ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, May 23, 1996 TAG: 9605230046
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
Bartlett Tree Experts is contesting a citation and fine issued recently by the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health division after an investigation into the death of an employee in December.
Alfred Cumbee, 62, died Dec. 21 when an industrial mower cut a rope he was using to rappel down an embankment while clearing brush on Lynchburg Foundry Co. property in Radford.
The mower reeled the rope in and Cumbee with it. Cumbee was thrown against the mower's cab's and died.
Lee Willis, supervisor for safety compliance, said his office delivered the citation with the proposed fine to Bartlett on May 6. Willis would not reveal details of the citation or the proposed fine because the case remains open, he said.
"Our goal is to abate the hazard and get a policy in place to prevent it from happening again," Willis said.
Willis, who works out of the state Department of Labor and Industry's Roanoke office, said Bartlett had 15 working days to contest the citation or the fine and decision of VOSH become final.
Bartlett's reaction to contest the citation is typical, according to Willis.
"It stops the clock," he said.
Willis will forward a report from an informal meeting he had with the company's representatives to the Richmond office. Once officials in Richmond review the findings, they either will uphold the citation or not.
If it is upheld, the company may appeal the finding in the Montgomery County Circuit Court, Willis said.
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