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USING GOOD TREE FELLING TECHNIQUE
A SAFE WORKING PROCEDURE IS
YOUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE TO-
WARD PREVENTING ACCIDENTS
1. SIZE UP THE TREE.
a. Determine natural felling direction ....
-- toward the direction of natural lean.
-- toward the side with more or heavier branches.,
-- (if heavily leaved) with the direction of the wind.t
b., Avoid felling a tree ....
-- if it shows signs of rot which may make felling unpre-
dictable.
-- if it's natural felling direction must be changed to
avoid obstacles.,
-- if hanging dead limbs (_widov_ makers =_) cannot be
removed before felling.,
-- if wind is strong or gusty.
2. PLAN YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE, Choose a route back and
to one side of the direction of tree fall (Fig, 17),, You
should plan a route that will place you at least twenty feet
from the stump at the time the tree hits the ground,
3. CLEAR THE BRUSH AND DEBRIS from around the tree
and along your escape route, Examine tree in cutting area
and remove dirt or foreign material which might dull or
break the chain asyou cut_
4. FELL THE T_EE. ,
a. Undercut ( notch ) the tree on the side of natural fall
(Fig. 18),
-- Make the first cut horizontally I/3 the tree diameter
at a comfortable working height.
-- Finish the undercut with sloping cut to meet but
not cross the first,,
-- Clean out the undercut wood.
fl , Ii
b. Backcut ( felling cut )the tree opposite the notch (Fig..
18).
- Make the horizontal felling cut opposite the side of
natural fall. at least 2 inches above the horizontal un-
dercut,,
-- For trees larger than bar length make two felling cuts
pivoting bar nose in last, in on one side. then pivoting
in from the other to complete the cut (Fig. 19).
-- Some trees may need to be pushed into the under-
cut. Drive wedges into the backcut, stopping often
to drive wedges tight but taking care not to place
them where they will interfere with cutting or direc-
tion of fallo Use plastic or wood wedges so that they
cannot dull saw chain if accidentally hit.
-- DO NOT CUT COMPLETELY THROUGH TO THE
UNDERCUT. Leave at least a 2 inch hinge to hold
and guide the tree down in the direction you planned
and keep the tree from snapping off the stump., Make
sure to keep the hinge a uniform thickness to pre-
vent the tree from pivoting on the stump°
5. ESCAPE. As your backcut nears the undercut, watch the
treetop and the cut for signs of movement., Be alert -- as
soon as the tree starts to move, pul! your saw from the
tree, turn it off, put it down, and move away quickly on
you[ escape route. If your saw is pinched in the backcut--
don t wait until the falling tree frees it., Shut if off and
leave itl
BE ALERT TO CONDITIONS WHICH
MIGHT ALTER YOUR PLANNED ES-
CAPE ROUTE AND WATCH WHERE YOU
ARE GOINGI
6. STUDY THE STUMP. Improve your felling technique by
analyzing your work (Fig. 20).
a. Did the undercuts meet without crossing?
b;. Was the backcut horizontal, parallel to the undercut and
at least 2 inches above it?
c,, Was the hinge at least 2 inches thick and of uniform
thickness? -7-
BACKCUT
("FELLING CUT"}
HINGE
UNDERCUT
("NOTCH")
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Ot RECTION
OF FALL
FIGURE 20
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