Palm Trimmer Dies After Being Caught Under Palm Fronds

A Mesa palm trimmer died on Wednesday afternoon after being caught under heavy palm fronds while on the job.

Working as part of a landscape crew, the man was trimming palm trees in a private residential area using a belt and spikes to climb the tree. At about 35 feet up in the tree he got caught under the weight of the palm fronds. When co-workers saw that the man was trapped the home owners were asked to call 911.

When emergency services arrived the worker was unresponsive. Although the cause of death was not immediately known it is believed that the worker suffocated from the weight of the palm fronds.

The Mesa fire department made a statement to CBS 5 explaining that The force of the fronds is primarily on the head of the climber, forcing the chin into the chest or on the chest, pushing him backwards. This is how suffocation occurs.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 1992 and 2002 there were more than 211,672 serious injuries to landscape and groundskeeping workers. The number of fatal injuries more than doubled during the same period.

If you or a loved one has been injured while on-the-job, the victim may be entitled to workers compensation benefits. Contact our knowledgeable personal injury attorneys in Mesa to learn more about your legal rights and how you may be entitled to file a claim for workers compensation benefits.