OREGON OSHA YARDING AND LOADING HANDBOOK OREGON OSHA YARDING AND LOADING HANDBOOK TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction SECTION 1. PLANNING AND SETUP SECTION 2. OPERATIONS Chapter 1. Planning for the Unit 4 Chapter 7. Yarding the Logs 82 Think Safety First Landing Operations Pre-work Checklist Rigging Crew Major Hazards for the Rigging Crew Chapter 2. Setting Up the Landing 7 Production Planning Chapter 8. Landing the Turn 109 Yarding Machinery Landing Crew Standard Layouts Landing the Turn Develop a Safe Work Area Unhooking the Turn Major Hazards for the Landing Crew Chapter 3. Machine and Equipment Inspection 20 Chapter 9. Loading the Logs 123 Machinery Machine Operations Spar Log Trucks Carriages and Rigging Wire Rope SECTION 3. SAFETY GUIDE Line Connections Chapter 4. Anchors 30 Chapter 10. Worker Safety Rules 129 Anchor Safety Safety and Health Program Single-stump Anchors Safety Planning and Hazard Control Multiple-stump Anchors Personal Protective Equipment Cable Clips and Spikes Basic Tool Safety Alternate Anchors Controlling Fires in Forest Operations Fire Prevention for Chainsaw Use Chapter 5. Setting Up the Yarder 43 Chainsaw Safety Moving in the Yarder First Aid for Survival Guylines Raising the Spar Chapter 11. Signs and Signals 142 Changing Roads Signal Use Voice Signals Chapter 6. Rigging the Yarding Lines 60 Whistle Signals Yarding Systems Traffic Signs Line Safety Hand Signals Tailholds Elevated Supports Tree Climbing Yarding and Loading Glossary 148 1 Oregon OSHA Yarding and Loading Handbook Introduction his handbook focuses on skyline yarding as the • Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Standards, T most common type of logging operation in Oregon, Division 7 Forest Activities. 2008. Oregon OSHA. assuming steep terrain and use of a yarder tower and cable system. Basic information may also apply to other • Cable Yarding Systems Handbook. 2006. WorkSafe logging methods. BC. British Columbia, Canada. • Practical Methodology for Operational Layout of The material in the handbook is intended to reinforce Commercial Skyline Thinning Systems. 2004. Oregon safe practices in a hazardous work environment, based State University, Forest Research Laboratory. on Oregon OSHA Division 7 Forest Activities safety and health standards, and generations of practical experience • Best Practice Guidelines for Cable Logging. 2000. in Oregon logging. The main intent is to provide loggers FITEC, New Zealand. with a readable, easy-to-use resource. • Yarding and Loading Handbook. 1993. Oregon OSHA. This handbook does not contain all forest activity rules and is not a substitute for Oregon OSHA • Designing Double-Tree Intermediate Supports for Division 7 – which should be consulted for a Multispan Skyline Logging. 1984. Oregon State complete understanding of work safety rules. University Extension Service. • Cable Logging Systems. 1974. U.S. Forest Service, Technical information is provided in some instances for Pacific Northwest Region. quick reference, but loggers should also consult more complete technical manuals for specific topics, such Illustrations in the handbook typically show model as setting appropriate guyline zones or engineering equipment and behavior. Negative examples are marked specifications for alternative anchor systems. Always with the symbol . Please observe the difference. consult Division 7 work rules – which are continually reviewed and updated – and the manufacturer’s operating Production of the Oregon OSHA Yarding and Loading instructions for specific equipment. Handbook included the following contributions. LOGGING SAFETY CON S U L TANT : Jeff Wimer Training is critical before working in the woods. Get hands-on training with a competent logger before EDITOR : Terry Hammond engaging in any yarding and loading activity. This Ill U S TRATOR : Phil Fehrenbacher handbook provides useful information, but does not TE C HNI C A L REVI EW : Mike Lulay, Oregon Forest Activities replace training in the field and supervised experience in Committee, Oregon OSHA the safe use of tools, equipment, and procedures. Logging is a complex enterprise, and the challenge of organizing a comprehensive view of yarding and loading has been greatly helped by 40 years of attention to best practices in other published resources. Publications from Oregon, British Columbia, and New Zealand were consulted. Primary source materials included the following: 2 SECTION 1 PLANNING AND SETUP 3 Oregon OSHA Yarding and Loading Handbook CHAPTER 1 PLANNING FOR THE UNIT up to the logger. The best locations may not be clear until THINK SAFETY FIRST timber is on the ground. Assess the basic requirements Planning a unit for logging requires up-front attention to for each potential landing, using the following criteria: work safety requirements. Implement the firm’s general • Make sure the area to be logged is accessible and safety and health plan, and then assess specific working yarding distances are minimized. conditions and hazards in the unit (see Chapter 10). • Ensure deflection is adequate. • Assess each landing according to the available machinery; assure adequate landing size, feasible landing to tailhold distances, tailhold anchor, and payload requirements. • Determine if adequate guyline stumps or other anchor types are available for each landing. • Assess danger trees near the landing. PRE-WORK CHECKLIST • IMPORTANT: Look at the worst yarding situation The unit plan will help ensure a safe and productive from each landing and determine if the machines operation. The following items should be checked off have sufficient capacity for it. before setting loggers to work. [4] Landing Size. Landowners or loggers will develop [1] Hazard Assessment. Survey the setting for hazards, the working size of the landing according to production such as standing snags, rock outcroppings, stream and safety requirements, involving the volume of timber, buffers, or power lines. Pay attention to unique features terrain, decking, equipment, and logging method (see of the unit. Topographical maps are useful. Determine Chapter 2). An initial assessment of the unit for landing ways to avoid or eliminate identified hazards in the work locations should calculate the required minimum size for areas. the following basic features. [2] Weather. Consider how the weather may affect the • Machines – maintain at least 3 feet of space between crew and roads. Snow, wind, and rain can create hazards. any machine. Pay particular attention to the roads and their ability to function in difficult weather. • Landing edge – check the stability of the slope on the side where work will be performed. In some IMPORTANT: Assess the ability of emergency personnel instances, it may be necessary to work over the edge to reach the logging site in adverse weather conditions. to get logs moved. • Landing chute – accommodate at least two-thirds [3] Landing Locations. Identify the best landing the length of the longest log landed. locations and potential secondary locations. Usually, landings are already determined or choices are limited by • Decking area – must be adequate for the volume and the terrain. In some cases, the landing locations are left size of logs processed. 4 Chapter 1. Planning the Unit TRUCK TURNAROUND FIRE TRUCK LOG TRUCK BACKED IN CRUMMY GUYLINES LOG DECK LOADER CARRIAGE ON SKYLINE TURN LANDING CHUTE YARDER PROCESSOR View of a typical landing SURGE AREA • Surge area – reserve a place where the processor can surfacing, overhead power lines, adverse grades, tight lay logs off to the side until there is time to catch up curves, and so on. and move the logs to the decking area. [6] Timber Cutting. Determine the method of falling. • Loading – where log trucks turn around, load, and Terrain will dictate whether the unit will be mechanically exit. felled or hand felled. The timber size, landing area, terrain, and machinery to be used will determine whether [5] Haul Roads. Position machinery and arrange the tree-length or log-length methods of timber cutting will sequence of logging to minimize conflicts with haul be used. These decisions will affect the size of the landing roads. Movement of log trucks on the landing should and associated hazards. not interfere with the logging process. Consider how the road connects to the landing and how it relates to Timber should be felled to lead to minimize risk to the potential decking areas. Also, anticipate the interaction rigging crew that follows. If snags or other hazard trees between the haul road and the ongoing logging and are left for the rigging crew, the unsafe timber needs to falling processes. It may be necessary to control access be clearly identified with hazard ribbon. with flaggers at the landing or where lines cross the haul road. IMPORTANT: Communicate with fallers to save support trees that may be needed in the skyline corridors. Also, Also consider the entire haul route. Look at the main inform operators of mechanical fellers to save anchor county or state access roads and determine if there stumps around all potential landings. Mechanical fellers are any obstacles to moving heavy machinery, such as typically cut timber close to the ground, which eliminates weight-limited bridges, unstable roads, inadequate road the possibility of using those stumps as anchors. 5 Oregon OSHA Yarding and Loading Handbook Remote locations may have problems with communication Acceptable dead spots, and may be difficult to access. If external stump height for communication is not possible at a landing, find a guyline anchor location nearby where