Action Page - Preventing Palm Tree Trimmer Fatalities

The California Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program investigates work-related fatalities to identify the causes and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

This video explains how Roberto, a 35-year-old tree trimmer, died of suffocation when the palm fronds he was cutting fell on him... and what can be done to prevent this from happening again.

Digital stories are best used as educational triggers that can kick off a worker training session and facilitate discussion. See below for video discussion questions, fact sheets, the corresponding FACE investigation report (12CA011), and video download instructions.

Palm Tree Trimmer Video

Digital Story Discussion Questions

• What caused Roberto to be suffocated?
• Have you or someone you know ever faced a similar hazard?
• What are some alternative climbing techniques and equipment that could have been used at Roberto's jobsite?
• What needs to be done to identify potential tree trimming hazards prior to starting a job?

Resources

• Palm Tree Fatality Alert (PDF)
• Tree Trimmer Suffocated by Palm Branches! (PDF) |   Spanish - fact sheet

Investigation Reports

• Tree trimmer is electrocuted while trimming a palm tree (18CA001)
• Landscaper dies from asphyxia when compressed by palm fronds (16CA007)
• Two tree trimmers die when they are electrocuted while pollinating date palm trees (16CA003)
• Tree trimmer dies from asphyxia when compressed by palm fronds (12CA011)
• Tree trimmer dies when he is crushed by palm tree fronds (12CA006)
• Tree trimmer dies when he is crushed by palm tree branches (10CA002)

Cal/OSHA Resources

Tree Work Safety web page | Tree Work Safety Guide (PDF) | fact sheet (PDF) | checklist (PDF)

Obtain Copies of the Video

You can download the video from Vimeo (link below), or order a copy by calling 510-620-5757 or e-mailing the FACE program.

Download Palm Video
Download Spanish Palm Video

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