Tree Falling Workshop

G

Graeme McMahon

Participating member
Location
Cockatoo
The workshop focus was to hone the skills of qualified and experienced tree fallers in arboriculture and forest industries. Content included; legal framework for workplace safety, practical OH&S manuals, identify (hazards, lean of a tree, lay of the forest and where to start), the danger zones, 4 methods of felling a tree, correct wedging, “reading” stumps to alter (hinge, step height, scarf opening and depth), practice alternative methods of scarfing, escape route placement, fatigue management/ saving energy, additional hazards of fire killed trees, dealing with production pressure, how to be an effective trainer/ mentor and more.
 
Thanks for sharing this Graeme. The folks who participated in this workshop were very fortunate to have you there to share your deep knowledge, experience and expertise on the subject.

This industry seems to get caught up in all the latest & greatest shiny new gear/equipment and nonsensical safety protocols, while forgetting what I feel is the single most important part of our job. Knowing how to cut. Felling workshops should be mandatory in this industry, with exponentially more time spent on this aspect of our job. I have no doubt that property and lives would be saved.
 
Funny but I was on a job the other day topping and dropping some Firs when I noticed a gawd awful looking old Fir stump. I started looking around and saw clear evidence that the feller had lost this tree sideways, center punched a 4 ft Redwood, causing a 75ft-90ft top in about 30 " of wood to be torn out of the Red. At lunch I ask the HO if he knew who was responsible for this stump, and the outcome of the fuckup. He were amazed that I put it together and informed me that the top of the Redwood brushed the roof of their cabin and luckily did only minor damage to the structure . He also informed me that the feller was none other than the very same mudda rasshole skunt (thanks Swingdude) who I recently described in a discussion on the proper operation of a tagline. Life's funny that way, ain't it?
 
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What's the origin of the Sherbrooke name Graeme?

A river, mountain range, or person?

Thanks for posting such great vids.

Jemco
 
Serf Life said:
That must have been a stellar workshop! Why the relatively tall (3"?) back cuts? Compromised hinge wood consideration? Thanks @Graeme McMahon for sharing.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure which pic you refer to however if we were to agree on a 10% rule for a "step", 3" would not be tall for a 30" diameter tree. It does reduce pulled wood. Pulled wood is an indicator of other important issues in our split prone trees.

regards
 
Its nice to have a guy around besides the climber who can put the nail in the coffin for ya when u hit the ground.
 
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