KAPAA — The name of the Oregon man who was killed by a falling tree branch earlier this week has been released.
Matthew Tester, 24, was part of the Green Energy Team biomass project responsible for cutting down and removing branches from albizia trees when a branch fell and struck him.
Tester, who wearing protective gear at the time of incident, was cutting a trunk using a chainsaw about 2 p.m. Wednesday, said Michael Mann, plant manager, in an email.
“This is common for the largest trees which are too big for the feller buncher machine, and he had done this many times before,” Mann said. “All safety procedures were followed and all protective gear was being worn. Matthew had at least one spotter.”
After making his cut, Tester “retreated from the area while maintaining a visual on the tree as required by the safety procedures.”
“Unfortunately, there was a large dead branch directly overhead but several feet up which snapped due to its own weight as the tree fell backwards,” Mann said. “It is often difficult to tell when the branches are dead as they still look alive on the outside. This is one of the things which makes albizia so dangerous here.”
Mann said his team was well experienced at what they do.
“These guys have done a significant amount of logging in that area, and there hasn’t been an incident like this before,” he said. “Logging is well known to be one of the most dangerous jobs available. I am personally very grateful to these guys for being willing to do this kind of work.”
Green Energy Team has 39 employees, including those who work cutting and planting trees on leased and private lands.
Albizia trees are used as fuel in the Green Energy Team biomass plant near Koloa. The power plant is expected to be fully operational by the end of January.
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative buys power from Green Energy under a 20-year contract approved by the Public Utilities Commission in 2011. KIUC does not own or operate the plant. The plant is the first of its kind in the United States, according to a spokesman for the company.
