I don't know if this should be listed as things not to do in the safety form or have a new listing under stupid human tricks.
My son and I were cutting large dead oak trees around the place(some over 100 years old) and had one that was not only dead but leaning toward a shed. I tied a 200' cable into the top of the tree and attached it to the tractor that my son was driving. He pulled out the slack and applied tension in the correct direction and then set the brake while I cut the tree. Got all my cuts made but the leaning tree still pinched my saw blade so I hollered at my son to try and pull the tree some more so I could free the chain saw. Unfortunately he kicks off the brake before engaging the clutch and suddenly finds himself being dragged backward by the tree. I see what is happening and abandon the saw. As I am running out from under the tree I see my son dump the clutch and nail the throttle all in one motion. With the engine screaming and dirt flying out from under the tires he gets the tree moving in the correct direction again and it falls safely in the right place.
I decided this method was not a good idea and got the backhoe which did a much better job.
Backhoe Pushing Down Large Oak Tree.
TBAR
My son and I were cutting large dead oak trees around the place(some over 100 years old) and had one that was not only dead but leaning toward a shed. I tied a 200' cable into the top of the tree and attached it to the tractor that my son was driving. He pulled out the slack and applied tension in the correct direction and then set the brake while I cut the tree. Got all my cuts made but the leaning tree still pinched my saw blade so I hollered at my son to try and pull the tree some more so I could free the chain saw. Unfortunately he kicks off the brake before engaging the clutch and suddenly finds himself being dragged backward by the tree. I see what is happening and abandon the saw. As I am running out from under the tree I see my son dump the clutch and nail the throttle all in one motion. With the engine screaming and dirt flying out from under the tires he gets the tree moving in the correct direction again and it falls safely in the right place.
I decided this method was not a good idea and got the backhoe which did a much better job.
Backhoe Pushing Down Large Oak Tree.
TBAR