OSHA Investigating Fatal Concord Wood Chipper Accident
CONCORD (BCN) -- A man killed Monday in a work-related accident involving a wood chipper has been identified by the coroner's office.
Traverso Tree Service employee Antonio Barajas, a 33-year-old Concord resident, was reportedly loading tree waste into a large commercial-grade wood chipper around 1:30 p.m. near Snowberry Court and South Larwin Avenue when the fatal accident occurred.
A rope attached to Barajas became tangled in the mechanism and pulled him toward the mouth of the chipper, Concord police said.
"He wasn't actually sent through the chipper," Concord police Lt. Andrew Gartner said. "He was in the opening of it."
Barajas was pronounced dead at the scene.
California Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Krisann Chasarick said agency representatives responded to the scene and are collaborating with the coroner's office for the investigation.
Preliminary reports indicate that the cause of death "appears to be head trauma," Chasarick said.
"We don't believe he was in contact with the blades," Chasarick said.
Barajas suffered a severe injury to the back of his head, Chasarick said.
There were no witnesses to the accident.
As with any work-related accident, Cal-OSHA is conducting an inspection to see if any health or safety violations were involved in Barajas' death.
Walnut Creek-based Traverso Tree Service was previously investigated by Cal-OSHA in 2005 after a worker fell off a three-story apartment building, Chasarick said.
The company was cited for not providing a necessary guardrail and paid a $2,475 fine, Chasarick said.
The worker was injured but survived, Chasarick said.
"We have no other reports of fatalities with this company," Chasarick said.
Barajas' autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday to determine an exact cause of death.
(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)
