English – 25
WORKING TECHNIQUES
Tree felling technique
Safe distance
The safe distance between a tree that is to be felled and
anyone else working nearby is at least 2 1/2 tree lengths.
Make sure that no-one else is in this ”risk zone” before or
during felling.
Felling direction
The aim is to fell the tree in a position where you can limb and
cross-cut the log as easily as possible. You want it to fall in a
location where you can stand and move about safely.
Once you have decided which way you want the tree to fall
you must judge which way the tree would fall naturally.
Several factors affect this:
• Lean of the tree
• Bend
• Wind direction
• Arrangement of branches
• Weight of snow
• Obstacles within the reach of the tree: for example, other
trees, power lines, roads and buildings.
• Look for signs of damage and rot in the stem, this makes
it more probably that the tree will break and start to fall
before you expect it to.
You may find you are forced to let the tree fall in its natural
direction because it is impossible or dangerous to try to make
it fall in the direction you first intended.
Another very important factor, which does not affect the felling
direction but does affect your safety, is to make sure the tree
has no damaged or dead branches that might break off and
hit you during felling.
The main point to avoid is letting the tree fall onto another tree.
It is very dangerous to remove a trapped tree and there is high
accident risk. See instructions under the heading Freeing a
tree that has fallen badly.
Clearing the trunk and preparing your retreat
Delimb the stem up to shoulder height. It is safer to work from
the top down and to have the tree between you and the saw.
Remove any undergrowth from the base of the tree and check
the area for obstacles (stones, branches, holes, etc.) so that
you have a clear path of retreat when the tree starts to fall.
Your path of retreat should be roughly 135 degrees away from
the intended felling direction.
IMPORTANT! It takes a lot of experience to fell a tree.
Inexperienced users of chain saws should not fell trees. Do
not attempt any task beyond your experience level!
IMPORTANT! During critical felling operations, hearing
protectors should be lifted immediately when sawing is
completed so that sounds and warning signals can be
heard.
Retreat path
Retreat path
Danger zone
Danger zone Danger zone
Felling direction