FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 5
AVOIDING FELLING INJURIES
In 2002, felling operations:
Accounted for most logging injuries reported to the Logging Accident Reporting Scheme
(in previous years most injuries occurred during skidwork)
Resulted in 2 fatalities
Accounted for a third of all lost time injuries (38 reported felling LTI)
Resulted in 667 reported lost days
Averaged over 17 days lost per LTI
In many cases the loggers involved were skilled, experienced loggers, which raises concerns
about maintaining skills and hazard awareness.
Most of the felling injuries were “struck by” events, including being hit by a spar or by sailers
and cones. There were also 77 minor felling injuries in 2002, usually the result of a slip, trip
or fall.
The main hazards associated with motor-manual felling operations are:
♦ Falling trees, spars, sailers and cones
♦ Hazards associated with equipment such as chainsaws, wedges
♦Twisted postures and bending/stooping for long periods of time
♦ Repetitive movements & manual handling
♦ Rough & steep terrain, slash, heavy undergrowth and uneven ground
♦ Working in extreme or changeable weather conditions
♦ Fatigue due to dehydration and physically demanding work
FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 5
PRE-FELLING ASSESSMENT
Assess the HAZARDS and the TREE
Many injuries occur because the tree does not fall
in the way the faller expects, or because they are
hit unexpectedly by falling objects.
Assess stand hazards
Slope – are the trees leaning downhill?
Weather – wind direction, heavy rain
Proximity to power lines, roads, machinery etc
Assess tree hazards
Look for sailers above or in nearby trees
Look for branches or vines interlocked with
other trees
Clear any obstructions, like pongas, so you can
you see the top of the tree
Determine what is predominant and side lean
Assess the crown weight and where the heaviest
branches are, to determine the potential fall
direction
Plan the felling cuts, your movements around the
tree and your escape route
MAINTAIN your saw and chain - an under performing saw and a blunt chain make the job
a lot harder. Key areas to look at when maintaining your saw include:
- Mechanical condition. Keep your filters, flywheel and cooling fins clean for optimum performance.
Use the decompression button - it makes it easier to start and easier on the saw
- Safety features. Make regular checks of throttle lock, chain brake, vibration mounts
- Chain sharpening. Keeping your chain sharp will increase the performance of the saw and make
the work a lot easier.
EQUIPMENT: When felling, a logger must always have:
Chainsaw of suitable size and good working order
3 wedges and hammer
first aid kit which should contain at least two large, sterile dressings and surgical gloves
tool belt
fuel and oil in approved containers
the correct PPE - chaps, visor, boots, helmet, safety mitt, ear-muffs and hi-viz clothing
FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 5
SAFE FELLING TECHNIQUES
Escape route and butt-kick
Clear vegetation and branches from around the sides & behind the tree
Make the scarf cut and back cut
As the tree begins to fall, switch off the saw & move into the escape
route. Switching the saw off allows you to hear falling branches & cones
Keep a watch and listen for falling material
Be prepared for kick-back of the butt or bouncing of the tree as it
hits the ground
Cuts and Wedging
Use the correct cuts for the size of tree & wedges if the tree
might sit back. Use a:
Split level back cut for small diameter trees
Conventional back cut for medium diameter trees (bar goes
right through tree)
Quarter cut back cut for large diameter trees (bar does not
go right through tree)
Trimming
Trimming limbs can be fatiguing if not done correctly.
Work at the right height, with the saw held at a height between your knees and hips
Keep the saw close to your body
Move the saw the shortest distance between limbs, and support the saw on your thigh or trunk
Try to trim by walking alongside the tree, if the area is clear enough from debris and vegetation
and if the tree is stable
When trimming from the stem, the distance to the ground should be no more than 1.5m
Always work on the uphill side of a slope
Assess for branches under tension - stand away from the tension when cutting
The Big Picture
Having a healthy crew is good business. Management commitment towards worker health can go a
long way towards helping reduce the risk of injury and illness.
Planning
- Ensure all crews have fully equipped first aid kits & at least two first aiders
- Plan the block so trees are felled with the predominant lean
- Inform all staff of commencement of felling and check there are no other
persons in the area
Supervising
- Check the distances between workers to ensure no-one is within the minimum
two tree lengths
- Consider increased risks from extreme or changing weather conditions
- Encourage safe work practices, including drinking and eating appropriately
- Ensure equipment and PPE is adequate, regularly checked and well maintained
- Act early when employees report symptoms, to prevent condition worsening
Training/education - Make sure employees are competent or under supervision & know about the
hazards specific to felling
- Consider refresher training to maintain skill levels
Reviewing
- Have regular safety meetings, listen to staff suggestions, & work as a team
- Use lessons learned from each block to plan felling of the next one
FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 5
Case Study
The Problem
Contractor Bob started the crew working in a new block. He soon realised that the trees in
the block had the wrong lean for the plan he was following, and were difficult to fell. Bob was
unable to meet his targets.
The Issues
The fallers were having to do lots of wedging which was slow and exhausting and they were also
frequently stopping the skidder driver to assist felling with the machine. Production was
therefore slow. Contractor Bob was getting stressed with the slow progress and the whole crew
was fed up.
What to do
Contractor Bob met with the crew to discuss the options as a team. He then reorganised the
cutting of the block by rearranging the opening of the block. This meant the trees could be
felled with the predominant lean and be extracted more easily onto the landing.
The results
The reorganising took a little time and effort but proved worthwhile. The fallers were less
fatigued, which made them happier, more efficient and less prone to making mistakes and taking
short-cuts. Head pulling was avoided and production rates increased, allowing contractor Bob
to meet targets, and his stress levels dropped.
The practice of driving trees should only be used to fell difficult or dangerous trees and is
not acceptable normal felling practice. Tree driving can be used to fell hung-up, cut-up, broken
or slightly back-leaning trees. The maximum number of trees without an observer is two (i.e.
one on one). All tree-driving must be pre-planned and performed by competent workers. All
other people should be at least two-tree lengths clear of both trees.
Further Information
This Guidance Leaflet has been prepared by the “ACC Safer Industries Working Group” which consists of representatives
from ACC, COHFE, Forest Industry Contractors Association and Forest Industries Training. This leaflet contains
notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.
It is a reference tool for supervisors/foremen to help them ensure that safe working practices are being carried out
at their forestry work sites.
This publication may be freely reproduced except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. The information
is current July 2003. Please acknowledge the source as being an “ACC Safer Industries Working Group” Forest Safety
Guidance Leaflet.
For more information about forest safety, contact:
Phone: 04 918 7700
Fax: 04 918 7701
www.acc.co.nz
Phone: 07 343 5899
Fax: 07 343 5528
www.cohfe.co.nz
Phone: 07 921 1382
Fax:07 921 1833
www.fica.org.nz
Phone: 07 348 7250
Fax:07 348 7350
www.training.org.nz