Idaho Administrative Code › Title IDAPA 24 - Occupational and Professional Licenses, Division of › Rule 24.39.80 - IDAHO MINIMUM SAFETY STANDARDS AND PRACTICES FOR LOGGING › Subchapter G - FALLING AND BUCKING › Section 24.39.80.301 - FALLING AND BUCKING

Current through August 31, 2023
01.
General
				Requirements
. (3-31-22)
a. There shall
				be an established method of checking-in workers from the woods. Each supervisor
				shall be responsible for their crew being accounted for at the end of each
				shift. (3-31-22)
b. Cutters not in
				sight of another employee shall have radio communications with crew members on
				that job site. (3-31-22)
c. Common
				sense and good judgment must govern the safety of cutters as effected by
				weather conditions. At no time shall they work if wind is strong enough to
				prevent the falling of trees in the desired direction, or when vision is
				impaired by weather conditions or darkness. (3-31-22)
d. All cutters shall have a current first aid
				certification. Employers shall provide an opportunity for cutters to take a
				standard first aid course. (3-31-22)
e. Tools of cutters such as axes, sledges,
				wedges, saws, etc., must be maintained in safe condition. Battered sledges, and
				wedges shall not be used. When power saws are used, wedges shall be made of
				soft material, such as wood or plastic. (3-31-22)
f. Cutters shall not be placed on hillsides
				immediately below each other or below other operations where there is possible
				danger. (3-31-22)
g. Trees shall
				not be felled if a falling tree endangers any worker, line, or any unit in
				operation. (3-31-22)
h. Before
				starting to fall or buck any tree or snag, the cutter must survey the area for
				possible hazards and proceed according to safe practices. Snags, which are
				unsafe to cut, shall be blown down with explosives, or felled by other methods.
				(3-31-22)
i. Dangerous or hazardous
				snags shall be felled prior to or in the course of cutting a strip. No danger
				tree shall be felled by one (1) cutter where and when the assistance of a
				fellow employee is necessary to minimize the danger or hazards involved. In the
				case that any danger tree or snag cannot be safely felled and must remain
				standing or unattended, such tree or snag shall be clearly identified and
				suitably marked, including all surrounding impact area, and the employee's
				supervisor shall be notified as soon as possible. (3-31-22)
j. In falling timber, adjacent brush and snow
				shall be cleared away from and around the tree to be felled to provide
				sufficient room to use saws and axes and provide an adequate escape path.
				(3-31-22)
k. Cutters shall not fall
				into another strip; leaners on the line shall be traded. Trees shall be felled
				into the open whenever conditions permit. (3-31-22)
l. Undercuts and side cuts shall be large
				enough to safely guide the trees and eliminate the possibility of splitting and
				barber chairing. Particular care shall be taken to hold enough wood to prevent
				the tree from prematurely slipping or twisting from the stump. Undercuts shall
				be cleaned out to the full depth of the saw cut. Especially large undercuts are
				necessary in heavy leaners. When required to safely fell a tree, mechanical or
				other means shall be employed to accomplish this objective. Pre-cutting of
				trees for the purpose of production logging is prohibited.
NOTE: Trees with no perceptible lean having an undercut to a
				  depth of one quarter (1/4) of the diameter of the tree with an undercut height
				  equal to one fifth (1/5) of the diameter of the tree will be assumed to be in
				  reasonable compliance with this rule. (3-31-22)
m. Back-cuts shall be above the level of the
				upper horizontal cut of the undercut. (3-31-22)
n. While wedging, fallers shall watch for
				limbs or other material which might be jarred loose. Cutting of holding wood in
				lieu of using wedges is prohibited. (3-31-22)
o. When falling or bucking a tree is
				completed the power saw motor should be stopped. The power saw motor shall be
				stopped while the operator is traveling to the next tree. (3-31-22)
p. Cutters shall not work on the downhill
				side of the log being bucked unless absolutely unavoidable and only when the
				log is blocked or otherwise secured to prevent rolling when cut is completed.
				(3-31-22)
q. Cutters must give
				timely warning to all persons within range of any log which may have a tendency
				to roll or slide after being cut off. (3-31-22)
r. Logs shall be completely bucked-through
				whenever possible. If it becomes hazardous to complete a cut, then the log
				shall be marked and identified by a predetermined method. Rigging crews shall
				be instructed to recognize such marks and when possible cutters shall warn
				rigging crew of locations where such unfinished cuts remain.
				(3-31-22)
s. A competent person
				properly experienced in this type of work shall be placed in charge of falling
				and bucking operations. Inexperienced workers shall not be allowed to fall
				timber or buck logs unless under the direction of experienced workers.
				(3-31-22)
t. Power saws shall be
				kept in good repair at all times. All exhaust parts on power chain saws shall
				be constructed and maintained so the operator is exposed to a minimum amount of
				fumes and noise. (3-31-22)
u.
				Combustion engine driven power saws shall be equipped with an automatic
				throttle which will return the motor to idling speed upon release of the
				throttle. (3-31-22)
v. Power saw
				motors shall be stopped while being fueled. (3-31-22)
w. All personnel shall wear approved head
				protection, proper clothing and footwear. (3-31-22)
x. Each employee who operates a chain saw
				shall wear leg protection, which meets the requirements of ASTM F 1897 and
				covers the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot on each leg, except
				when working as a climber. (3-31-22)