Almost became a statistic myself this morning...

dixiedrifter · Dec 19, 2004

Was cutting down a tree that was busted in the middle and leaning pretty good.

I was almost to the point where it was ready to fall then it split all the way up to the busted part.

Don't really remember what happened thereafter but all I know it split, the split part went up in the air, then it decided to come down me sideways. Before I could get away it the knocked the living **** out of me.

I just got back from the ER. Mild concussion and my right arm will be useless for a couple days. Couple cuts on my forhead and nose, not stiches needed. Knocked out one of the screws on my sunglasses lense.

I'm **** lucky to be here right now, could have been much much worse. I learned my lesson. Never cut down a leaning tree. Never cut a tree without a hard hat on. Never fell trees without a helper and a cell phone in case of an accident.

Now if ya'll will excuse me, i'm going to smoke a cig.

PhilNH5 · Dec 19, 2004

Dixiedrifter,
Glad to see you came out well enough to type us a warning.
i got chills reading your post. Thanks for sharing and reminding us all to be safe.

Now about that cig.....

Phil

beenthere · Dec 19, 2004

Leaning trees are dangerous, and no need to tell you that now. As you found out, there is a lot of energy built up in the lean as well as the top hanging on the break. Just last week I read of a man losing his head over the 'barber chair' split that you apparently experienced. Glad you are able to be sending us this safety message, and that your family can have a Merry Christmas.
I always use a plunge cut to fell a leaning tree, after the undercut is made. That way, all the wood in the center of the tree is removed, up to the hinge, and then lastly, the holding wood opposite the under cut is removed.
Plunge cutting is not possible with the newer anti-kickback chain, and should be done by someone with knowledge and experience. Done right, there is no kickback. Done wrong, it can make you eat the saw.

RoyJackson · Dec 19, 2004

Yep...use that safety gear...and never...repeat..NEVER work alone!

When I was in rehab after my stroke, my room mate had had an accident similar to the one described. He'll never walk again... Pretty robust guy...but he'll be using a wheel chair and walker the rest of his life.

The only thing that saved him (if you can call it that) was a neighbor in close proximately had his cell phone.

sweettractors · Dec 19, 2004

Glad you are going to be ok. This summer, after a small tornado came thru, My son and I were clearing trees from our road going to the sandbar on the Green river, adjoining our farm. I was watching from about 40 ft while my son cleared limbs off to the side with the 2955 JD with the FEL. Out of no where, I was hit on the head from a limb that was lodged about 50 ft up. It took me down to the ground and wound up on my side. Son had to carry me out in FEL bucket. I was sorta like yourself, nothing broken and pretty banged up and sore for a couple weeks. I am sure glad I was not alone. I dont think I could have made it a mile back to the house.--Ken Sweet

JDGREEN4ME · Dec 20, 2004

I have all the safety equipment. Now I just need to make sure I use it all the time! Glad to hear your story had a happy (but sore) ending. Take care! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

JimR · Dec 20, 2004

Glad to hear you made it thru that accident. I unfortunately always cut alone because I have no choice in the matter. The wife always knows where I will be on the property in case I don't come home. One thing I do want to mention is about the hard hat. I use to wear one. I found that it blocks some of my upward view and have since stopped wearing it. I personally like to see what is coming at me asap so I can get out of the way. Another note of mention is to be aware of what you are cutting down and all the trees around it. Use your tractor as a wedge when cutting unsafe trees that you think may be a danger to you. I put the tractor fel right up against the tree and put a lot of pressure against it. Lock the brakes and push some more against the tree by tipping the fel bucket down. Cut wisely and safely whenever possible. I've been cutting firewood and clearing our land since the early 70's and have not had any mishaps yet.

btolle · Dec 21, 2004

I just had several 100' pine trees cut down by a professional. I was not about to tackle a job like that.

I have some smaller trees I am going to take down. One thing the professional mentioned is to be very careful with the dead trees. He said a dead tree will get you faster than a live one.

He told me to use a good rope (1/2" or larger), put a clove hitch in it on the bottom of the tree and another clove hitch above where the cut will be making sure the rope is pretty snug between the 2 knots. With that setup the butt of the tree cannot kick up when it falls.

It is not unusual to see the butt of a tree kick up 6 feet or more when it falls. If your head is anywhere near it it can easily kill you.

Also double check where the top is going to go when it falls. It the top hits another tree it can roll towards you as it is falling.

I have started using a 100' "bull" rope (10,400 pounds average strength), snatch block, and my 8K winch on my Jeep to put some pull on any tree that I have any doubts about.

When I get to the 100' ones I call for professional help. George charges less to cut them than the emergency room would charge me to put me back together.

Edited to add: I spend a lot time on my tractor in the trees and I always wear a hard hat when tractoring or cutting trees. Every time I hear that "thunk" on the hard hat I realize I have saved myself from another scar (or worse) on my head.

I find that if I leave the tractor key in the hardhat on my workbench then I always remember to put it on. Yes, I would rather not wear it but for me it is the right thing to do.

Bill Tolle

Tom4310 · Dec 21, 2004

Hard hats when cutting trees is a must. Limbs can fall out of the tree and strike you on the head and really ruin your day. If you don't think about yourself, then think about your loved one that has to feed you, change your diapers, and take care of you for the rest of your life.

Most safety equipment is a pain or uncomfortable but that is the price you pay for safety. 20+ years as a Fire Captain and I can't tell you how many times I have heard "I thought it wouldn't happen to me". /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

JimR · Dec 21, 2004

You are correct Tom about hard hats and the after affects of getting clobbered. But I like to see what is coming at me first so I know wether or not I have to move quickly or not. I have learned to plan ahead when cutting trees. The trees I cut down go where I want them too wether I be pulling them down with a 100 foot cable and a come along or pushing on them with my tractor. We don't have what I would call tall trees here compared to Oregon. I don't fall trees into trees without clearing out that area first. It pays to plan ahead when clearing areas.