MARCH 10, 2015
SALINE COUNTY, AR
A man cutting down a tree died after
falling 35 feet to the ground.
The Saline County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) said Shelby Jackson, 46, of Pulaski County was one of the four people with Capital City Tree Services who was cutting down a tree at an Alexander home on Wildwood Road. The crew was using a bucket truck t assist in cutting the tree down in sections, starting at the top.
Around 11:00 a.m., a limb that weighed about 1,000 pounds, according to SCSO, was cut and freed from the tree. It fell quickly, which caused the truck to rock. Shelby was thrown from the bucket to the ground.
Home owners, James and Anita Hampton were home at the time of the incident. Mr. Hampton said he was across the way on his backyard patio when he heard a "loud thump" and thought it was just the tree limp. He said he hopped up and saw Jackson fall.
"I seen when he hit his head, [I] knew he wasn't going--he was too still," Mr. Hampton said.
Tuesday was the third shift the crew worked at the Hampton's house. They said every time they saw Jackson, he was wearing his helmet and harness, except for Tuesday.
"He wasn't wearing his harness and when he reached over to grab the rope he fell!" Mrs. Hampton said.
FOX 16 News reporter, Leah Uko, spoke with an employee with Capital City Tree Service over the phone. He said Jackson had 20 years of experience with tree service and was a great, valuable employee with them for five. He added that Jackson took safety measures very seriously and that this was the first time he hadn't worn his helmet and harness. He said he didn't know why Jackson wasn't wearing either while working.
Jackson was pronounced dead on the scene. The commotion at the Hampton's home has settled by late afternoon, but the incident still left them with deep empathy for Jackson's family, who they hadn't met.
"I wan to tell the family that if there's anything I can do, anything, just let us know<" Mr. Hampton said. "I feel bad because it's our property, you know? Accidents happen, but why now?
SCSO is is still investigating this accident for routine purposes, but said all witness accounts were consistent with one another.
The Saline County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) said Shelby Jackson, 46, of Pulaski County was one of the four people with Capital City Tree Services who was cutting down a tree at an Alexander home on Wildwood Road. The crew was using a bucket truck t assist in cutting the tree down in sections, starting at the top.
Around 11:00 a.m., a limb that weighed about 1,000 pounds, according to SCSO, was cut and freed from the tree. It fell quickly, which caused the truck to rock. Shelby was thrown from the bucket to the ground.
Home owners, James and Anita Hampton were home at the time of the incident. Mr. Hampton said he was across the way on his backyard patio when he heard a "loud thump" and thought it was just the tree limp. He said he hopped up and saw Jackson fall.
"I seen when he hit his head, [I] knew he wasn't going--he was too still," Mr. Hampton said.
Tuesday was the third shift the crew worked at the Hampton's house. They said every time they saw Jackson, he was wearing his helmet and harness, except for Tuesday.
"He wasn't wearing his harness and when he reached over to grab the rope he fell!" Mrs. Hampton said.
FOX 16 News reporter, Leah Uko, spoke with an employee with Capital City Tree Service over the phone. He said Jackson had 20 years of experience with tree service and was a great, valuable employee with them for five. He added that Jackson took safety measures very seriously and that this was the first time he hadn't worn his helmet and harness. He said he didn't know why Jackson wasn't wearing either while working.
Jackson was pronounced dead on the scene. The commotion at the Hampton's home has settled by late afternoon, but the incident still left them with deep empathy for Jackson's family, who they hadn't met.
"I wan to tell the family that if there's anything I can do, anything, just let us know<" Mr. Hampton said. "I feel bad because it's our property, you know? Accidents happen, but why now?
SCSO is is still investigating this accident for routine purposes, but said all witness accounts were consistent with one another.
Update (3:30 p.m.):
Police have released the name of a Saline County man who
died when he fell while doing tree work.
Deputies say Shelby Jackson, 46, fell 35 feet from a
bucket truck as a crew was cutting down a portion of a tree when the truck
became unstable.
The Sheriff's Office says Jackson was not harnessed in or
wearing a helmet when he fell.
Original Story (2:30 p.m.)
SALINE COUNTY, AR - A man has died in a fall while doing
tree work.
It happened around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on Wildwood Court in
Alexander.
The Saline County Sheriff's Office says the victim's name
has not yet been released.
Deputies say he was in a bucket truck as a crew was cutting
down a portion of a tree when the truck became unstable.
Part of the tree hit the victim, who was not harnessed in or
wearing a helmet, and he fell about 30 feet.
The man, Shelby Jackson, 46, was working from a bucket truck
as part of a crew working for Capital City Tree Services. Police reports say
that a tree limb had been attached to the boom so that it could be lowered to
the ground, but it dropped further than expected causing a whiplash effect
within the boom, which catapulted Jackson out of the platform, falling around 35
feet to the ground. He was declared dead at the scene.
The number of arborist fatalities while using boom lifts
already this year is alarming, and almost invariably it has been due to poor
work practice and a lack of a harness and short lanyard. If there was ever an
application that absolutely demanded a harness it is when cutting or trimming
trees.
US tree or arborist associations/groups really do need to
address the proper training of staff using aerial work platforms. They are
substantially safer than climbing, as well as allowing slightly less fit and
more experienced staff to continue working at height, but like all equipment
they need to be treated with respect and basic training is essential.