So last weekend I decided to drop a smaller poplar (10" diameter) in an area I have been clearing. Not technical, no hard lean, clear fall path, easy escape route. Proceeded to put my face cut in, then backcut. Oh, this big tree here right by the one I'm dropping will provide safety without having to go too far. Quickly killed the saw and got behind the cottonwood tree for 'cover' so I could watch the poplar fall and meet the ground. (who doesn't like to watch a tree they just cut smack the ground?) Well, in my moment of anticipation I was rudely and suddenly struck by a branch that was hung up in the hard maple that the tips of the poplars crown grazed as it fell. Hit me right on the shoulder in the part where you would 'judo chop' or 'spock pinch' someone. Was caught completely off guard. It didn't put me down on the ground, but buckled me a bit. The limb. It actually broke when it hit me falling from about 45 feet up. I did not have my forestry helmet on as this was just a 'quick and easy job'. 2 inches to the right and I'd have took this square on the noggin. That's a size 14 in the pic for reference. Just wanted to remind everyone not to get complacent, like I did with this one. Be safe, get
Felt like such an azz afterwards. I was quite surprised that I was not further injured...small bruise and was tender for a bit. AND...missed the tree hitting the ground to boot.
Dang, glad you’re ok! I’ve been lazy about wearing my helmet lately too. Definitely better to be prepared just in case, cause you can’t always see or anticipate all the hazards. I got clocked in the shins by a split pretty hard yesterday while I was splitting some of that locust. I think I need to include some shin guards in my PPE kit too! I’ve caught myself with my (dull) hookaroon in the shins a couple times as well - twice in one day in fact. That’s when it retired from service and became my campfire poker.
I went and bought a cheap pair of soccer shin guard. I did that after multiple splits dropped on my shins. A bruised mess they were. I wear the shin guards every time I split now. They've been hit a couple of times since wearing them. Sent from my SM-T280 using Tapatalk
Yeah cutting all this 2-3-4 year dead Ash right now has me spooked that something like that will fall out of the tree I am cutting while I am notching it or something. Good reminder!
I've never been one to be 100% PPE, but I do try and mitigate risk a bit. I typically will wear my helmet when felling for the very reason I made this thread. This is one of the few times I've had debris actually hit me and I didn't have it on. I'm prettymuch 100% on eye protection and gloves...about 70% on hearing protection when running OPE. This is blasphemy to many, but I do not own a pair of chaps. Was going to reference your shin guards to Shawn, but I see you already took care of it! Indeed. Many of our ash trees are actually getting punky while still standing, but many are also ready to go in the stove soon as you can process them. How did the crew not know???
I learned a similar lesson that taught me to always wear the helmet. Pretty much the same situation, in my case the falling stick nicked my brow as it ripped my glasses off my face. Tiny cut and the pair of glasses were trashed. I've worn a helmet/face shield ever since.
One brother got knocked out and lost a tooth once. I lost part of a tooth once. We were both working by alone when we were struck. Those branches hit damm hard. Glad you're OK.
Thanks. So easy to get complacent. I have felled quite a few small trees in that area and it had been drama free until it wasn't. If I am working at my property, chances are about 100% that I am alone. I remind myself that it may be a while before someone finds me if I'm injured to the point of incapacitation and that I need to do my best to mitigate risk.
Probably the main reason I don’t end up wearing the helmet as often as I should is because I lost the earmuffs so it doesn’t stay put on my head very well anymore. I think I’m going to order one with a chin strap. If you don’t like chaps, consider getting some of the full chainsaw pants. I really like mine and you need a good pair of work pants anyways.
Thanks for the PPE reminder. I tend to get laxed at times. The one PPE I almost always wear are my metatarsal steel toed work boots when splitting. Now I am not much of a dancer, but could compete with the best of you when wearing tennis shoes and a split drops on my foot.
Bringing this one back to life. We have a members daughter that was recently injured and I had a real close call. I know I need to be more safety minded and was even thinking to myself when you push yourself when already tired and needing a sharpening is when s#!+ will happen---2 minutes later it happened. Cut all day and nearing the end, cut was not ideal and forcing a dulling chain on a saw I was not used to-dumb! Barely missed my steel toe, but got pant cuff, sliced laces through, and leather tongue of boot has one slice of a cutter gone and a couple scrapes. Only thing between my ankle and the saw was my sock!
