Safety Advice for Wood Cutting

Oldcountryboy · #41 02/09/14, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1shotwade

Keep your head in the game. Complacency is not an option!

Wade

Can't emphasize enough on this one. A while back I cut down 4 trees that had died over the summer at my BIL's. The first two was small and I stood back about 3 big steps and watched them fall. The third one was a big trunked tree and I planned my route out and followed through with safe results. The fourth tree was about a medium sized tree and I got careless and didn't plan my exscape path out. I just walked up to it and started cutting. When it started falling all I done was took a couple of small steps back and watched it fall. When it landed on it's limbs it sprung back toward me and probably came within 2 inches of hitting my knee caps. If it had of sprung back futher it probably would have busted my legs up and I would have been laid up for the winter. Immediately I knew I had done something wrong all because of my carelessness. I was very lucky!

big rockpile · #42 02/09/14, 07:55 PM

Ok I cut Logs, Pulp Wood and Firewood for years. Like I say wonder I'm alive.

Ran Saw up my leg, didn't want to look, the Guy with me convinced me to pull my Cut Boot off, just a burse and a nick.

Had Tree kick back had me pinned between a Fence and the Tree. Neighbor mile away heard me hollering, came down unpinned me.

Was clearing for a Power Line. had a Tree on a hump, where I couldn't get on the front side of it. I thought ok I'll cut on the Back side let it split and drop in the creek. Well I cut it split but it split all the way up broke lose, come down, I throw my Hands up with the Saw, hits the Saw throws it 50 feet other side of me, smacks me up side the Head, throwed my Glasses off, knocked me silly. Made it to the House, had my Son go down get my Glasses and Saw.

Same Power Line clearing I came to the last two Trees. Cut next to the last, it hangs up in the last one. I think no problem hook Log Chain to the base and pull it. Go to pulling look in the Mirror, OH NOT GOOD! The Tree was falling for the Truck. It hits, Back Window blows in, hits back of my Head, Head bounces off Steering Wheel, come too, no way getting out of Drivers Side door, no Phone signal, make my way out, passenger side door, crawl up the hill, call wife at school, tell her I dropped a tree on my Head. She asked if I was ok? Don't know I'm bleeding can't see real good. She drives there, looked me over, gets me to the House, cleaned me up, decided I had a concussion and cut up from the glass but figured I would live.

I can't hear very well but don't know if it's from running Chainsaws, Firearms, Hard Rock or Factory Work. Younger days I went for days couldn't hear a thing. Now I can just not well.

Safety Equipment might of helped me and not putting down anyone using it. But never thought about it when I was young, nobody did. Believe it or not but yes I've done way more dangerous stuff.

big rockpile

Conhntr · #43 02/10/14, 04:54 AM

Nobody mentioned it yet;
If its muddy/icy/snowy try to do another chore that day. If you have to cut in the ice/snow/mud be 5x as careful. A slip when you are running a saw or getting out of a path of the falling tree can be verry serious!

1shotwade · #44 02/10/14, 06:23 AM

I cleared a neglected pond dam that had trees up to 12-14 inches and 40-50 foot tall. They were partially up rooted by heave winds and all leaning to the pond.Every one without exception fell on the top of the dam and kicked back from 6 to 10 feet.Very, very dangerous! As soon as you see it starting to go you better run.BTW< that job is only 2/3 done. I'm not touching the rest of them until ALL conditions are right!If you don't have a good path cleared for an escape route you don't stand a chance of not getting hurt/killed!
Wade

DaleK · #45 02/10/14, 09:30 AM

Something else for those who do most of our cutting when it's cold - dehydration is at least as dangerous when it's well below zero and windy as it is when it's hot and sunny, with the added factor that it sneaks up on you. You need to force water into yourself even when it's too cold to be thirsty. I'd bet 75% of fatigue in the winter is actually dehydration