Felling is the process of removing a tree, often non-native species, to retain woodland character and manage the size and spread of a forest. This may be done either to protect the rest of the trees in a site, for aesthetic reasons, or as an alternative to traditional chopping and logging.
It is important to note that tree felling is extremely dangerous and should only be carried out by experienced, suitably trained and qualified personnel. If you are not a professional tree feller and do not have experience in the safe felling of trees you should consider using an arborist to carry out the task for you.
Before starting a felling operation a full risk assessment must be carried out. This should include a visit to the work area, an inspection of the equipment, and a review of the procedures and hazards. It is also important that a procedure for recording any on-the-job deviations from the planned processes is established and adhered to.
If a tree is being felled to prevent the collapse of a building or structure a thorough plan needs to be put in place and this should include an exclusion zone. This should include a lookout point and clear escape routes. In addition to this the route of the falling tree should be examined and it should be decided whether or not to use a back cut. This will reduce the likelihood of a large piece of the tree falling onto the object being protected or on other workers below.
An important step in the preparation of a felling site is to assess which direction a tree is likely to fall, taking into account its natural lean, any load on one side and wind strength and direction. In most cases a tree will naturally fall in the direction of its natural lean and this cannot be controlled, so an accurate assessment is necessary.
Once the direction of fall has been determined a directional cut needs to be made followed by the felling cut, making sure to leave a hinge and control the direction of the fall. Depending on the conditions a tree can be manipulated to help it fall in the desired direction, but this is not always possible, especially where buildings, power lines or fences are in the drop zone.
A good quality notch should be made by sawing through the trunk on the side towards which the tree is being felled. This notch should be as deep as one-fifth of the diameter of the trunk and should meet the felling cut at a right angle to provide a controlled hinge.
After a directional and a felling cut have been made it is essential that all remaining stubs are removed, as these are the most common cause of serious injury to tree fellers and workers below. It is also important that the felling site be kept free from other obstacles that could get caught in the course of the operation such as stones, roots or dead limbs.
source https://ontimetreelopping.wordpress.com/2024/01/29/how-to-safely-carry-out-tree-felling/
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