What are the general safe practice requirements?

• Employees must be spaced and the duties of each employee must be organized so the actions of one employee will not create a hazard for any other employee.
• Assess for and limit hazards associated with electrical storms, strong winds which may affect the fall of a tree, heavy rain or snow, extreme cold, dense fog, fires, mudslides, and darkness.
• Trees must be felled in a manner that does not create a hazard to employees ( i.e. work areas must be assigned so that trees cannot fall into an adjacent occupied work area).
• Generally, employees must not approach a feller or mechanical felling operation any closer than 2 tree-lengths of the trees being felled, until the feller or felling machine operator has acknowledged that it is safe to do so.
• Felling must be done uphill from or on the same level as previously felled trees. This will limit the hazards associated with the rolling or sliding of logs or trees.
• Each employee performing a logging operation at a logging work site must work in a position or location that is within visual or audible contact with another employee.
• The employer must account for each employee at the end of each workshift.

What precautions must be taken when "danger trees" are in the felling area?

• Each danger tree must be felled or removed using mechanical or other techniques to minimize employee exposure before work is begun in the area of the danger tree.
• Before felling or removing a danger tree, loose bark and damage must be removed or held in place.
• If the danger tree cannot be felled or removed, it must be marked and there shall be no work allowed within 2 tree-lengths of it, unless the employer demonstrates that a shorter distance will not create a hazard for an employee.
• When cutting a spring pole or other trees under stress, no employee other than the feller must be within 2 tree-lengths of the tree when the stress is released.

 Additional Information:

• 29 CFR 1910 Subpart R, Special industries. OSHA Standard.
  • 1910.266, Logging operations
• Logging. OSHA Preamble to Final Rules, (1994).
• Environmental Conditions:
  • Logging. OSHA Preamble to Final Rules, (1994).
  • Logging Operations. OSHA Federal Register Final Rules 60:47022-47037 (September 8, 1995). Amends the logging operations standard. [See Other Corrections and Clarifications - Paragraph (d)(5) -- Environmental Conditions.]
  • Logging Operations, Inspection Procedures and Interpretive Guidance Including Twelve Previously Stayed Provisions. OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-022 [CPL 2-1.22], (September 27, 1996). [See Definitions and clarifications -- 4. Paragraph (d)(5) - Environmental Conditions.]
• Overhead Electric Lines:
  • Logging. OSHA Preamble to Final Rules, (1994).
  • Logging Operations, Inspection Procedures and Interpretive Guidance. OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-019 [CPL 2-1.19], (March 17, 1995). [See General Inspection Procedures - 8. Overhead Electric Lines.]
• Work Areas:
  • Logging. OSHA Preamble to Final Rules, (1994).
  • Logging Operations. OSHA Federal Register Final Rules 60:47022-47037 (September 8, 1995). Amends the logging operations standard. [See Other Corrections and Clarifications - Paragraph (d)(6)(iv) -- End of Workshift Accounting of Employees.]
  • Logging Operations, Inspection Procedures and Interpretive Guidance Including Twelve Previously Stayed Provisions. OSHA Directive CPL 02-01-022 [CPL 2-1.22], (September 27, 1996). [See Definitions and clarifications -- 5. Paragraph (d)(6) - Workareas.]
• Visual and Audible Contact:
  • Logging. OSHA Preamble to Final Rules, (1994).
  • Logging Operations. OSHA Federal Register Final Rules 60:47022-47037 (September 8, 1995). Amends the logging operations standard. [See Other Corrections and Clarifications - Paragraph (d)(6)(iii) -- Working Within Visual or Audible Contact.]

Example of unstable Wind Blown danger trees.