Safe logging in groups

[Michael Low]

A young man in neighboring town just died last Thursday in a logging accident. I did not know him personally and it took me a few days to here the story from my old timer neighbor.
There were about seven people working in the woods for a landowner, clearing some pine trees from around some power lines, and chipping up what they could of the trees. The power company had two men there as well and I guess at some point they went in to do some specialty something with the lines and the logging crew left ’till they were done. When the power company fellows finished, the logging crew went back in. The young man who was killed went back to work on a tree that needed to be limbed for the chipper and the others went back to felling. Well someone felled a tree onto his head. Died two days later, never woke up from his coma. Left a wife, son, and another unborn baby. I don’t know the specific details of how such a major miscommunication occurred between the fellers and the young man.

Sad story and another reason to excercise caution in the woods.
I am interested in how people on this forum who are working in groups plan their logging for safety?

Michael Low

[Jim Ostergard]

In Maine, the Certified Logging Professional training (CLP) teaches a two tree length separation between workers. This applies to felling as well as working around loaders be they truck mounted or stand alone. A whistle blast or two is a signal used by fellers at the MOFGA winter harvest. Eye contact and pointed in the direction of the fall is useful if one waits for a thumbs up from anybody nearby.
Jim

[Scott G]

One should always work at least 1 1/2 – 2 tree lengths from the next closest faller, for that very reason.

Often times it seems that working together in the same proximity with a large crew is one of the unsafest situations. You are constantly tripping over one another or screaming “heads up”.

I like working with myself or one/two other folks at most. If each has a specific duty, i.e. felling, skidding, or working the landing, it can be a pretty efficient system. Still, I like being responsible for only myself, my horse(s), and my dog if he decides to come along…

[near horse]

Michael – that’s a terrible tragedy to be sure. In my area (ID), the Dept of Lands (and other logging safety orgs) post single page descriptions of the accidents that have occurred in the woods that year. It’s incredible some of the things that can happen – from basic tree kickbacks or tops snapping off to equipment rollovers and felling onto a p/u that was coming in to bring the crew out.

What state are you in? And I hope his family will have good support.

[Michael Low]

I live in the Northeast Kingdom, VT. The young man’s family does have a large support network of extended family and community. His family dates back to the settlement of the area, they live on a mountain bearing their name.

“Often times it seems that working together in the same proximity with a large crew is one of the unsafest situations. You are constantly tripping over one another or screaming “heads up”.”

That’s just what my neighbor was saying.

Michael Low
Green Fire Farm
VT

[Rick Alger]

Hi Michael,

Did you work in Clarksville, NH last year?

[Author]

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