Tree Felling Hazards and Precautions

Tree Felling is a necessary practice that is used for various reasons such as clearing land for development, harvesting timber, or removing trees that pose a risk to public safety. Although it may seem like an easy task, it requires a lot of skill and expertise in order to ensure that the task is completed safely. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most common hazards associated with tree felling as well as some precautionary measures that can be taken to avoid them.

One of the most serious hazards is a tree or limb that falls on or around a faller. This can be caused by a number of factors including loose or dead branches, intertwined vines that connect the crowns of two trees, and poor structure. In many cases, these issues can be avoided by examining the area where a tree is to be felled before beginning work and making sure that no power lines or other structures are in close proximity to the location of the fallen tree. In addition, it is important to make sure that the tree faller has an adequate escape route in case the tree should become unstable or fail during the felling process.

Another major hazard that can cause injury is wind-thrown or pushed trees. These types of trees can rebound and strike the faller, causing severe injury or even death. Whenever possible, directional felling should be used to reduce the likelihood of these hazards occurring. When this is not feasible, it is important to identify the likely direction of a tree’s fall and mark any areas of potential wind-throw or steep terrain on the felling site map before starting work.

In addition, if the direction of a felling relates to existing canopy gaps, it is important to consider the effect that a falling tree might have on these gaps. If a gap is too narrow to allow for safe extraction of the fallen tree, then it may be necessary to use a back cut or scarf to widen the opening.

An additional hazard is when a tree that has been successfully felled hits an obstacle, such as a rock or other terrain feature. This can occur when the directional felling techniques mentioned above are not employed or when the timber is too large for harvesting machinery. In these situations, the faller should assess the risks and determine a different plan of action such as utilizing a tree drive or cutting the stump below ground level.

In some cases, a fallen tree can also rebound and strike a worker standing nearby. This can be a major safety hazard if the tree strikes the feller in the head or neck, or if the tree is too close to the escape route. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that all aspects of a forestry operation are properly assessed and managed. This includes identifying hazards, developing a training record system and hazard register, and ensuring that the tree feller is fully aware of these processes.

from Treby Tree Services https://trebytreeservices.wordpress.com/2025/02/17/tree-felling-hazards-and-precautions/