WAC 296-54-539
Falling and bucking -- General. (1) The
employer must assign work areas so that:
(a) Trees cannot fall into an adjacent occupied work
area;
(b) The distance between work areas is at least two tree
lengths of the trees being fell (see Figure 1: Distance
Between Work Areas);
Figure 1: Distance Between Work Area
(c) The distance between work areas reflects the degree
of slope, the density of the growth, the height of the trees,
the soil structure and other hazards reasonably anticipated at
the worksite; and
(d) A distance of more than two tree lengths is
maintained between work areas on any slope where rolling or
sliding of trees or logs is reasonably foreseeable.
EXCEPTION:
This rule does not apply to a team of cutters working on the same tree.
(2) Before falling or bucking, conditions such as, but
not limited to, snow and ice accumulation, the wind, the lean
of tree, dead limbs, and the location of other trees, must be
evaluated by the cutter and precautions taken so a hazard is
not created for an employee. Accumulations of snow and ice
that may create a hazard for an employee must be removed
before beginning falling in the area, or the area must be
avoided.
(3) Employees must not approach a cutter closer than two
tree lengths of trees being felled until the cutter has
acknowledged that it is safe to do so.
(4) A competent person, properly experienced in this type
of work, must be placed in charge of falling and bucking
operations. Inexperienced workers must not be allowed to fall
timber, buck logs or windfalls unless working under the direct
supervision of an experienced cutter.
(5) Trees must not be fell if the falling tree can strike
any line in the logging operation and endanger workers.
(6) Before an employee falls or bucks any tree:
(a) A sufficient work area must be swamped;
(b) The cutter must plan and clear an escape path; and
(i) The escape path must extend diagonally away from the
expected felling line unless such an escape path poses a
greater hazard than an alternate escape path; and
(ii) An escape path must be used as soon as the tree or
snag is committed to fall, roll, or slide.
(7) If a cutter has determined a tree cannot be safely
fell, the work must stop until the cutter has conferred with a
supervisor or an experienced cutter and determined the safest
possible work method or procedure.
(8) The person in charge of cutting crews must regularly
inspect the work of the cutting crews and is responsible to
ensure the work is performed in a proper and safe manner.
(9) All cutters must carry or have in near proximity at
all times:
(a) An axe or suitable tool for driving wedges;
(b) A minimum of two wedges;
(c) A whistle carried on the person; and
(d) A first-aid kit.
(i) The first-aid kit must contain at least two trauma
bandages or equivalent absorbent gauze material and a means to
secure the material in place.
(ii) First-aid supplies must be kept clean and dry.
(10) A flagperson(s) must be assigned on roads where
hazardous conditions are created from falling trees. Where
there is no through traffic, such as on a dead end road,
warning signs or barricades may be used instead of a
flagperson(s).
(11) A cutter must not fall a tree or danger tree alone
when at least two cutters are necessary to minimize hazards.
