Tree Removal Business Whose Worker Died Had No WC Coverage

Thursday, May 19, 2016 | 0

A tree removal service in Albany is in hot water after a young man who walked on to a job was killed in wood chipper accident on May 4, according to the Times Union newspaper.

Now, local law enforcement is investigating Countryside Tree Care after the death, as is the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. And the New York Workers’ Compensation Board told the newspaper that Countryside had no coverage, despite website stating that its “fully insured,” according to the newspaper.

The owner of Countryside, Tony Watson, said either he or another person who “knows everything about that chipper” run the machine at all times. He would not say how Justus Booze, 23, got caught in the chipper, because nobody witnessed the death, the newspaper said.

Booze’s death also highlights a common problem in the tree care industry: Many companies fail to secure workers’ comp coverage in an effort to trim costs and undercut the competition.

Other tree care businesses told the paper that many companies skirt the law and go without workers’ comp coverage.

OSHA confirmed it is investigating Countryside and said that employers must supervise new employees to make sure they can operate wood chippers safely.