Virginia regulators are investigating a fatal accident involving a Henrico County tree worker last week.

James L. Duty Jr., 48, was buried yesterday in Henrico, five days after falling to his death while cutting a tree in Chesterfield County. A tree climber for 30 years, Duty worked for B&S Tree Service of Henrico.

The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry is investigating Duty's death as a workplace accident through its occupational safety and health program. B&S officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Duty fell an estimated 60 feet Wednesday as he was cutting a tree on the 10700 block of Chalkley Road, near state Route 10.

Chesterfield police Capt. Paige Foster said Duty was working in a mechanical bucket that had been fully extended. Duty climbed out of the bucket and used his harness to climb higher into the tree, police said, but his harness seat apparently was not properly secured, and he fell.

The county's emergency dispatch center received a call at 11:43 a.m. Fire and rescue units arrived at the scene six minutes later and pronounced Duty dead at 11:52 a.m.

Duty, who lived on Alvarado Road, left a wife, two sons, two daughters and three grandchildren.
Contact Michael Martz at (804) 649-6964 or mmartz@timesdispatch.com.