Carlton's Tree Service Inc.
Outcome
Carlton's Tree Service Inc. was cited for one serious OSHA violation and fined $16,550 after an employee died while operating a woodchipper at a Boynton Beach, Florida worksite in January 2025.
Details
Carlton's Tree Service Inc. — Employee Killed Operating Woodchipper in Boynton Beach (2025)
Outcome: An employee of Carlton's Tree Service Inc. was fatally injured while operating a woodchipper at a Boynton Beach, Florida worksite in January 2025; OSHA cited one serious violation for exposing workers to crushed-by hazards and proposed $16,550 in penalties.
In January 2025, an employee of Carlton's Tree Service Inc., a tree service contractor based in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, was operating a woodchipper at a Boynton Beach worksite when the worker was fatally injured. OSHA investigated and determined the contractor had "allegedly exposed workers to crushed-by hazards" during the woodchipper operation.
OSHA issued one serious citation and proposed a penalty of $16,550.
Primary Source: US Department of Labor cites Port Saint Lucie tree service contractor after worker suffers fatal injuries
How Crucible Prevents This
Woodchipper fatalities result from the same category of caught-in and crushed-by hazard as industrial machine entanglements — the difference being the outdoor, mobile nature of tree service operations makes formal lockout/tagout and machine guarding audits less common. A Crucible pre-shift equipment safety checklist for mobile woodchipper operations, covering operator positioning, exclusion zones, and emergency stop access, would address the specific hazard exposure that caused this fatality.
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