If you have a tree that needs to be cut and aren’t feeling like Paul Bunyon, hiring a professional service is your best bet. The pros will take care of the cutting, but there are some things you should do before this to prepare your property and make the process easier for everyone involved. Contact Tree Cutting Irvine now!
Preparation
Tree cutting is a dangerous job, and the stakes are high. A misstep can cause serious injury or death. Whether the tree is being cut down for safety reasons, or to make room for construction, there are several steps that must be taken into account to ensure a safe operation.
First, the crew must prepare the site. This includes removing anything that could be damaged by a falling tree, such as lawn furniture, sheds, or potted plants. It is also important to examine the area for power lines. The crew should never cut a tree that is near power lines, as doing so can be extremely dangerous.
The crew should also clear escape routes. Two cleared paths should be created, and they should be at least 45 degrees away from the tree in both directions. This gives the crew a chance to run away from the tree in case things don’t go as planned.
Next, the crew must assess the height of the tree. They must determine if it is tall enough to safely fell. It is important to be able to cut the entire height of the tree in one piece, as this can help reduce the risk of injury. This can be determined by using a plumb line, which is a long string attached to a nut or similar object on the ground.
Finally, the crew must inspect the tree for loose limbs. These should be removed prior to the felling, as they can become dislodged during the cutting process and fall on workers. The crew should also examine the ground around the tree to be sure that it is free of obstacles that may get in the way of the tree’s fall, such as rocks or other debris.
Once the crew has completed their preparation, they can begin the logging process by cutting down the tree in sections. The first section of the tree is usually a limb or small trunk, which can be removed with a chainsaw. Then, a notch cut is made into the side of the tree to determine its direction of fall. A notch is an angled chunk of wood that is cut into the side of a tree with a saw or chainsaw. A notch is typically made at a height between shoulder and waist.
Safety Measures
Tree trimming can be a dangerous task. Thousands of people are injured while performing this work every year. Some of these injuries result in death. There are several steps that need to be taken in order to keep workers safe when they are performing the task. These steps include a risk assessment, proper equipment and training.
A qualified person to work (QTW) should perform a risk assessment before any trimming takes place. This includes a visual inspection of the tree and identifying any potential hazards. It also includes analyzing weather conditions, which can increase the dangers of the job. The QTW should then make a plan for the work and establish safety procedures. This information should be discussed with other employees at a hazard briefing, which should take place before each job starts.
When a worker is cutting a tree, he or she should never get too close to power lines. This could cause them to fall or to be electrocuted if they come into contact with the line. Pole trimmers and ladders are conductive tools, which means they can conduct electricity if they come into contact with a power line. Before climbing a tree, workers should look for any power lines and determine whether they are energized or not. If they are, they should de-energize them or use a spotter to observe the area.
Before starting the cut, workers should survey the area to ensure that there are no obstacles that can interfere with falling limbs or the tree itself. They should also check for interlocking branches and vines that may hinder the felling process. Lastly, they should remove any objects that might fall or roll as the tree falls. They should also mark an escape area with flags, marking paint or other identifiers that are at least twice as large as the tree’s base.
In addition to ensuring that there are no obstructions in the escape route, workers should always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing tree trimming. This should include a hard hat and gloves to protect the head, neck and hands from falling limbs. They should also wear boots to reduce the risk of slipping and falling on uneven ground.
Notch Cut
A directional notch is essential to the safety of anyone working to fell a tree, as it helps control the direction the tree falls. Before starting the notch cut, ensure you’re at a safe distance from power lines and any obstacles that the tree might hit as it falls. Additionally, it’s a good idea to remove any protrusions in the base of the tree that the notch might impact or change its direction during the falling process.
There are several types of notches that can be used when cutting a tree, with the right one depending on a number of factors, including the tree’s size and the slope of the ground where it will fall. The open-faced notch is considered the safest option, and involves a 70-degree angle on the top and a back cut that’s level with or higher than the felling line.
Other common notch options include the conventional notch, which has a 45-degree opening and is ideal for use with axes and crosscut saws. However, this type of notch only guides the tree halfway to the ground before the hinge wood breaks, meaning it loses control once it hits the ground.
The Humboldt notch, also known as an inverse notch, is another great option for those looking to work on a slope and is best for large trees that require more precise control of their fall. It features an angled top cut and a horizontal back cut, meeting at the point where the notch opens. This notch is especially beneficial when working on a hill, as it allows the tree to aim downward before breaking free from the hinge and reduces the chance of rolling down a slope.
While it’s possible to cut a tree yourself, non-experts should always consult a professional for safety reasons. This is especially important if the tree in question is leaning in a way that can’t be safely felled or if it’s near structures like roads, buildings, homes or other trees. Non-experts should also make sure they check for hurdles that might hinder the falling of the tree, such as power lines, electrical boxes or heavy growth, and remove any obstacles that could interfere with the process.
Limbing
When a tree is felled it can generate enormous mechanical strain. This energy can cause branches to jump, which can injure a logger or damage property and structures. For this reason, it is important for loggers to use a method called limbing. This involves cutting branches off of the fallen or standing tree. The goal of this service is to reduce the amount of tension on the limbs and allow them to fall naturally. It is also important to remove limbs that might obstruct the path of the tree as it falls.
To perform limbing, the logger must be comfortable using a chainsaw and climbing trees. They must also be familiar with bucking, which is the process of sawing a felled tree into logs. The logger should also know how to position themselves while performing these services. They must be aware of all possible hazards, such as falling limbs that can strike them or other people, and should make sure that they are well away from any potential obstacles.
While limbing, the logger must be prepared to make a series of cuts that are designed to control the direction of the tree’s fall. They must also be ready to react quickly if the tree does not fall according to plan. This includes preparing a quick escape route and being able to get to the ground before the tree crashes down.
The logger should also use a limb lock to prevent the limbs from kicking back and striking them or pinching their saw. A limb lock is a small cut that prevents the limb from moving when it is severed. A limb lock is usually made on the side of the limb that has compression pressure and it is better to make this cut on the upper side rather than the lower side.
The limbs should be cut as close to the trunk of the tree as possible to minimize their weight and allow for easy rolling or movement. It is also a good idea to leave a small space between the last two cuts for the hinge. This will help the tree to fall safely and avoid any complications.