Section 2 Forest Technologies

Chapter 3 Safety in the Forest

Chapter Highlights Clothing and gear for forest safety Effects of noise intensity and duration Importance of high-quality tools and equipment Training for safety; safe work habits Chain saw safety practices Safety during harvest, transporting, and processing of timber

Forestry Work: Hazardous Careers Many occupations related to forestry are hazardous Safe working conditions require: Training Good equipment Safety mind-set

Forest Safety: First Step Proper forest clothing and gear Includes boots, safety glasses, hard hats, leather gloves, long-sleeved work shirts, chaps, durable work pants Improper clothing present hazards Gear protects workers from falling debris, misdirected cutting tools, and crushing by heavy objects

Protective Gear for Forest Workers Steel-reinforced boots: Protect feet and toes from accidental cuts when cutting tool is misdirected Combine with chainsaw chaps for best protection Protection from crushing Provide stable footing

Protective Gear for Forest Workers (Continued) Hard hat: Protection from falling limbs, debris Safety glasses: Protection from flying particles Protective earplugs or earmuffs: Protection from sustained loud sounds

Hearing Loss Risks Many machines used in the forest are extremely noisy Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established a 90dB-noise level as maximum safe limit for eight hour work period Measure of intensity is decibel (dB)

Duration of Time Permitted at Various Sound Levels

Factors That Cause Hearing Loss The combination of high decibel levels and sustained noise duration can lead to hearing damage Noise intensity: The amount of energy that is in the sound waves of a noise source Noise duration: The length of time that a person is exposed to a sound

Properly Maintained Equipment/Machinery Loss of control over tools and equipment causes accidents Poor quality or poorly maintained tools require extra effort Worker tires and must compensate for short-comings of tool Heavy-duty and high-quality machines hold up Safety is improved when machines operate properly

Forest-Related Safety Training Training is the most important for safety Operation of machinery and equipment Millwork (wood and paper production) Firefighting Emergency procedures for injured workers Protection from harsh weather, chemical applications and water safety

Safe Work Habits, Safety Awareness Identify potential hazards Think through plan of action for risky situations Position self appropriately for potentially hazardous work settings Stay out of direct line of moving parts that may throw projectiles

Safe Work Habits, Safety Awareness (Continued) Keep hands and body parts away from moving parts (gears, chains) capable of moving heavy logs

Chain Saw Safety Chain saw: one of the most important tools of the forest industry Most dangerous part: evenly spaced cutting teeth on moving chain Take precaution to avoid direct contact If chain contacts soil or rocks, it can throw debris

Chain Saw Safety (Continued) Exhaust muffler can inflict serious burns Wear protective clothing Spark from exhaust can cause fire Keep shovel and fire extinguisher at hand

Safe Harvest Practices First saw cut: triangular notch at base of tree On side where logger wants tree to fall One-third of the way through tree Second cut: 2 to 3 in. above first notch, on opposite side Logger should have retreat routes in mind Should consider wind direction and tendency of tree to lean

Felling a Tree

Safe Transport Operations Several kinds of heavy equipment are used to transport logs to landing or mill Should carry loads with booms only partially extended to avoid tipping over and related accidents

Safe Transport Operations (Continued) Log-handling equipment should be equipped with safety cabs and roll bars Use of helicopter or other aircraft requires strict attention to safety practices Workers in area must attend to their own safety; operator of heavy equipment may not see or hear them

Truck Transportation Safety Tractor-trailer rigs haul large loads of logs or chips to mill or plant Loads are heavy; grades are often steep; roads narrow: drive cautiously to avoid tipping Brake failures account for many accidents: keep truck in gear, engage clutch, reduce engine speed

Truck Transportation Safety (Continued) High speed with heavy load is risky: slow down Shift of load presents hazard: secure loads with chains

Safe Processing Practices Rigid safety rules are developed for modern mills, where workers could be crushed or entangled in machinery Power switches at various locations are essential when an injury has occurred or emergency repairs are needed Workers must develop safety mind-set by considering possible consequences of every action