Factors involved in getting hurt in the Log Woods

[Black_Bear]

Nate,

I've had the luxury of making a living via logging and surveying. Although surveying has its minor pitfalls (especially when snakes are involved), unless you are radially locating 2 miles of 4-lane highway, I'm sure that by now you have realized that surveying is generally much safer than logging. It's such a rush when the tree hits the ground though, isn't it? 

In my experience, on a day to day basis,  it isn't the big trunk of the tree or the weight of the tree that gets you. It is the falling debris that will usually stone ya. I mean the top of the tree and the upper branches, which break off during the felling of the tree. I'm not sure how the hard pines are as far as limb and top breakage goes, but when cutting northern hardwood or softwood you want to be looking up and alert when a tree is falling. Generally you have an idea as to how and where the tree is going to land, but while the tree is falling, tops and/or branches may get broken off of the main stem and become falling missiles.

Many green cutters I have witnessed tend to watch the tree hit the ground instead of looking up. For 8 years I worked with a crew of at least 10 guys and we lived through rolled skidders and rough, steep terrain. During that same time, only 5 injury incidents occurred that involved stitches or staples and 4 of them were a result of falling debris. The other was a chainsaw cut that required stitches. Don't get me wrong, accidents happen and trees and machinery kill people while logging, but it is the often the random falling branch or broken top that will ruin your day.

I saw one hard helmet explode and the guy receive 20 some-odd staples in the pumpkin. Another guy, the 4" diameter branch caught him on the left ear muff and just about tore his ear off. The other two were minor brainers that required minimum stitches. You say your m.o. is to "think out stuff". That's not a bad thing when cutting trees.

I've also noticed your posts on the RPLS board. It sounds as though you have a nice family oriented business and you're doing something you love to do. Does it get any better?

Ed

[Nate Surveyor]

No, Black Bear, it really doesn't get any better!

I guess you could say that Surveying is my main source of $, but I had to make a choice:

Go into debt, buy a big house, and stay in Surveyorville, away from the family, or buy the mill, and build it together. That is the way we are going.

Today was our tenth wedding anniversary. We went to the river, and made a little fire, ate hot dogs and boiled eggs in a gallon can, and had a good time.

Absolutely the prettiest day yet this year!


God has really been good to us.

Nate

[Kevin]

Nice to see those trees being cut close to the ground Nate.

[thecfarm]

I thought I posted this once,but I guess I lost it.Like that picture of your son? holding the chainsaw.
I suppose you are using Xat.com for your pictures?Only way I know how to do it.

[DouginUtah]

I have a bear of a time cropping, and downsizing my pics. Is there some software that does this any faster?

Nate

I use Picasa2 from Google.

[Nate Surveyor]

Big Help is my son. 8 yrs old.

He drives the truck for me when I haul hay, he runs the Polaris 800 all over, and catches up to me, when I survey too far away. He has a 4 wheeler, and knows how to tip it over!

His given name is Isaiah Jason Dearyan.

But, he started working with me when he was 3-1/2. And I called him "Big Help" because he so loved it.

Nate

[Maineloggerkid]

I'll agree that logging is dangerous work. I'm only 17, but  I ve already seen my share of scary stuff. My freind almost died last fall. He cut himself from his ankle to his knee, all the way to the bone. He almost bled out and when they got him to the hospital, the cut was so big you could stick a kleenex box in it. THe guy that works for me part time cu t himself and needed 34 stitches once. I am inmy last 4 months of a 2 year CLP (Game Of Logging type thing) course at my highschool, and I cut wood on the side. I have about 30+ years in the logging business ahead of me and I look forward to it every day.

Its good to hear more people talk about the saftey side of things. All people at my school talk about is how easy it must be.

[Nate Surveyor]

Around here, the locals have a logging educational course.

Log too slow, you go broke.

Log too fast, you get hurt.

Log just right, and you might have to finance the wife's tupperware party!

Anyway, not much going for GOL down here.



N

[OneWithWood]

Nate, chck with the Arkansas hardwood association or loggers association if you have one.
A fellow named Joe Glenn trained me in the Indiana Cutter Training courses.  Joe is from and logs in Arkansas somewhere.  If you can find him he is a great guy and the real deal.

[Nate Surveyor]

Is this the real deal?

N

http://www.in-woods-expo.com/PR/1January2007-PR.html

[rebocardo]

>  but while the tree is falling, tops and/or branches may get broken off
>  of the main stem and become falling missiles.

Very rarely do I get to see my work, I am usually heading the other way to hide behind something big once I hear the crack or see the kerf open :D

One thing that has always amazed me is once the kerf opens, even if it takes a few minutes of waiting, the tree will eventually fall of its own accord and gravity will suck it down. I have literally waited five minutes for a tree to fall before the hinge starts breaking, it can feel like an hour  :D