Killed by falling tree

[oldballs]

Amen.

 

[Mitkof]

Yep, Lord Bless and protect the cutters, as it’s a dangerous occupation.
In 70s I was a feller for LP earning a whopping $10 per thousand board feet. Tough winter directional felling along a 500kv transmission line right of way. Lots of other cutters quit, I stayed on to learn from the best. Timber felling requires caution and knowing when to walk away, tomorrow is another day. Learn the trade, especially how to jack a tree, pull a tree and push a tree safely. Understand the proper amount and placement of holding wood. Never start felling without your wedges. Always expect widow makers and cut your exit route before you put in the face cut. Remember hardwood and softwood are totally different species and certain ones are prone to barber chairing. If the wind is wrong, walk away. Remember OSHA study that showed timber cutting accidents go up 300% after 6 hours of cutting, because the feller is tired. Be safe, stay alive…

 

[Mitkof]

Afterthought: Just FYI, current rules of the road for all loggers.

Here are US Dept of Labor Logging safety standards 29 CFR 1910.266:
Ref: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9862

“The Logging Operations standard establishes safety practices, means, methods, and operations for all types of logging, regardless of the end use of the wood and regardless if the activity results in a commercial (for sale) product -- 29 CFR 1910.266(b)(1).”

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Sorry for the loss.

 

[ovrszd]

Seriously? A thread about somebody killed in a logging accident has to turn into an argument? Maybe the victim did make a mistake. Maybe the victim didn't make a mistake. We probably will never find out for sure, but there's no need to start taking potshots at one another over it.

I agree. I apologize if I said something insensitive. Certainly wasn't my intent.

 

[PILOON]

Just yesterday my close friend told me he refused to cut a dead tree for his client.
Another guy, either eager or hungry, took on the job and did so on a windy day.
That guy is in hospital with fractured collar bone, arm and pelvis.
Wind combined with chainsaw vibration caused upper limbs to detach.

They don't call them widow makers for nothing.

 

[bcp]

I think I'll put a 50 foot extension on my pole saw and start using that for felling.



Bruce

 

[teg]

I'm very sorry to hear about this, my condolences to everyone involved... yes, I would like to know what went wrong. I normally don't respond to tree cutting threads... it's not something you can learn by reading online. Reason I'm interested is I mainly cut dead trees... and have three more lined up to do...

I got out of the tree cutting business a long time ago and now just do it for friends in need... I'm extra (extra) careful when I cut a tree down but there is always a chance something might go wrong. Loved the comment about "...cutting accidents go up 300%..." towards the end of the day... been there.

Went to cut one before Christmas but the winds kicked up in the wrong direction... I bagged it for another day. Normally work with the owner, make sure he's way out of the way, I have my "escape" route. Try and look for "problems" overhead several times but I'm sure the unexpected will happen sooner or later...

 

[MHarryE]

Very sensitive issue here. Ai just don't know how to drive the 2 miles down the road to talk with them - it's a family grieving period. Call came in to the EMTs at 5:34, well after sundown. When Scott didn't come in at dark, his wife called their son (I believe he is 21 now) to Ho look. He found his dad under the tree. We haven't had it cold yet this year by our terms but that means high that day was in the mid teens, one of the coldest this season when we expect below zero highs. Working in the woods you are usually down to a flannel shirt at most, tee shirt common, at these temps. Even if just pinned, however, a body can't take much at our temps, especially if you're soaked with sweat.

Obituary | Scott Thomas | MLAKER FUNERAL HOME

 

[gwstang]

"barber chairing"...Could you tell me what this is? I've never heard this term before, thanks.

 

[bcp]

You can see one here, at about 1:35. This one is slow. Some are extremely fast.

Bruce

 

[gwstang]

Wow, that could really hurt someone the way it split. Thanks for posting that for me. I don't ever cut a tree that low. I cut about waist high so I can control the saw without having to bend down and get my face near it. I can also watch the tree better. I cut the stump off afterwards.

 

[GManBart]

Wow, that could really hurt someone the way it split. Thanks for posting that for me. I don't ever cut a tree that low. I cut about waist high so I can control the saw without having to bend down and get my face near it. I can also watch the tree better. I cut the stump off afterwards.

The height of the cut isn't the problem in that case. I'm no expert, but a barber chair is cause by improper facing or back cutting, and more likely with trees that are leaning significantly (but not always).

There are a lot of good references online, and even some hands-on classes that teach felling safety that cover topics like this one. I think some of those are organized by state forestry agencies...not a bad idea really.

 

[ovrszd]

Very sensitive issue here. Ai just don't know how to drive the 2 miles down the road to talk with them - it's a family grieving period. Call came in to the EMTs at 5:34, well after sundown. When Scott didn't come in at dark, his wife called their son (I believe he is 21 now) to Ho look. He found his dad under the tree. We haven't had it cold yet this year by our terms but that means high that day was in the mid teens, one of the coldest this season when we expect below zero highs. Working in the woods you are usually down to a flannel shirt at most, tee shirt common, at these temps. Even if just pinned, however, a body can't take much at our temps, especially if you're soaked with sweat.

Obituary | Scott Thomas | MLAKER FUNERAL HOME

I can "hear" the pain in your post. Having suffered catastrophic family loss I'll say any appearance by you will be warmly embraced. Nothing you can say will fix it. That's why you feel so helpless. A simple appearance and a couple hugs will say it all. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Mitkof]

IMO, small trees, less than 15 inch DBH, are the most dangerous. I prefer cutting 36 inch rather than 10 to 12 inch trees. Large trees are easier to control, and easier to use wedges for safety. While face cut dynamics are the same on large and small trees. Back cut is wholly different, some needing corner notching to prevent barber chairing, others require very little holding wood to prevent barber chairing. Leaving too much holding wood or not notching a weak cored tree only increases the chance for a barber chair to occur. The speed of the back cut can also increase or reduce likelihood of a barber chair.

Again, learn the trade, and study technics of others. Best book I've ever found on cutting: Fallers and Buckers Handbook by Workers Compensation Board of British Columbia.
Be Safe and Stay Alive...

 

[kevin37b]

Still do not understand why it is called a barber chair ? Looks like a simple split to me . When I got my hair cut 30 yrs ago at the Barber shop it was a chair that they could manipulate with their feet . Do not get it .

 

[bcp]

It pivots in the middle, with one end going down while the other end goes up, like a barber chair laid back for a shave.

If it was to be named now, it would probable be called a "recliner" instead of "barber chair."



Bruce

 

[Garandman]

When we spoke to the NH Occupational Safety folks, one thing they told me was that the way industrial accidents are reported, they don't necessarily include sole proprietors. She said that because many small logging outfits are sole proprietors, they are not reported in the industry data and if it was logging would be the most dangerous job in the country.

Also that a lot of these men work alone in remote areas and if they get hurt, they can't reach anyone and it might be hours before they go missing. So sometimes they are injured and then expire in the woods. Pretty sad.

 

[Garandman]

When we spoke to the NH Occupational Safety folks, one thing they told me was that the way industrial accidents are reported, they don't necessarily include sole proprietors. She said that because many small logging outfits are sole proprietors, they are not reported in the industry data and if it was logging would be the most dangerous job in the country.

Also that a lot of these men work alone in remote areas and if they get hurt, they can't reach anyone and it might be hours before they go missing. So sometimes they are injured and then expire in the woods. Pretty sad.

 

[Coyote machine]

Very sensitive issue here. Ai just don't know how to drive the 2 miles down the road to talk with them - it's a family grieving period. Call came in to the EMTs at 5:34, well after sundown. When Scott didn't come in at dark, his wife called their son (I believe he is 21 now) to Ho look. He found his dad under the tree. We haven't had it cold yet this year by our terms but that means high that day was in the mid teens, one of the coldest this season when we expect below zero highs. Working in the woods you are usually down to a flannel shirt at most, tee shirt common, at these temps. Even if just pinned, however, a body can't take much at our temps, especially if you're soaked with sweat.

Obituary | Scott Thomas | MLAKER FUNERAL HOME

Whether you go to their home or to a service held for your friend, either way they are in ten times more pain and confusion than you may be, and will greatly appreciate your presence. Remembrance of people who die tragically is more about what they meant to those who survived than anything else.

Re: 'barberchairing' trees, the tree shown in the video was leaning away from where the cutter wanted it to fall. When he did the backcut the tree was forced to fall forward UNTIL the upper portion overcame forward momentum, At that point, probably because of a poor face cut and improper accounting for the backward lean the weight shifted and the tree split at the pivot point, causing the barberchair effect.

Even with correct technique a tree can be dangerous due to things like a sudden gust of wind, unforeseen rot in the tree, etc.

Husqvarna has an excellent series of videos by a pro trainer who covers all the hazards in great detail. I highly recommend anyone working with trees/saws watch it and take notes for reference. I know it refreshed my memory and taught me some things I didn't know.

This thread may be beneficial in saving someone's life, or many lives, hopefully. If that turns out to be true then some good will have come from the loss of your friend, MHarryE. One can hope for the best going forward.