Feds cite Lehigh Valley company in wood

A Lehigh Valley tree service company is facing a fine of nearly $125,000 for alleged safety violations that were uncovered after a 17–year-old worker died following an August 2022 wood-chipper accident.

The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday announced in a news release that an investigation determined the teen's employer "could have prevented the incident by following required federal safety standards."

Isiah Bedocs, of Coplay, was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township after the incident the afternoon of Aug. 9 in the 3700 block of Excelsior Road in North Whitehall Township. He died at the hospital from traumatic injuries.

Bedocs was going to be a senior at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, entering his fourth year of automechanics. He was working for the tree company as a summer job.

The company, based in Schnecksville, operates as both Adam's Tree Service and Adam's Tree Removal and Trimming. It is owned by Adam Atiyeh, OSHA says.

Bedocs should not have been operating the wood chipper given his age, OSHA says in the release as it is considered "a hazardous occupation forbidden by federal child labor laws."

The other recommendations for the company as a result of the investigation, according to OSHA, were:

The agency issued the company and Atiyeh citations for 10 serious safety violations and proposed total penalties of $124,987. It has also referred the alleged child labor violations to the department's Wage and Hour Division for further investigation.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of citation and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

A man who answered the phone at Adam's Tree Service's business number shortly after noon on Monday declined comment and hung up on a reporter after being asked about the OSHA investigation.

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