["WASHINGTON, Ind. (AP) — A tree-clearing accident has killed the director of a southwestern Indiana Christian youth camp. The Daviess County Sheriff's Department says 60-year-old David Ira-Mitchel Bean died Monday at Camp Illiana, about 50 miles northeast of Evansville. It says Bean and another camp staffer had cut a large, dead tree at its base and were attempting to pull it down when a rope connecting the tree and a front-end loader snapped, causing the tree to sway and a large limb to fall and strike Bean in the head."]Quote The above description of the accident and from many aspects, it was avoidable and PPE may have made a big difference! In the West Coast Logging Industry Dead Standing Trees have acquired the nickname and rightly so, of Widow Maker! In the small logging towns where I spent my working years, the death of a co- worker was felt by every one and I'm very sure is just as hurtful and grievous to those associated with this Church Group. For us who cut firewood for a hobby, it is remains a hobby that requires due diligence!
First off, it's a shame the accident happened and a life was lost. Second, avoidable and totally agree with the inspector, there is no time that while in the working place, be it on a construction site or in your backyard bucking, that safety is first. Lack of experience may have also been the case in this accident as well.
what ppe do yall use when cutting firewood? I admit I've never used any ppe. over the years I've had a good sized limb snap and hit me square on the head knocking me to the ground. I had a saw slip and cut a groove in my carhart bibs, and as we speak I am digging wood chips outta my eyes, and no hearing protection hence I am tone deaf. but today I took delivery of a pair of bugz eye goggles and im considering chaps.
Dang brother, you're lucky to have gotten off so 'easy'. When I was younger, I was cutting firewood out of a large slash-pile and a kickback accident put the bar deep into my thigh. Drove myself twenty miles to the hospital and when I got out of the truck in front of the ER, I fainted and landed face first about 10' from the front doors. When I woke up, I was laying on the table with 40 stitches in my leg and a pretty nice shiner. I've worn chaps ever since! Logging in Montana and Idaho for 12 years or so has also taught me the value of PPE. Hard hat, ear plugs, eye pro, chaps and a good pair of boots are now mandatory (not only for work, but for fire-wooding as well). You're really gonna like those bugz.
Inspecter. That splitter ain't no joke. Not something you want to be operating while waltzing around in a pair of sandals!
I never had worn any PPE, usually had sunglasses of some kind on. I did buy chaps last year though and I wear them most of the time that I am out cutting.
ive worn steel toes since I was 11, I will say the hardhat is goin to be a hard sell on me. I know it will probable be a good idea but I guess deep down my vanity is kickin in. what brand of chaps do you recommend?
Over the last 3 or 4 years I've bought a couple pairs of chaps. I like the Labonvilles (I think that's the name anyway). This spring I got a pair of Work Safes that I like as well. Both were in the 60$ or so range online. As far as a hardhat goes, if you don't want to wear one just be vigilant to look up frequently (I'm sure you already know this, but it's worth repeating cause it reminds me as well). If you do get a hardhat, get the forestry style with the brim around it, not the construction style. The brim is nice for shedding water off when its raining. Hardhats are also nice for bulling your way through thick brush. Just put your head down and go.
Steel toed boots always (worn them since I was 17,many years before it was mandatory on most commercial construction jobs),safety glasses either clear or dark always over regular prescription OSHA approved impact resistant eyeglasses,corded ear plugs always,occasionally ear muffs instead,Faller's helmet with mesh screen when tipping 'em over,it used to have swivel muffs but the mounts broke in the cold temps one day. Leather or other cut-resistant/Kevlar gloves,either lined or unlined depending on the time of year. When falling I don't wear ear protection - prefer to hear the sounds of cracking/popping,anything different from the saw too.Always am looking up & have escape path clear & ready before the saw is started. Also makeshift cork boots from an old pair of steel toes I had lying around.Work great on the fairly steep slopes/hillsides I'm normally on.Especially when things are muddy,snowy or icy. They will suffice until I can fork over $300+ for a real pair sometime.
I'll admit I don't always wear PPE......and after 12 years of doing climbing and tree removal, it bit me in the arse just over a month and a half ago....... I didn't post it on here as at first, it really wasn't a big deal. I had just topped a 95' hemlock from about 60' up, and the top came to rest on some saplings at the base of the tree. Would have been a picture perfect topping, had I removed the saplings FIRST. Upon getting back to the ground, a storm was rolling in on the other side of the mountain......and it was getting dark. I wanted to "hurry up" and get that top limbed/bucked before the storm hit......but it was sitting on a bunch of "loaded" saplings (bent over like a full-drawn compound bow). I've been cutting for YEARS without incident. Normally I stand off to the side on a loaded branch in a situation like this and "knick" the back of the loaded branch/sapling, and it eventually will release it's potential energy slowly. Well I couldn't get beside the one sapling so I said "just this once.....it'll be OK"....and I stood behind it with my 064 and started to knick the sapling.....BAM. It threw the saw into my shin faster than I could even begin to react. I knew right away it was a bad wound. Just missed my tendons, but still required 15 stitches. Chaps are now a requirement when I'm on the ground. Eyewear is also good to have, and a hardhat is something I'm also going to start wearing more often......I got lucky, the poor guy in the opening article didn't get a second chance. I'm not going to preach to anyone, but this gives us all something to think about......think about your wife, your kids, and the rest of the people that depend on you........make the right choice.
I never think the things I get away with are a big deal either... Glad you didn't get knicked any worse...
Too close for comfort. I'm surprised you neglected you protective wear. Good that you brought it up. There must have been a Higher Power looking out for you. Very glad you are safe.
Dang Scotty. Thanks for posting that. I'm with Stinny...glad it wasn't worse! It's never a bad thing to share stories like that which makes this thread a great reminder of the dangers of running a chainsaw. 99% of the time, things go smoothly but it's the 1% that can ruin your day. There's also the unintended side-effect of getting layed-up for a while and not being able to post pics of awesome food in the Smokehouse Forum.
Oh, trust me....I thanked and thanked...and RE-THANKED Him...... I don't preach the PPE because honestly, I don't always wear it. I am required to wear it all day, every day, at work. Hardhat, goggles/glasses, earplugs......and when it's hot, well wearing that stuff just plain SUCKS. But, as I've said, it can save your life. I guess we need to take a step back and look at it from another perspective, because sometimes we all take for granted that people depend on us. We all matter to someone else. I have a beautiful wife, three beautiful kids and an extended family that all depend on each other and love one another immensely. THOSE things matter.
There is very often a bitter truth! HASTE MAKES WASTE!!! So glad it was not more serious, Scotty and that you are okay!
Thanks Allan! I'm fine....All healed up now and back in the trees..... That was what hurt me, the cut was right in the area that my gaffs strap on...Luckily I was on vacation the week after it happened and I was at the beach so it had a little time to heal...pics to show the damage.... And after a month almost back to normal, with some permanent scars...
