Safety Tips For Tree Felling

Tree felling is a skilled process that requires a trained professional. It is also dangerous and can cause serious injury or damage to a home, car or person. It is also illegal in many areas to fell trees without a permit.

The logging industry is in demand for skilled professionals with expertise in felling. This includes urban and community forestry, as well as commercial and agricultural logging.

Felling can be done safely and efficiently with the proper equipment, training, and safety gear. It is important to have a safety plan, including clear escape routes.

Identify the height and hazards of the tree (including obstacles and potential injuries) before you begin cutting down the tree. This includes identifying and marking obstacles, removing any debris, preparing a fall path, and making sure there are no hazardous materials in the area.

Assess the load and lean of the tree to determine its direction of fall. A tree that is leaning in one direction or has a heavy load on one side will likely fall in that direction. If the tree is a dangerous candidate, skip the felling and call a professional.

Consider the tree’s base, hollowing, and any rotten wood. This could impact the direction of the fall or compromise the safety of those who work in the area.

Make two escape paths from the tree in case it falls in a different direction than intended. These routes are called ‘exit lines’ and will allow you to retreat quickly in the event of an emergency.

Clear the tree’s base of all obstacles that may be in the way of a falling tree, such as pets, people, other trees, driveways, fences, power lines and other objects that are not desirable in the fall path. You’ll need to be able to see the base of the tree clearly to cut a notch that will guide the tree’s fall path.

Before attempting to fell a tree, you should check for structural defects, such as cracks and breaks that can make it difficult to cut the trunk properly. These should be spotted early so that they can be repaired before the tree is cut.

You should always be wearing a helmet, gloves and hearing protection when tree felling. This is especially important when working with a chainsaw, which can cause severe damage to the lower legs and knees.

Measure the distance from the base of the tree to the top, using a yard stick or board that is perpendicular to the ground and about arm’s length. This will give you the exact measurement that you need to calculate the ‘fall zone’ of the tree, where the tree’s top will land once it falls.

If you’re using a stick, hold it at arm’s length, with the tip against the ground and perpendicular to your feet. Walk forward or backward a couple of paces at a time until the tip of the stick is positioned exactly where you want the ‘fall zone’ to be when the tree falls.

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