Machines and Equipment Use

Each machine, including each machine provided by an employee, must be maintained in a serviceable condition and inspected before initial use during a workshift. Note: If a machine is not used during a workshift, it does not need to be inspected.
Ensure employees are informed of the maintenance and inspection procedures during training, by reinforcing the requirements during regular safety and health meetings, and conducting spot checks of employees who use machines.
Machine operator manuals or set of instructions are to be maintained within the work areas.
Effective guarding will be installed on each machine and in place while the machine is in operation in order to protect employees from moving parts.

Diesel-powered machines and vehicles may be fueled while idling, provided that continued operation is intended and that safe fueling and operating procedures are being followed.
- The operator must follow vapor containment, along with spill prevention and procedures before leaving the machine cab to fuel the engine.

Ensure vehicles and machines equipped with Rollover Protective Structure/Falling Object Protective Structure (ROPS/FOPS) or overhead guards, have seat belts provided for the operator.
Inform employees that they are required to use seat belts during training and reinforce this requirement during regular safety and health meetings, and by conducting spot checks of employees while they are operating vehicles and machines.

Logging machines cabs are to be completely enclosed, including entrances (can be mesh).
Each cab will have a protective canopy to protect the operator from injury due to falling trees, limbs, saplings or branches which might enter the compartment side areas and from snapping winch lines or other objects..
Lower portion of the cab should be fully enclosed with solid material, except at entrances, to prevent the operator from being injured from obstacles entering the cab.
Upper rear portion of the cab should be fully enclosed with open mesh material with openings of such size as to reject the entrance of an object larger than 2 inches in diameter to provide maximum rearward visibility.
All machines used in logging operations must have two means of egress.

Assure that each machine is operated within the limitations imposed by the manufacture as described in the operating and maintenance instructions for the machine.

When the operator leaves the machine cab, brakes must be applied, the moving elements must be grounded or secured, and the transmission must be placed in the manufacturer's specified park position.

Each machine cab should have a second means of egress.
Walking and working surfaces of each machine and machine work station should be maintained to have a slip resistant surface to assure safe footing.
Walking and working surfaces of each machine are to be kept free of waste, debris and any other material that could cause fire, slipping, or falling.

Each tractor, skidder, swing yarder, log stacker, log loader and mechanical felling device, such as tree shears or feller-buncher, must be equipped with falling object protective structure (FOPS) and/or rollover protective structure (ROPS).
ROPS and FOPS must be tested, installed, and maintained in serviceable condition.
All machines used in logging operations must have two means of egress.

Machines operated near cable yarding operations should be equipped with roofs or sheds that provide sufficient protection from breaking cable lines.

All vehicles will be maintained in a serviceable condition and is inspected before initial use during a workshift. Note: If a vehicle is not used during a workshift, it does not need to be inspected.
Operating and maintenance instructions should be available in each vehicle and the instructions followed by vehicle operators and maintenance employees.