- Location
- Lexington, KY- USA
For some reason my dad thinks what I do for a living is dangerous. He works for the timberlands division of a paper company and they have weekly safety meetings. This is one of the incidents they reviewed that he forwarded on to me.
Southworth Timber Cutter Accident
Employee : Calvin Jordon
Conditions
June 14, 2005
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Dry and cool weather conditions
Topography < 10%
Saw timber stand with minimal underbrush
PPE Used
Hardhat with shield and hearing protection
Chainsaw chaps
Steel Toe leather boots (not chainsaw resistant)
Description of incident:
An experienced 53 year old timber cutter was working above a skid trail just below the top of a ridge approximately 150 yards from the log landing. He had felled a poplar saw timber tree and was in the process of limbing and topping when the accident occurred. The cutter decided to top the tree at a point where it tapered to a 10” top. The top was apparently under pressure because the cutter decided to buck it off by cutting from the bottom up. Part way through the cut, the saw kicked down and struck the cutters foot between the laces and the steel toe. The resulting injury was to the top of foot, severing a main artery. The cutter made his way part way back to the landing and was able to get the attention of the skidder operator, who signaled the rest of the crew for help. The crew immediately administered first aid by wrapping the foot and applying a tie down strap to maintain pressure. They also applied a tourniquet around his leg to slow the flow of blood to the foot. They called 911 and made arrangements to meet the local rescue squad about two miles away at a local convenience store. They transported the injured cutter to the convenience store where EMT’s administered aid and called for a life flight escort to Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The early prognoses is good. The cutter is expected to recover with full use of his foot, but will continue to experience numbness due to damage to the nerves and artery.
Further investigation of the incident revealed that the drags on the chain were filed well below the top of the cutting teeth, which probably contributed to more severe “kick”. This is an unsafe practice that is sometimes used to make the saw cut more aggressively. All safety features on the saw were in place and working properly, including the chain brake. The timber cutter had been trained in chainsaw safety. The training program teaches that if a person follows safety procedures, they can usually prevent most accidents, even if one mistake is made. Accidents most often occur when multable mistakes are made. In this case, we had several factors that could have contributed to the accident; 1) Lack of chain saw resistant foot wear, 2) Improperly filed saw chain, 3) Placement of foot in harms way, 4) tip of saw bar not extended completely through wood. This is a good reminder of what can happen when “little things” pile up.
Southworth Timber Cutter Accident
Employee : Calvin Jordon
Conditions
June 14, 2005
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Dry and cool weather conditions
Topography < 10%
Saw timber stand with minimal underbrush
PPE Used
Hardhat with shield and hearing protection
Chainsaw chaps
Steel Toe leather boots (not chainsaw resistant)
Description of incident:
An experienced 53 year old timber cutter was working above a skid trail just below the top of a ridge approximately 150 yards from the log landing. He had felled a poplar saw timber tree and was in the process of limbing and topping when the accident occurred. The cutter decided to top the tree at a point where it tapered to a 10” top. The top was apparently under pressure because the cutter decided to buck it off by cutting from the bottom up. Part way through the cut, the saw kicked down and struck the cutters foot between the laces and the steel toe. The resulting injury was to the top of foot, severing a main artery. The cutter made his way part way back to the landing and was able to get the attention of the skidder operator, who signaled the rest of the crew for help. The crew immediately administered first aid by wrapping the foot and applying a tie down strap to maintain pressure. They also applied a tourniquet around his leg to slow the flow of blood to the foot. They called 911 and made arrangements to meet the local rescue squad about two miles away at a local convenience store. They transported the injured cutter to the convenience store where EMT’s administered aid and called for a life flight escort to Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. The early prognoses is good. The cutter is expected to recover with full use of his foot, but will continue to experience numbness due to damage to the nerves and artery.
Further investigation of the incident revealed that the drags on the chain were filed well below the top of the cutting teeth, which probably contributed to more severe “kick”. This is an unsafe practice that is sometimes used to make the saw cut more aggressively. All safety features on the saw were in place and working properly, including the chain brake. The timber cutter had been trained in chainsaw safety. The training program teaches that if a person follows safety procedures, they can usually prevent most accidents, even if one mistake is made. Accidents most often occur when multable mistakes are made. In this case, we had several factors that could have contributed to the accident; 1) Lack of chain saw resistant foot wear, 2) Improperly filed saw chain, 3) Placement of foot in harms way, 4) tip of saw bar not extended completely through wood. This is a good reminder of what can happen when “little things” pile up.
