Working in logging and tree care is one of the most dangerous tasks, for which health and safety rules cover not one, but as many as four main risk categories. When developing company rules dedicated to all workers in the felling area, it is necessary to take into account not only the risk of falling from a height, but also of being hit by a falling branch, cuts when using hand and automatic saws, as well as hazards from traffic and for traffic taking place in the vicinity of the felling site. How do you take care of the various areas of logging work to ensure the highest level of safety for workers and bystanders?
The danger of falling branches - how to secure a tree felling site?
Tree cutting involves the inevitable risk of falling branches, which will pose a danger to both workers on the ground and those at height. Even small sticks can cause serious injuries by gaining speed as they fall, or by striking workers at an unfavorable angle. For this reason, a special danger zone should be designated around each felling zone, which should not be traversed when there is a risk of falling branches. Its extent should be two to three lengths of the longest felled branch and should be marked with posts, barriers or tape clearly demarcating access to the danger zone.
Workers should also be equipped with safety helmets to protect their heads from falling branches, or in the case of smaller trees, with specially reinforced caps that will act as an additional layer of insulation.
Protection against falls - rules for safe work at height
Falls are the cause of the largest number of fatal accidents, and their most common cause is invariably the lack of adequate protection for workers at height. Both properly prepared scaffolding and ladders, as well as all kinds of woodchucks, safety harnesses, shock-absorbing cables and fall protection kits are essential equipment for a logging site, because this is the only way to make sure that the risk of a fall will be minimal in the worst situation.
Tree climbers are specialized equipment that facilitate safe tree climbing without the need for ladders and scaffolding. Their use makes it possible to significantly increase the safety of workers operating in tree felling without unduly restricting their range of motion or creating additional fall hazards.
When working on a larger scale and with trees of considerable height, it is worth betting on safety features in the form of complete safety kits combining sturdy harnesses, rope and snap hooks to facilitate movement at height. When choosing harnesses for working at height, it is always worth making sure that the length of the rope is appropriate for the height at which the work will be carried out, and that the rope and harness itself are made of materials that will not be abraded when in contact with the rough bark of the tree.
All items of equipment for a worker at height should be regularly inspected for any damage and replaced as necessary. In addition, workers working on ladders should always be belayed by another worker or a rope hung securely, which even in a slipping situation on a ladder will protect the worker from falling from a great height.
Safety in tree felling and the rules for using power saws
The work of felling trees is not only a risk of falling from a height, but there is also a high risk associated with the use of various sharp tools during the suspension that allow pruning branches. Both power saws and hand saws are a considerable danger here, and when using them it will be necessary to use high-quality anti-shear gloves and protective goggles to protect the worker's eyes from branch splinters (in the case of more intensive work, full helmets of the "forester" type with a mask protecting the entire face are also used).
Visibility of the worker in tree felling and work safety
The final category of hazards occurring during tree felling work are all kinds of dangers associated with the movement of vehicles collecting felled branches and traffic in the area where tree felling is in progress. At any even the smallest extent of felling work, it will therefore be necessary to carefully demarcate an exclusion zone from vehicle traffic and equip workers with reflective clothing so that they can be seen both while on the ground and while moving between tree branches.
Safe work in tree felling is possible as much as possible, but those involved in organizing this type of work site should always thoroughly familiarize their employees with applicable health and safety regulations and how to protect themselves from accidents. Mandatory protective and warning clothing, as well as accessories such as helmets, goggles and protective gloves are important here, both for workers moving through the tree and those assisting with the felling below. At Gabi Health and Safety Store, we offer a full range of accessories and clothing from top brands to guarantee safe work in all conditions.
