English
4.2
Preparing for felling
Check that there are no other persons in the fell‐
ing area – other than helpers.
Make sure no-one is endangered by the falling
tree – the noise of your engine may drown any
warning calls.
1
Maintain a distance of at least 2 1/2 tree lengths
from the next felling site.
Determining direction of fall and escape path
Select gap in stand into which you want the tree
to fall.
Pay special attention to the following points:
– The natural inclination of the tree
– Unusually heavy limb structure, asymmetrical
growth, damage to tree
– The wind direction and speed – do not fell in
high winds
– Direction of slope
– Neighboring trees
– Snow load
– Take the general condition of the tree into
account – be especially careful with trunk
damage or deadwood (brittle, rotten or dead
wood)
A Direction of fall
B Escape path (escape routes)
– Establish escape paths for each worker –
approx. 45° diagonally opposite to the direc‐
tion of fall
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1
1 2
/
2 /
1 2
– Clear escape paths, eliminate obstacles
– Put down tools and equipment at a safe dis‐
tance – but not on the escape paths
– When felling, stand only to the side of the fall‐
ing trunk and only move back laterally onto the
escape path
– Plan escape paths on slopes parallel to the
slope
– When walking away along the escape path,
watch out for falling limbs and watch the top of
the tree.
Preparing work area at base of tree
– First clear the tree base and work area from
interfering limbs and brush to provide a secure
footing.
– Carefully clear the base of the trunk (e.g., with
an axe) – sand, stones and other foreign
objects will blunt the saw chain
– Remove largest buttresses: first the largest
buttress – saw first vertically, then horizontally
– only if the tree is in sound condition
4.3
Felling notch
Preparing the felling notch
C
The felling notch (C) determines the direction of
fall.
Important:
– Make a felling notch at right angle to direction
of fall
– Saw as close to the ground as possible
– Cut to a depth of approx. 1/5 to 1/3 of the
diameter of the trunk
4 Working Techniques
C
0458-562-8721-B