TREE BOUNCES BACK TOWARD FELLER

June 2003
03-S-12

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BACKGROUND: A woods worker was felling timber in the South on a warm, sunny day. The trees were mostly long, thin, small diameter sweet gums.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The saw hand was 48 years old with many years of experience in manual felling operations. He had been trained in proper manual felling techniques and was wearing all of the proper safety equipment. He had been injured twice before during the past decade.

UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION: The saw hand was unaware of a clay bank in the direction of the falling tree. When the tree hit the clay bank, the tree was propelled back toward the sawhand.

ACCIDENT: The tree struck the saw hand in the chest, driving him to the ground.

INJURY: The saw hand received several broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and chipped vertebrae.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Before felling begins, OSHA requires fellers to check conditions such as, but not limited to, wind direction and strength, the lean of the tree, dead limbs, and the location of other trees, so that a hazard is not created for an employee. A steep bank in the direction of fall should be avoided.
• Identify and clear two escape routes, each leading backwards away from the intended direction of fall at an angle of 45 degrees.
• While retreating from the falling tree, keep taking quick glances at its crown until the tree is safely on the ground.

Forest Resources Association Inc.
600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 350, Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: (301) 838-9385     Fax: (301) 838-9481