The following are some of the serious incidents related to line clearance tree trimming work in 2013:
Employee Hit by Limb Sustains Major Head Injury: On Oct. 31, 2013 a tree trimmer sustained major brain trauma as well as a broken eye socket and collapsed lung when a limb that was being lowered fell and landed on him. The head injury had developed into swelling on the brain and for a time it was not known if he would survive. As of early February the injured brother is still recovering from the head injury. He is in therapy to treat the effects of his injury and is slowly improving, but it is still not known if he will ever improve enough to return to work.
Tree Crews Burn Down Lines in Separate Incidents: Two tree crews working in Northern and Central California made primary contacts dropping lines to the ground. Each incident had similarities in that the aerial lifts were both set up very close to the lines, breaking minimum approach distance. In the North state incident the lift made simultaneous contact with the energized line and a communications line. The crew had to stand by the downed live line for 45 minutes while awaiting PG&E to de-energize the line. In the mid-state incident a limb was being thrown down by the trimmer and hit the line, bringing it down. Both operators were subsequently terminated for breaking work rules.