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16
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Felling trees
Hazardous conditions
Do not fell trees during periods of high wind or heavy precipitation. Wait until the hazardous weather has
ended.
When felling a tree, it is important that you heed the following warnings to prevent possible serious injury.
• Do not cut down trees having an extreme lean or large trees with rotten limbs, loose bark, or
hollow trunks. Have these trees pushed or dragged down with heavy equipment, then cut them up.
• Do not cut trees near electrical wires or buildings.
• Check the tree for damaged or dead branches that could fall and hit you during felling.
• Periodically glance at the top of the tree during the backcut to assure the tree is going to fall in the
desired direction.
• If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction, or if the saw gets caught or hung up during the fall,
leave the saw and save yourself.
WARNING
Proper procedure for tree felling
• Felling a tree — When bucking and felling operations
are being performed by two or more persons at the
same time, the felling operation should be separated
from the bucking operation by a distance of at least
twice the height of the tree being felled. Trees should
not be felled in a manner that would endanger any
person, strike any utility line or cause any property
damage. If the tree does make contact with any utility
line, the utility company should be notified
immediately.
• Operator should keep on the uphill side of terrain as
the tree is likely to roll or slide after it is felled.
• Pick your escape route (or routes in case the intended
route is blocked). Clear the immediate area around the
tree and make sure there are no obstructions in your
planned path of retreat. Clear the path of safe retreat
approximately 135° from the planned line of fall.
Removing buttress roots
A buttress root is a large root extending from the trunk of
the tree above the ground. Remove large buttress roots
prior to felling. Make the horizontal cut into the buttress
first, followed by the vertical cut. Remove the resulting
loose section from the work area. Follow the correct tree
felling procedure as stated in Proper Procedure For Tree
Felling after you have removed the large buttress roots.
Vertical Cut
Loose
section
Horizontal
Cut
PLANNED LINE
OF FALL
Planned
Line of
fall
Path of
safe
retreat
135°
135°
45°
45°
90°
90°
135° FROM
PLANNED
LINE
OF FALL
PATH OF
SAFE
RETREAT
