Felling hazards

C

Chignecto Woodsman

Joined
Aug 2, 2014
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746
Just saw this video (at 4:00):
http://youtu.be/M15Bg5js3y8

It is an excellent example of what can go wrong if you hit a small tree. Not that big of a tree being taken down but if he was directly behind it he may have been hit in the chest or face. You can be severely injured from a tree as small as this one. The biggest danger here would be for the tree to snap and fall back towards you or cause branch breakage which could fly back at you. I think I would have cut the smaller one down as well if it was in the natural lay.

Mostly I cut 8"-15" trees, not that big either but still a danger. Generally I check for branches/widowmakers/rot, then head and side lean, pick the safest lay possible, clear all branches for getaway paths in a few directions, clear the bark for notches, and check for sway again after the first few hits.

Anything you all do? What do you think is the greatest danger? I would say any sort of collision with other trees increases danger the most, or cutting in the wind, slopes, improper notches. But I'm sure I missed a few things.

Didn't really see any threads on this.
 
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Actually it looks as though he cut through the hinge. If he had left a proper hinge and kickback stop it most likely would have just been hung up. But I still think it's an interesting video.
 
Lots of stuff, but the one that has gotten me more than once even when I was looking out for it is large grapevines that grow in the tops of trees. One I didn't see managed to suspend a 45' red cedar a few feet off the ground after allowing the tree to pirouette 90 degrees from its planned direction of fall...
 
greatest danger is to fell a tree!:D
well everything is dangerous about that,smart people really care and take precaution before,and other just don't care and both have the tree down thanks to mr Newton and gravity law!

first danger is to be distracted,by wathever , fatigue, mate,hurry, you name it! second is not to know how to "properly":)fell a tree, make a mouth,a saw cut higher than the bottom of mouth,basically in the middle of the mouth (that should be wide if feller is no expert),and leave a hinge. as well it means searching where is the natural falling direction of that tree and what's in the way. and at higher skills level what can go wrong.

not quick sawing can make a barber chair and rip you head away in a second if it's in the way,for some it's not vital part ,but hard to continue after that...

kick back is another hazard , to avoid it saw cut must be well higher than the base of a wide mouth.

laying back on saw blade is a problem too but a prior made wood wedge is the solution ,bit creepy,but not a real danger if hinge is left solid.
....
 
I knew a guy was killed when the tree he felled properly bent down another tree which then caught a dead branch, whipped back up straight, and flung the branch at him, striking and killing him. Logging is one of the most dangerous occupations.
 
While clearing out standing dead with my Da, I was cutting a locust that had dropped its branches and lost most of its bark. When it began to lean, it "cracked" and snapped off about 6' of the top--- came down at a slight tilt and drove my helmet down over my ears. Snapped the suspension, drove me to the ground and had me seeing stars for a bit. I always wear a helmet and safety goggles to project my eyes, chaps and boots.

I have had plenty of "sprung" issues to work out and had to cut logs on slope steep enough to call for securing tree with chain and cable to prevent it sliding/rolling downslope but the above was the closest to dead I have come.

"an instant can change a lifetime"- is a thing I remember anytime I work with large animals, machinery or logging.

Bill
 
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