WAC 296-54-577   Yarding, skidding, landing.  (1) Running lines must be arranged so that employees are not required to work in the bight of the line. When employees must work in the bight, employees must move out of the bight of the lines before the signal to move the turn is given, or be in a position where they are protected by standing timber, terrain, or other objects large enough to ensure their safety.

     (2) Choker holes must be dug from the uphill side of the log when there is danger of the log rolling or moving.

     (3) Chokers must be placed near the end of the log/tree whenever possible.

EXCEPTION:

When long logs or tree-length logs are being yarded and a long end is necessary to safely land the logs/trees on the available landing space.

     (4) Employees must be in the clear of logs, root wads, chunks, hazardous trees, rolling material and rigging before the go-ahead signal is given and must stay in the clear until all rigging movement has stopped.

     (5) Employees must move away from the turn so as to be above or behind the turn and in the clear. They must remain on their feet and face the turn before the go-ahead signal is given.

     (6) All employees must remain away from rigging that is stopped at a hangup, until the rigging has been slacked to reduce the hazard.

     (7) Chokers must not be hooked or unhooked until all rigging is stopped completely.

     (8) Logs must not be landed until all employees, trucks or equipment are in the clear.

     (9) Logs must not accumulate in the landing chute to the point where they become a hazard to the landing personnel.

     (10) Logs must be stable and secure before being approached by employees and before chokers are unhooked.

     (11) An employee must not buck, limb or trim logs from a position that will expose the employee to contact with moving lines.

     (12) Logs must not be placed in, moved about, or removed from the bucking area of the landing unless all employees are in the clear.

     (13) An unimpaired horizontal clearance of at least three feet must be maintained between the rotating superstructure of any logging machine working on a landing and any adjacent object or surface. If this clearance cannot be maintained, a safety zone barrier must be used to isolate the hazardous area. The safety zone barrier may be a warning line constructed of rope or ribbon, supported on stanchions.

     (14) "DANGER 36-INCH CLEARANCE" must be marked near the rear of the machine.

     (15) Employees must not approach a machine's working circle until the operator has acknowledged that it is safe to do so.

     (16) Whenever possible, chokers must be set from the uphill side of a log. Persons must not be on the lower side of a log which appears to be unstable or likely to roll.

     (17) When yarding during the hours of darkness, the area must be lighted enough to allow employees to safely perform their duties. The source of light must be located and directed to create minimum shadows and glare. If using a portable tailhold, lights must be directed on equipment to allow the person to visually determine that the tailhold equipment remains stabilized.

     (18) Each yarded tree/log must be placed in a location that does not create a hazard for an employee and in an orderly manner so that the trees/logs are stable before bucking or limbing is commenced.

     (19) When using a yarder, loader or skidding machine, the location of the machine or position of the yarder must be such that the operator will not be endangered by incoming logs or debris.

     (20) Employee(s) must be assigned to flag on roads or provide other equivalent protection where hazardous conditions are created from logging such as, but not limited to:

     (a) Running wire rope lines or rigging across road grades, excluding guylines and standing skylines if lines remain a safe distance above the road to allow a vehicle to pass under; or

     (b) The movement of logs, chunks, or debris across or suspended over road grades.

EXCEPTION:

Where there is no through traffic, such as on a dead end road or where the property owner's permission or proper authority is granted to close a section of road, warning signs and barricades may be used instead of flagger(s).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, [49.17].040 and[49.17].050 . 99-17-117, § 296-54-577, filed 8/18/99, effective 12/1/99. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.040, 49.17.150 and 49.17.240. 79-10-081 (Order 79-14), § 296-54-577, filed 9/21/79.]