Tree service firm cited in worker’s woodchipper death

A Pennsylvania tree service company has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a teenage worker died from injuries suffered in a woodchipper incident.

OSHA said Monday that it issued citations for 10 serious violations to Schnecksville, Pennsylvania-based Adam’s Tree Service, which also does business as Adam’s Tree Removal and Trimming, Adam’s Tree and Adam Construction Excavator LLC.  The agency proposed penalties of $124,987.

The citations were in response to the death of a 17-year-old worker, who suffered fatal injuries after being pulled into a woodchipper at a job site in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on April 9, 2022.

OSHA said the company violated federal child labor laws when it allowed the teen to operate the woodchipper, failed to train workers on how to safely operate woodchippers, failed to provide personnel with first aid training, failed to ensure employees use personal protective equipment, and failed to have fire extinguishers at worksites.

The company has 15 days to contest the citations.