Work conditions faulted in pruner’s fatal accident

Poor organization and communication possible factors, Quebec agency says

A disorganized work site and a lack of communications may have contributed to the death of a tree-pruning assistant in Gatineau seven months ago, a Quebec government agency has found.

On July 16, 2018, Denis Masson, working for a tree-cutting company owned by Omer and Bermin Laviolette, was at a site with his employer and another worker to trim a 15-metre cedar.

While the employer was about five metres up the tree, his colleague on the ground guided cut branches to the ground with a rope.

Masson, who was assisting the employee on the ground, was concerned that a long branch could pull a power wire between a shed and the house.

In the fall zone, he grabbed the end of the branch and pulled it to release it.

The branch broke, fell and hit Masson in the head. He died of his injuries a few days later.

An investigation by the Quebec Commission for Standards, Equity, Health and Safety at Work found there had been a lack of work organization, as well as lack of an efficient communication system between workers, which is essential for this type of work.

The commission also noted the danger zone had been poorly marked. In addition, it said, the method used to guide cut branches was poorly applied and the choice of support leg and anchor position was inadequate.

After the accident, the commission barred the company from pruning work. For a resumption of work to be authorized, the employer will have to establish safe work procedures, but to date the prohibition has not been lifted.

The commission will send the conclusions of its investigation to the International Society of Arboriculture Quebec, the Quebec Association of Commercial Tree Growers and the Provincial Brotherhood of Electrical Workers so their members are informed.

The report will also go to training institutions offering the arboriculture-pruning program to educate future workers.