Tree Harvesting

Trees are not to be felled in a manner that may create a hazard for an employee, such as but not limited to, striking a rope, cable, power line, or machine.

Employees should contact their supervisor for approval when unfamiliar or unusually hazardous conditions (such as inclement weather) are encountered before cutting is commenced.
Employees should be trained that when they encounter situations with which they have not dealt with before, they need to work with the supervisor to handle the situation. This concept should also be reinforced in regular safety and health meetings.

No yarding machine is operated within two tree lengths of any tree which is in the process of being manually felled.
No employee approaches manual or mechanical felling operations closer than two tree lengths until the feller or operator, respectively, acknowledges it is safe to do so.
Bucking and limbing are to be done from the uphill side unless the employer demonstrates that it is not feasible. Note: When bucking or limbing is done from the downhill side, the tree must be secured with chocks to prevent it from moving.

Employees are to check for signs of loose bark, broken branches or limbs, and checking for damage before the danger trees are felled or removed.
Danger trees, including lodged trees, must be felled or removed before other work is commenced in the area of the danger tree.
Danger trees may be marked and avoided instead of being felled or removed, provided that no other work is commenced in the area of the danger tree.
Removal of a danger tree by felling another one into it is not prohibited.
Mechanical felling of danger trees is recommended. When other means are used, they must minimize employee exposure. Note: This to mean that felling can be done by such means as having a single, designated, properly trained employee fell the tree.

When a spring pole or other tree under stress (hereafter collectively referred to as spring poles) is cut, no employee other than the feller will be closer than two tree lengths when the stress is relieved.
Any employee cutting spring poles must have his body and chain saw in the clear when the stress in the spring pole is released.
Spring poles are considered danger trees so only experienced fellers are to fell them.
The preferred method to deal with spring poles is to avoid them (i.e., mark them and not work within two tree lengths of them), rather than felling or removing them. If employees cannot avoid them, remove spring poles by machine if possible.

Undercuts are made in each tree being felled unless the employer demonstrates that felling the particular tree without an undercut will not create a hazard for an employee.
Backcuts are to be made in each tree being felled. Note: Backcuts are made above the horizontal cut of the undercut when the "conventional" cutting method is used.

When this method is used, having the backcuts placed above the level of the horizontal face cut does not apply.
Two facecuts are to made diagonally into the stem producing a notch that is very open (i.e., 70 to 90 degrees). The openness of this notch will allow the tree to fall completely to the ground, or to fall a much greater distance than in conventional cutting before the notch closes and the hinge breaks.
This method allows the tree to fall in the intended direction and less likely to kick back off the stump when the notch does close.

When this method is used, the backcut having to be placed above the level of the horizontal facecut does apply.
Sufficient hinge wood made by back-cuts are critical to hold the tree to the stump during most of its fall and thereby allows the hinge to steer the falling tree in the right direction.
Placing the back-cut above the horizontal face cut provides a platform to block the tree from kicking back once the hinge does break.

Domino felling is defined as "The partial cutting of multiple trees which are left standing and then pushed over with a pusher tree." Note: The definition of domino felling does not include the felling of a single danger tree by felling another single tree into it.
Domino felling is prohibited.

Before a feller begins cutting a tree, a retreat path must be planned and cleared.
Once the back-cut has been completed the feller must immediately move to a safe distance away from the tree on the retreat path.

Whenever rolling or sliding of the tree is reasonably foreseeable, bucking and limbing must be done from the uphill side of the tree.
Where a tree cannot be limbed or bucked from the uphill side, the tree must be moved to a stable position where there is no potential for the tree to roll or slide.
Employees needs to be trained on the hazards associated with bucking and limbing including overhead hazards, spring poles, forward butt movement, butt twist, and position of tree butt.

Chipper access covers or doors are not to be opened until the drum or disc is at a complete stop.
Detached trailer chippers are to be chocked during usage on any slope where rolling and sliding of the chipper is reasonably foreseeable.
When performing service or maintenance on the chipper, it is to be shut down and locked out.

Yarding lines may not be moved unless the yarding machine operator has clearly received and understood the signal.
When in doubt, the machine operator must repeat the signal and wait for a confirming signal before moving the line. Note: This applies to all yarding machines, not just yarders.

Yarding machines and their loads must be operated in a manner that prevents contact with obstructions which could create a hazard for an employee.
Types of obstructions include boulders, danger trees, stumps, log piles, power lines, and cable rigging.

Only the machine operator and other essential personnel may be allowed in the work area during loading and unloading. Note: This is in respect to the immediate loading work area as opposed to the entire logging work area (e.g., landing).

The transport vehicle shall be positioned to provide working clearance between the vehicle and the deck.
No transport vehicle operator will remain in the cab during loading and unloading if the logs are carried or moved over the truck cab.
If the employer demonstrates that it is necessary for the operator to remain in the cab, the operator must be provided protection, such as but not limited to, reinforcement of the cab.
Logs must be placed on a transport vehicle in an orderly manner and tightly secured; the load must be positioned and secured to prevent slippage or loss during handling and transport.

The transport vehicle operator must assure that each tie down is tight before transporting the load.
While enroute, the operator shall check and tighten the tie downs whenever there is reason to believe that the tie downs have loosened or the load has shifted.