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21
PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TREE FELLING
(See Figure 13-16)
• Felling a tree — When bucking and felling operations are being performed by two or more
persons, at the same time, the felling operation should be separated from the bucking
operation by a distance of at least twice the height of the tree being felled. Trees should not
be felled in a manner that would endanger any person, strike any utility line or cause any
property damage. If the tree does make contact with any utility line, the utility company should
• Operator should keep on the uphill side of terrain as the tree is likely to roll or slide after it is
felled.
• Pick your escape route (or routes in case the intended route is blocked). Clear the immediate
area around the tree and make sure there are no obstructions in your planned path of retreat.
Clear the path of safe retreat approximately 135° from the planned line of fall.
• Consider the force and direction of the wind, the lean and balance of the tree, and the location
tree along a line different from its natural line of fall.
• Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from the tree where felling cuts are to
be made.
• Notched Undercut. Cut a notch about 1/3 the diameter of the trunk in the side of the tree.
Make the notch cuts so they intersect at a right angle to the line of fall. This notch should be
cleaned out to leave a straight line. To keep the weight of the wood off the saw, always make
the lower cut of the notch before the upper cut.
• Felling Backcut. As
the felling cut gets close to the hinge the tree should begin to fall. If there
is any chance the tree may not fall in the desired direction or it may rock back and bind the
saw chain, stop cutting before the felling cut is complete and use wedges of wood, plastic or
aluminum to open the cut and drop the tree along its desired line of fall. Make the backcut
level and horizontal, and at a minimum of 2" (5 cm) above the horizontal cut of the notch.
OPERATING YOUR CHAIN SAW
Fig. 13
PLANNED LINE
OF FALL
PLANNED
LINE
OF FALL
PATH
OF SAFE
RETREAT
135°
45°
45°
90°
135°
135° FROM
PLANNED LINE
OF FALL
PATH OF
SAFE
RETREAT
90°
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