Date of Incident / Close Call:
Details of Incident / Close Call:
It is with great sadness that the BC Forest Safety Council notifies the forestry community of a fatal incident that occurred on June 11th.
While bucking a log in the Harrison Lake region, a faller was hit by an object that caused fatal injuries. The exact cause of the incident is not yet known and an investigation is ongoing to gather more information.
This is the third fatal incident involving fallers this year. This is the 5th forestry related fatality of 2012.
As more detail is made available, the Council will provide additional resources and information.
Learnings and Suggestions:
Although the exact cause of the incident is unknown, the following list below refers to generally accepted "Deadly Sins" that must be considered for all falling activities. Please take the time to review and discuss with your crews.
- Failing to progressively fall danger trees into open areas with the falling of other timber and before falling adjacent live trees.
- Using the practice of "Domino Falling".
- Leaving cut-up trees and failing to mark such trees and notify the work place supervisor and workers whom may enter the affected area of the location of the cut-up trees.
- Failing to take appropriate measures to control the fall of trees, which may include:
- Not ensuring the undercut is complete and cleaned out
- Not leaving sufficient holding wood
- Carelessly cutting off the corners of holding wood
- Not ensuring that the back cut is placed higher than the under cut
- Failing to have wedging tools immediately available at the tree being felled
- The unnecessary brushing of timber.
- Permitting workers, other than the faller and those permitted by the regulations, to be within two tree lengths of the tree being felled.
- Falling trees within the specified minimum distances from unguarded overhead energized high voltage electrical conductors without complying with the requirements.
For more information on this submitted alert:
As more detail is made available, the Council will provide additional resources and information.