Planned Line Of Fall, Safe Retreat Zone, Back Cut

OPERATION

WARNING:

Periodically glance at the top of the tree during the backcut to assure the tree is going to fall in the desired direction.

WARNING:

If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction, or if the saw gets caught or hung up during the fall, leave the saw and save yourself!

■Felling a tree - When bucking and felling operations are being performed by two or more persons, at the same time, the felling operation should be sepa- rated from the bucking operation by a distance of at least twice the height of the tree being felled. Trees should not be felled in a manner that would endanger any person, strike any utility line or cause any property damage. If the tree does make contact with any utility line, the utility company should be notified immediately.

■Before any cuts are started, pick your escape route (or routes in case the intended route is blocked); clear the immediate area around the tree and make sure there are no obstructions in your planned path of retreat. Clear path of safe retreat approximately 135° from planned line of fall. The retreat path should extend back and diagonally to the rear of the expected line of fall. See Figure 14.

■Before felling is started consider the force and direction of the wind, the lean and balance of the tree, and the location of large limbs. These things influence the direction in which the tree will fall. Do not try to fell a tree along a line different from its natural line of fall.

■The chain saw operator should keep on the uphill side of the terrain as the tree is likely to roll or slide downhill after it is felled.

■Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from the tree where felling cuts are to be made.

■Notched Undercut. Cut a notch about 1/3 the diameter of the tree, perpendicular to the direction of fall. Make the cuts of the notch so they intersect at a right angle to the line of fall. This notch should be cleaned out to leave a straight line. To keep the weight of the wood off the saw, always make the lower cut of the notch before the upper cut. See Figure 15.