also a single incident of heat exhaustion requiring hospitalization, along with an incident of frostbite. The frostbite occurred to a climber stuck in a tree and suffering hypothermia while awaiting help to descend. While the ANSI Z-2017 3.2.3 requires employers to give instructions for pre- ventive measures and first aid for poisonous plants and pests, environmental emergencies are not addressed. Oxygen Deficiency One fatality occurred in the subcategory Oxygen Deficiency. A chain saw operator drowned after wading into a pond to buck and limb a fallen tree. The fallen tree rolled off the stump and the branches trapped him under the water. Transportation Incidents Transportation Incidents accounted for about 40% of all fatal occupational incidents in the United States during 2016, with about half involving roadway col- lisions of motor vehicles (BLS 2018). Transportation incidents cover driving, either highway or non-highway, and injuries to drivers or occupants of a vehicle during working hours. Incidents while driving on public roads are within U.S. Department of Transpor- tation jurisdiction, which preempt OSHA, so many driving incidents are not in the OSHA Fatality and Catastrophe Investigation database. This event cate- gory would likely have a higher percentage of arbor- ist incidents if it included all transportation-related incidents. Fifty-three fatalities (6.1%) and twenty-one nonfa- tal (4.8%) injuries were reviewed. The percentage of fatal incidents is like that reported in other studies
March 2020
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