Crystal Lake Fire Rescue Department firefighter/paramedics responded about 1:54 p.m. Saturday September 22, 2018 to a report of a man injured during tree stump removal operations in the block of 6900 New Hampshire Trail in Nunda Township.
McHenry County Sheriff’s deputies and Crystal Lake firefighter/paramedics upon arrival found that a tree removal company was using a stump grinder when the man was injured.
A Flight for Life helicopter was dispatched to a temporary landing zone at Prairie Ridge High School. The man was transferred to Level I Trauma Center, where he was listed in critical condition.
Initially the type of injury or the mechanism of the injury was not available. Sunday, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office explained that one worker was operating the stump grinder while another worker had been holding a tension rope. The man holding the rope moved, and the rope became entangled with the stump grinder operator’s leg, which was then pulled into the grinder. The operator’s lower leg was amputated.
Stump Grinders use sharp cutting blades to wear down tree stumps.
Hazards or injuries connected to use of a stump grinder include …
a direct cut by the blade,
a fall near the blade, resulting in a cut,
flying debris such as rocks or other debris hitting the operator or bystander,
operating the equipment on a slope greater than 15 degrees,
accidentally walking or backing into a machine left running,
operating equipment with loose-fitting clothing or accessories, which become caught in the machine and draw the victim into the machine, and
attempting to clear the machine or jammed blades of debris while the engine is running.
“Tree Stumping” are keywords that are monitored by the United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
See also …
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
facebook …
GET ALERTS on Facebook.com/ArlingtonCardinal
GET ALERTS on Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies
GET ALERTS on Facebook.com/ArlingtonHeightsCrime
Stay informed with news from PublicSafetyReporter.com’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have Facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the timeline, or send a message to the page.
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
20240105-1435future