GB 14192-2005Safety code of practice for logging operations (English PDF)

3.1 Cutting block (cutting area)

A complete forest area in which felling operations may be carried out within a specified time after the operations have been designed.

3.2 Cutting (felling)

The operation of sawing (chopping, shearing) a standing tree through at the base so that it falls to the ground.

3.3 Limbing

The operation of chopping (sawing) off the branches of a felled tree close to the surface of the trunk.

3.4 Bucking

The operation of cross-cutting tree-length logs into logs of given dimensions, taking into account the timber assortments and the intended use of the species.

3.5 Skidding

The operation of moving tree-length logs and logs scattered over the felling strips to the landing in the cutting block, to the river landing, to the loading point or to the side of a hauling road.

3.6 Hauling

The process of transporting tree-length logs and logs from the landing in the cutting block, the loading point or the river landing to the timber yard or to the place of use, by forest railway, road or waterway.

4.1 Basic requirements

4.1.1

Before felling operations, a site inspection shall be carried out in accordance with the approved technical design of the cutting block. Diseased and rotten trees, dead standing trees, windthrown trees, hung-up trees, broken trees, etc. that endanger operational safety shall be cleared in advance.

4.1.2

Felling crews shall work at separated positions. The working distance between felling and other operations shall be not less than 70 m. Conspicuous warning signs shall be set up at the road entrances on the edge of cutting blocks in which operations are in progress.

4.1.3

Felling by pushing one tree over with another or by knocking down trees in succession is not permitted.

4.1.4

Felling operations shall not be carried out in severe weather, such as winds of force 5 or above, heavy rain, heavy snow or dense fog, or when visibility is less than 50 m.

4.1.5

On slopes of 18° or more where timber is liable to roll, slide or shoot away, felling crews shall work at separated positions from one another and from skidding operations, and shall not work vertically above or below one another on the same slope. A safety distance of more than 70 m shall be maintained between felling and delimbing or bucking operations.

4.1.6

Felling tools (machines) and auxiliary tools such as felling levers and felling wedges shall be in good condition.

4.1.7

Fellers shall receive pre-job training in the trade and in safety techniques, master the techniques of using felling tools (machines), and complete practical felling training; they may carry out felling only after passing an assessment and being issued a certificate.

4.1.8

Personnel entering the cutting block to work shall wear safety helmets, protective clothing, protective boots (shoes) and other personal protective equipment.

4.2 Requirements for felling operations

4.2.1

The following work shall be done before felling:

a) the feller shall carefully observe the shape of the crown of the tree to be felled; whether the trunk is rotten, leaning or bent; the wind direction and wind force; the position of the surrounding trees; and whether there are hung-up branches, dead branches or other hazards; and shall correctly select the felling direction on the basis of these factors;

b) where there is an obstructing tree in the felling direction, it shall be felled first;

c) on both sides (or one side) opposite to the felling direction, escape routes not less than 3 m long and not less than 1 m wide shall be opened at a given angle (see Table 1), and obstacles such as vines, shrubs, thorny bushes and arrow bamboo shall be cleared; in winter, accumulated snow shall also be removed.

Table 1 - Escape routes: level ground or felling downhill: angle about 45°, both sides; felling across the slope: angle about 25°, uphill side; felling uphill: angle about 70°, both sides.

4.2.2

Requirements for felling cuts:

a) the undercut shall be sawn first and the back cut afterwards. The wedge of the undercut shall be removed, and a hinge with side ears shall be left at the back cut;

b) the depth of the undercut shall be 1/4 to 1/3 of the diameter at the base of the tree. For leaning trees, dead standing trees, diseased and rotten trees and trees with a base diameter exceeding 22 cm, the depth of the undercut shall be 1/3 of the base diameter. The opening height of the undercut shall be 1/2 of its depth. The removal of the wedge or the chopped notch shall reach the end of the undercut;

c) the saw line of the back cut shall be on the same horizontal plane as the upper cut of the undercut or slightly higher. The thickness of the hinge increases with the diameter class of the tree, provided that the tree can still fall, but shall be not less than 3 cm;

d) for trees with a base diameter of less than 20 cm, a triangular undercut may be made, with an angle of 30° to 45° and a depth of 1/4 of the base diameter.

4.2.3

Necessary auxiliary tools such as felling wedges and felling levers shall be available during felling, and their correct use shall be mastered. When felling leaning trees with a diameter at breast height of 20 cm or more, or when the selected felling direction differs from the natural direction of fall, auxiliary tools shall be used to control the felling direction.

4.2.4

Felling may begin only after it has been confirmed that no other workers are within the danger zone.

4.2.5

When the tree cracks and begins to fall, the feller shall stop sawing, check that the helper is standing in a safe position, and watch the direction of movement of the crown for any danger of rolling butts, kickback, falling branches or springback; at the same time the feller shall remove the chain saw and quickly retreat along the escape route to a safe place. When the tree reaches the ground, attention shall be paid to the movement of the butt end of the trunk. When the tree begins to crack, the feller shall give a warning shout and call out the felling direction.

4.2.6

When chain saws are used, the relevant provisions of GB 10285 shall be complied with.

4.2.7

Manual felling shall be done with a bow saw. During felling, the feller shall kneel on one knee and feed the saw steadily, and shall not fell trees while sitting on the ground. When the tree begins to crack, short strokes and a firmly held saw shall be used so that the saw can be withdrawn in time and the feller can move away as the tree falls, watching for any danger of kickback or rolling butts.

4.2.8

Requirements for dealing with hung-up trees:

a) when a tree becomes hung up, the work shall be directed by on-site safety technicians or production managers and dealt with promptly. Hung-up trees shall not be taken down without authorisation or left in the cutting block;

b) where conditions permit, hung-up trees shall be taken down by machine; a safety distance of more than 25 m shall be kept between the machine and the hung-up tree, and when winching, personnel shall stand in a safe position. When taking down hung-up trees manually, reliable safety measures shall be taken; workers shall not climb the tree to free it or enter the danger zone around the hung-up tree. Trees of the large diameter class of 20 cm or more shall not be taken down manually;

c) hung-up trees shall not be dealt with by felling the supporting tree or by knocking them down with another tree.

4.2.9

When a tree sits back on the stump, the feller shall not leave without authorisation and shall promptly take measures to bring it to the ground. Trees that have sat back on the stump shall not be left in the cutting block.

4.2.10

When chain saws are used, a feller shall not work alone. The feller and the helper shall not work across each other, nor shall they saw the back cut and chop the undercut on the same tree at the same time.

4.3 Requirements for delimbing

4.3.1

Before delimbing, the felled tree and its surroundings shall be carefully inspected; delimbing may begin only after it has been confirmed that the felled tree presents no danger, has been chocked and firmly supported, and that there is sufficient standing room.

4.3.2

During delimbing, the legs and feet shall be kept clear, and work shall proceed from the base of the trunk towards the top. The upper and side branches shall be removed first; the remaining branches shall be removed after the tree has been turned over and chocked. Workers shall stand on one side of the felled tree to remove the branches on the other side.

4.3.3

Two or more persons shall not delimb the same felled tree at the same time.

4.3.4

For felled trees that are partly suspended in the air or lying in heaps, measures shall be taken to bring them to the ground before delimbing.

4.3.5

When dealing with branches bent under the trunk, the worker shall stand at the side of the back of the bow and saw (chop) the back of the bow.

4.3.6

Large branches supporting the tree on the ground shall be removed after bucking. When delimbing or clearing felled trees lying across the slope, the branches on the uphill side shall be removed first, and then the worker shall stand on the uphill side to remove the branches on the downhill side.

4.3.7

When delimbing personnel and slash clearing personnel work at the same time, a distance of more than 5 m shall be kept between them.

4.4 Requirements for bucking in the cutting block

4.4.1

Before bucking, shrubs, branches and other obstacles that hinder the operation shall be cleared, and tree-length logs shall be carefully checked for any danger of rolling or sliding. Tree-length logs that may roll shall be chocked before bucking. During bucking, the bucker shall stand on the uphill side, and no one shall work or remain below.

4.4.2

Tree-length logs that are partly suspended shall be firmly supported before bucking. Work shall begin at the part of the trunk resting firmly on the ground, not at the suspended part. During bucking, the bucker shall not put legs or feet under the log.

4.4.3

Two persons shall not buck the same tree-length log at the same time.

5.1 Tractor skidding

Skidding with tractors shall comply with the relevant provisions of LY 1117.

5.2 Animal skidding

5.2.1

Before work, tools such as sledges, rope loops, twisting bars, sliding rings and safety ropes, as well as the horseshoe nails of the draught animals, shall be carefully inspected; any damage shall be repaired or replaced promptly.

5.2.2

No one shall sit on a skidding sledge, still less ride the draught animal while travelling.

5.2.3

During skidding, the distance between successive sledges shall be not less than 10 m on level roads and not less than 30 m on slopes. On slopes of more than 16°, sledges shall travel one at a time. When empty and loaded sledges meet, the empty sledge shall stop on the higher side at a distance of more than 20 m and let the loaded sledge pass first.

5.2.4

Skidders driving horse- or ox-drawn sledges shall walk beside the animal holding the reins firmly, and shall not walk ahead or fall behind. On slopes, bends and dangerous sections, the sledge shall be slowed down. When the sledge stops on the way, the animal shall be tethered or held.

5.2.5

When a sledge is let down a slope, the sliding ring shall be fitted and the safety rope held. On slopes of more than 22°, a lowering rope shall be used, and the rope loop shall not be put around the wrist.