Backbone Incident: OSHA issues USFS "Serious" and "Willfull" violation notice

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Backbone Incident: OSHA issues USFS "Serious" and "Willfull" violation notice

The Backbone Incident Heli-Base Accident Background

On July 21, 2009 Thomas Marovich, 20, of Hayward California incurred fatal injuries when he fell while performing routine rappel proficiency skill training at the Backbone fire Helibase in Willow Creek, California.

As reported at California Fire News National Forest Service Firefighter Thomas Marovich, 20, had been taking part in required weekly rappelling training, in which people slide down a rope from a hovering helicopter when he fell about 200 feet to the ground, said Forest Service spokeswoman Robin Cole. FF. Marovich was a second year apprentice firefighter on the Modoc National Forest, she said. He was working with the Chester Helitack Crew from the Lassen National Forest that had been assigned to the Backbone Fire in the Trinity Alps Wilderness.

The training was a routine part of the ongoing battle to contain the Backbone Fire, a Forest Service spokesman said. The training is conducted at least every 14 days, he said. The death is being investigated by a Forest Service accident investigation team and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Now the United States Forest Service(USFS) is in a fight with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration(OSHA) involving the release of the Backbone accident investigation documents.

USFS Charged with "Willful" violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. OSHA accuses the USFS failing to provide requested information about the accident. USFS continues to refuse to release documents related to the incident, and responds in writing that they would continue to not comply with OSHA's request.

USFS Charged with "Serious" violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The serious violations involving the unsafe methods and procedures for the use of the rappel equipment, was an somewhat expected development as problems were identified early after the fact with the securing of specific rappelling equipment.

See the whole document at: Google Document: Link

More information:

Related California News Posts: Fatal Accident During Routine Training at The Backbone Helibase

http://calfire.blogspot.com/search/label/Backbone%20Incident

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Tuesday, October 20, 2009