Found a Widow Maker

[farmer2009]

Couple of years ago, neighbor had an old water oak that was slowly dropping big dead limbs on my side of the fence. I talked to him and explained that it was eventually going to come down across the fence, and since I had about 20 goats in that paddock, thought we should get together and take the tree down. He opted to wait until his fil came down for the winter and the two of them would take it down. He strung a long cable and a snatch block, and with him on the tractor, his fil started to chain saw on the tree. I didn't like the way things were going, so I started moving goats. About the time I got the paddock cleared. I heard fil yelling pull - pull - pull. Everything went quiet as neighbor shut off the tractor and yelled "I can't hear you"! You know it took out about 20 feet of fence.

Did they know hand signals were invented for just that reason? When doing that kind of work we don't even try to talk unless the other one isn't paying attention. Then it's a HEY and point.

 

[DrRod]

Sometimes, there's brush in the way so you can't see the other guy. Also, the guy with the saw should be focusing on the cut, i.e. looking generally downward. So we have used whistles to signal over the noise of the saw/tractor and to cut through noise protection ear muffs. Nothing too fancy, just "whistle when you see the tree move" or whistle to signal the tractor to stop.

I actually got in the habit of having whistles around because I work alone a lot. I don't drop trees alone or do other risky chores, but you never know when you might break an ankle, or get snake bit, or pass out from heat, et al and its easier to get attention with a whistle than trying to hail passing car 100 yards away.