Accident and reminder to stay safe!!

[beenthere]

Wow!!  You sure do keep the underside clean for pics.

Was the FEL up that high when it went over? Not that it made any difference.

Glad you had time to get off and not be under. Makes one wonder if one should really be wearing that seatbelt or not. I don't, but maybe should.

[treeslayer2003]

I am sorry to hear that.   I have a rule when i go falling: never go alone!

Always nice to have someone close by.
However, getting someone to stand around and watch while doing the felling doesn't work out very often, so do most cutting alone.

What do others do?  Only cut when someone is there to watch you?
What do you have them do to keep warm?
Now 73 was a few years ago, and hope to still be cutting a few more years.

i don't want any one within two tree length of me while falling. i am alone most of the time unless dad has no load to haul, then he is on the landing.

[Maine logger88]

Glenn I'm sorry for your loss thoughts and prayer be with you and family.

[cutterboy]

This thread has helped me make up my mind. In my woods there is a dead cherry tree....really, two trees that are joined together and separate about eight feet up. After they separate they head in different directions. I'd like to salvage any good lumber that could be got from those trees but I haven't been able to decide if it is too dangerous or not to fell it. Now after reading this thread I think it would be foolish to take a chance with it so I'll just leave it for the woodpeckers.

Glen, I'm so sorry about your uncle. My heart goes out to your aunt and the whole family.

Cuddle, I'm glad you are still around to tell us about your accident. A while ago I was hit by a falling branch that fell from a different tree than the one I had just cut down. It does happen fast. No broken bones, just a very sore wrist.

   Cutter

[WV Sawmiller]

Cud,

   Thx for the reminder. I just got a new mill and am enjoying it but I cut 2 large poplars today and realize cutting big trees scares me every time. One of these I cut through and it just sat on the stump. My notch perfectly balanced the weight pushing the other way. I went back to the barn and got wedges and when I got a large wedge under it went right where I wanted. I should have had the wedges with me all the time. I will be more diligent about wearing my hard hat in the future after reading this. I am cutting on steep hillsides and everything about cutting trees scares me. I guess all you can do is be aware and take all reasonable precautions.

Glen,

   I am truly sorry for your loss and hope your family can concentrate on the good times you had with your uncle rather than his loss.

[WDH]

I, too, have been hit in the head and shoulder by a falling limb.  The hard hat saved my life, too.

I see pictures and videos of people running a chainsaw with shorts on, no shoes, no safety glasses, no hard hat, etc.  Rank amateurs. 

[Ianab]

All the safety gear and precautions can't give you a 100% guarantee that you wont be hurt.

But they do increase your chances.

OP had a hard hat, and wasn't working alone. Both are sensible precautions, and both helped in this case.

The other person need not be standing and watching, they could be driving a skidder. or bucking firewood 50 yards away. But they are nearby, and should be watching / listening (and you for them)  If they don't hear a saw for a few minutes, they should wander over and check you are OK. What you don't want is to be laying there bleeding, and not be found until you don't come home for dinner.

[clww]

Glenn-Very sorry to read of your uncle's passing. My condolences to the family.

CBF-That reminds me of the limb that got me in the woods years ago. I wasn't as fortunate.