SITUATIONAL AWARENESS-INDIVIDUAL COMPLEXITY

**THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE DETERMINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL
SAWYER.** This is based on his/her individual skill, knowledge and
understanding of personal capabilities and limitations. The final
decision to cut any tree is left up to the individual sawyer; therefore,
giving her/him the choice to say "NO' and walk away from any sawing
situation they have determined to be beyond their capabilities.

If a thorough job assessing the complexity of the individual situation
has been completed, the decision to cut or not to cut will be determined
by the GO-NO-GO process. Straight forward-"I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE
SAWING SITUATION, I WILL CUT IT" or "I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE
SITUATION, I WILL WALK AWAY FROM IT". **Do not base your decision on "I
THINK I CAN DO IT".**

# PERSONAL SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS AND ATTITUDE

-   HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS SAWING ASSIGNMENT?

-   ARE YOU EXERCISING SOUND JUDGEMENT AND AWARENESS?

-   IS YOUR ATTITUDE CONVINCING YOU TO GO AGAINST YOUR BETTER JUDGEMENT
    (GUT FEELING)?

-   IS YOUR MIND ON YOUR WORK?

-   DO YOU HAVE SELF CONFIDENCE?

-   ARE OVER CONFIDENT?

-   ARE YOU DOING THIS AGAINST YOUR WILL?

-   IS PEER PRESSURE A FACTOR?

-   ARE YOU PROFESSIONLA ENOUGH TO DECLINE THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASK FOR
    ASSISTANCE?

-   DO YOU HAVE ALL THE REQUIRED PPE AND SAWING EQUIPMENT TO DO THE JOB?

-   ARE YOU COMPLACENT?

## PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS

-   GENERAL HEALTH

-   PHYSICAL CONDITIONING

-   ON MEDICATION OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE?

-   FATIQUE (can affect good judgment)

-   TIME OF DAY

-   WORK REST CYCLES (Adequate rest)

# FELLING

***Analyze the felling job by considering:***

*:*

-   SPECIES; LIVE OR DEAD

-   SIZE AND LENGTH

-   SOUNDNESS / DEFECTS

-   TWIN TOPS OR SCHOOL MARM

-   WIDOW MAKERS AND HANG UPS

-   HEAVY BRANCHES / WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION

-   BURNING TOP

-   SPIKE TOP

-   SPLITS AND FROST CRACKS

-   DEFORMITIES SUCH AS MISTLETOE

-   DAMAGE BY LIGHTING OR FIRE

### ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

-   LIGHT CONDITIONS

-   RAIN

-   FOG

-   SNOW

-   SMOKE

-   DUST

-   WIND DIRECTION AND SPEED

-   INSECT DAMAGE

-   HEAT

-   COLD

-   OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT YOUR DECISSION OR THE ACTUAL OPERATION

-   HEAVY SNOW LOADING

-   BARK SOUNDNESS OR SLIPPAGE

-   DIRECTION OF LEAN

-   DEGREE OF LEAN-SLIGHT OR HEAVY

-   HEAD LEAN OR SIDE LEAN

-   NESTING AND/ OR FEEDING HOLES

-   RUSTY (*DISCOLORED*) KNOTS

-   PUNKY (*SWOLLEN & SUNKEN*) KNOTS

-   FROZEN WOOD

-   FOOTING

**FELLING** (Continued)

***Observe the Base of the Tree for:***

-   "THUD" SOUNDING

-   CONKS & MUSHROOMS

-   ROT & CANKERS

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-   SHELF FUNGI OR "BRACKET"

-   WOUNDS / SCARS

-   SPLIT TRUNK

-   INSECT ACTIVITY

-   FEEDING HOLES

-   BARK SOUNDNESS

-   RESIN FLOW ON BARK

-   UNSTABLE ROOT SYSTEM/ ROOT PROTRUSIONS

#### **Examine Immediate Work Area for:**

-   PEOPLE, ROADS AND OR VEHICLES

-   POWERLINES

-   DRIVER TREES

-   HANG-UPS

-   CONSIDER REACTION OF OTHER TREES

-   OTHER TREES THAT MAY HAVE TO FELLED FIRST

-   NEARBY HAZARDS SUCH AS TREES, ROCKS, BRUSH, LOW HANGING LIMBS

***Examine Surrounding Terrain for:***

-   STEEPNESS OF GROUND

-   IRREGULARITIES IN THE GROUND

-   DRAWS AND RIDGES

-   ROCKS

-   STUMPS

-   LOOSE LOGS

-   GROUND DEBRIS THAT CAN "FLY" BACK OR KICK UP AT THE SAWYER

-   STRUCTURES

-   OPENINGS TO FALL TREES TO

-   SNAGS

-   FIRE WEAKENED TREES

-   WIDOW MAKERS

## ESCAPE ROUTES / SAFE ZONES

> Walk out and thoroughly check the intended lay or bed of the tree.
> Look for dead treetops, snags and widow makers that may cause
> kickbacks or result in another tree or limb becoming a hazard. The
> escape route and alternates must be a predetermined path along which
> the cutter proceeds once the tree is committed to the fall or to the
> bucking cut. Safe zones should be no less than 20 feet from the stump,
> preferably stand behind another tree (sound and of sufficient size to
> give protection) watching for whiplash, broken tree parts etc. Escape
> routes and safe zones should be 90-135 degrees from the direction of
> fall. Sawyers must select and prepare the work area, clear escape
> routes and alternates before starting the first cut.

## 

### BUCKING

-   NEVER BUCK A TREE THAT IS CONSIDERED UNUSUALY DANGEROUS

-   CONSIDER OVERHEAD HAZARDS

-   IS GUIDE BAR LENGTH ADEQUATE FOR THE TREE TO BE BUCKED

-   ESTABLISH GOOD FOOTING, SWAMP OUT BUCKING AREAS AND ESCAPE ROUTE

-   SELECT BUCKING CUT CAREFULLY

-   ANTICIPATE LOGS REACTION WHEN SEVERED

***Examine the Log and Immediate Area for**:*

-   PERCENT OF SLOPE / INCLINE

-   ROLLING

-   SLIDING

-   BIND

-   TENSION

-   COMPRESSION

-   ROCKS & FOREIGN OBJECTS ON LOG

-   PEOPLE AND PROPERTY IN CUTTING ZONE

-   SPRING POLES

-   FIRE

-   ROOT WADS

-   OVERHEAD HAZARDS

-   ROCKS OR OTHER ITEMS THE TREE MAY DISLODGE

###