Safety first and foremost

[Ducke]

There was a story on the News today About a tragic accident up here yesterday. I guess some guy was clearing a lot,cutting down trees one kicked back at him and hit him in the chest, Killed him........................................... I started thinking about it and you know anyone can go out and buy a chainsaw. Take it home pull it out of the box put some fuel in it and start cutting wood. Shouldn't there be some sort of training just like going to drivers ed ?? A car is less dangerous then most power equipment but any Joe off the street can buy and operate this stuff.

[Ducke]

Lawn care business tips

I just got this off the Nova Scotia Press page. GREEN OAKS, N.S. - RCMP say a 57-year-old Nova Scotia man is dead after he was hit by a falling tree. Police in Colchester County says the man was cutting down the tree when it kicked back and struck him in the chest. Police say they were called to a wooded area on Riverside Road in Green Oaks around 11 a.m. The victim died at the scene. The man's name has not been released. Police say the investigation has been turned over to the provincial Department of Labour's occupational health and safety division.

[ringahding1]

FACT**I've been to jobs where I thank God they called me. Certain personalities just need to stick to what they know. I will be the first to admit, I have no business trying to fix a leak under the sink...lol

[CHEESE2009]

SHHH!!! The reality of this world scares me.

I'm paranoid enough as it is. lololol

[stevef1201]

Cheese- just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean the government isn’t out to get you

[Steve]

What causes that? Is that error in the way the tree is cut before it falls or is it error in where the cutter is standing as the tree falls?

[Ducke]

Originally Posted by Steve

What causes that? Is that error in the way the tree is cut before it falls or is it error in where the cutter is standing as the tree falls?

with out being there it could have been anything or all the above.
Could have been branches got caught and made the trunk raise up and kick back.
Could have been the tree fell the wrong way hit something causing it to kick out.
could have been a downed tree that he was cutting to length that he miss read how it was laying.
There are so many ways that it could have happened. Chainsaw are dangerous enough the trees are just as bad if not worse.
Sometimes you can follow all the rules and be the safest worker in the world and it just happens,

[TiedemanLLC]

I actually hate using a chainsaw. That is why when I have to cut down a tree for a client I charge top dollar. Same with when I remove snow from a roof.

[dpld]

Originally Posted by Steve

What causes that? Is that error in the way the tree is cut before it falls or is it error in where the cutter is standing as the tree falls?

if the bottom came up and hit him in the chest then the term to what happened would be the tree " barber chaired " . the tree probably had a slight to heavy lean and he did not have a deep enough "felling knotch" or as we call it the "box cut" or he did not have a knotch at all.

it also could happen if he had a rope in the tree and hooked it up to a machine or truck and pre-loaded too much tension on it, and as soon as he got a couple inche's in BAM it's in his chest before he even blinked a eye.

it is the most common injury and cause of death in felling tree's next to the "widow maker" which would be the top getting snagged and snapping off and coming opposite of the tree's path and usually where the man who cut the tree is standing.

and the sadest part is better felling techniques and proper cuts would have prevented it.

what a shame.

[Hedgemaster]

Sometimes it's a tragic accident and sometimes it's just "thinning the herd".


If training is available it would be advisable to seek it out, however, the thought of "mandatory" training rubs me the wrong way.