Mechanised Harvesting and Processing
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This Best Practice Guide is being reviewed. The future of Best Practice Guides will be decided during 2015. Best practice guidelines for Mechanised Harvesting and Processing V ision, knowledge, performance competenz.org.nz He Mihi Nga pakiaka ki te Rawhiti. Roots to the East. Nga pakiaka ki te Raki. Roots to the North. Nga pakiaka ki te Uru. Roots to the West. Nga pakiaka ki te Tonga. Roots to the South. Nau mai, Haere mai We greet you and welcome you. ki te Waonui~ o Tane To the forest world of Tane. Whaia te huarahi, Pursue the path, o te Aka Matua, of the climbing vine, i runga, I te poutama on the stairway, o te matauranga.~ of learning. Kia rongo ai koe So that you will feel, te mahana o te rangimarie.~ the inner warmth of peace. Ka kaha ai koe, Then you will be able, ki te tu~ whakaiti, to stand humbler, ki te tu~ whakahi.~ Yet stand proud. Kia Kaha, kia manawanui~ Be strong, be steadfast. Tena koutou katoa. First edition December 2002 Revised edition January 2005 This Best Practice Guideline is to be used as a guide to mechanical harvesting and processing. It does not supersede legislation in any jurisdiction or the recommendations of equipment manufacturers. FITEC believes that the information in the guideline is accurate and reliable; however, FITEC notes that conditions vary greatly from one geographical area to another; that a greater variety of equipment and techniques are currently in use; and other (or additional) measures may be appropriate in a given situation. Other Best Practice Guidelines included in the series: • Cable Logging • Chainsaw Use • Fire Fighting and Controlled Burnoffs • Ground-based Logging • Land Preparation • Loading • Maintenance Inspections of Yarder Towers • Manual Log-making • Mobile Plant • Personal Protective Equipment • Road and Landing Construction • Silvicultural Pruning • Transport • Tree Felling • Tree Planting • Working with Helicopters © Copyright 2002, FITEC, New Zealand ISBN 0-9582261-6-4 Best Practice Guidelines for Mechanised Harvesting and Processing Contents Introduction 1 Purpose of these guidelines 1 How to use these guidelines 1 Acknowledgements 1 About Best Practice Training material 1 Mechanised harvesting and processing basics 2 What is mechanised harvesting and processing? 2 Machine types and their capabilities 2 Mechanised fallers 3 Mechanised harvesters 4 Mechanised processors 5 Static delimbers 6 Advantages of mechanised harvesting 7 Improved safety 7 High production 7 Felling quality 7 Delimbing quality 8 Environmental issues 8 Improved working conditions 8 Harvesting costs 8 Factors affecting the use of mechanised harvesting systems 9 Stand/tree characteristics 9 Terrain and ground conditions 9 Machine capability 10 Operator skill and teamwork 10 System woodflows and work patterns 10 Job prescription requirements 11 Safety requirements for harvesting machines 11 Mechanised felling cuts and their use 11 Single cut 11 Double cut 12 Triple cut 12 Factors affecting mechanised log-making decisions 13 Stem and log attributes 13 Log grade specifications 18 Log cutting instructions 18 Changes to cutting instructions 19 Planning consideratons 19 The system approach 19 Felling with a mechanised harvester 20 Delimbing with a mechanised harvester 22 Delimbing with a static delimber 23 Log-making with a mechanised processor 24 Work area safety 25 Warning signs 25 Communication 26 Entering an operational area 26 Training and supervision 27 Harvester simulator training 27 Knowledge of hazards 27 Operator health hazards 27 Operational hazards 30 Personal protective equipment 39 Mechanised felling procedures 40 Step 1 - Assessing the stand 40 Step 2 - Assessing the tree 40 Dealing with trees beyond the machine’s capability 40 Step 3 - Clearing the base of the tree 41 Step 4 - Positioning the machine and felling head 41 Preparing for basic felling cuts 41 Dealing with difficult trees 42 Step 5 - Completing the felling cuts 43 Feller-director 43 Feller-buncher 44 Step 6 - Positioning the felled tree 45 Maintenance procedures 46 Daily maintenance 46 Periodic maintenance (e.g., weekly) 46 Mechanised delimbing procedures 47 Preparing to delimb tree lengths 47 Assessing the tree lengths 47 Positioning of the machine 47 Handling and delimbing tree lengths 47 Dealing with tree lengths beyond the machine’s capability 49 Clearing debris 49 Maintenance procedures 49 Daily maintenance 50 Periodic maintenance (e.g.,weekly) 50 Static delimber procedures 51 Preparing to delimb tree lengths 51 Assessing the tree lengths 51 Positioning of the delimber and the pull-through machine 51 Anchoring the delimber 52 Handling and delimbing tree lengths 53 Using an excavator loader 53 Using a grapple skidder or bell loader 54 Dealing with tree lengths beyond the delimber’s capability 54 Clearing debris 54 Maintenance procedures 55 Mechanised processing procedures 56 Preparing to make logs 56 Assessing the stand 56 Log grade specifications and the cutting instructions 56 Positioning of the machine 56 Making logs 57 Dealing with tree lengths beyond the machine’s capability 58 Clearing debris 58 Maintenance procedures 58 Daily maintenance 59 Periodic maintenance (e.g., weekly) 59 Calibrating the log-making equipment 59 Glossary of terms 60 Index to unit standards 64 Introduction Purpose of these guidelines The Best Practice Guidelines for Mechanised Harvesting and Processing have been designed by FITEC to improve the safety and performance of mechanised harvesting operations. The guidelines combine industry training standards and best practice information to provide a valuable reference manual for the owners and operators of mechanised harvesters, processors, and/or delimbers. These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations (the Code) (Section 4 - Rules for Mobile Plant and Machinery; Section 14 – Rules for Tree Felling; and Section 17 – Rules for Skids, Landings, Dumps and Squares). They also provide reference material (in part or in full) for the following Unit Standards registered on the NZQA framework: 6941 – Demonstrate knowledge of forest mechanised harvesting 6942 – Operate a forestry mechanised harvesting machine 6943 – Delimb tree lengths using a mechanised harvesting machine 6944 – Make logs using a mechanised processing machine 6945 – Fell trees using a mechanised harvesting machine 6947 – Bunch tree lengths for extraction or processing 6948 – Delimb tree lengths using a static delimber 6968 – Operate a mechanised forest harvesting machine in a production situation. Kia tipu te Tohungatanga I roto I o matou mahi ngahere katoa “That the highest order of professionalism be nurtured with all our work in the forests” How to use these guidelines These guidelines have been arranged in five main The subsequent four sections provide operational sections: procedures specific to the following mechanised tasks: • Mechanised Harvesting and Processing Basics provides an overview of the types of • Mechanised Felling mechanised harvesting and processing • Mechanised Delimbing operations and machines, advantages and limitations, planning considerations, and health • Delimbing with a Static Delimber and safety issues. • Mechanised Processing The Glossary of Terms gives the meaning of terms used throughout these guidelines. The Index to Unit Standards allows the reader to locate information related to the Unit Standards listed. Acknowledgements FITEC acknowledges the assistance of Work Smart Forestry, LFITB Limited, Forest Research, Harvestech, Waratah Forestry Attachments, W.L.Gracie and Associates, the New Zealand Forest Owners Association, the Occupational Safety and Health Service, and numerous forest industry trainers, forestry contractors, and forest company staff in the development of these Best Practice Guidelines. About best practice training material FITEC has developed the material in this publication. It has been reviewed by representatives of the forest industry. At the time of publication, FITEC considers the practices and approaches in this publication to exceed accepted industry standards with regard to production and business management. In addition, the practices recommended in the publication exceed all the New Zealand regulatory standards, in particular those related to health and safety, environmental management, and human resources / employment as applicable. This material is reviewed and reprinted regularly by FITEC. Introduction 1 Mechanised harvesting and processing basics What is mechanised harvesting and processing? Mechanised harvesting and processing involves the use of machines to complete the felling, delimbing, and/or processing of plantation trees. Mechanisation may be applied to one or more of these functions. For example, trees may be mechanically felled, extracted, and then delimbed and processed motor-manually. In other operations, all phases may be completed mechanically, or just the processing is mechanised. Mechanised harvesting machines provide an alternative to motor-manual felling, delimbing, and processing. Mechanised systems are commonly confined to flat to rolling terrain (slopes less than 22°). To a lesser extent, mechanised delimbing and processing have become an integral part of cable logging and superskid operations. A range of machine types can complete mechanised harvesting and processing operations. Furthermore, the delimbing and processing phases can be completed either at the stump, on the cutover, at the roadside, or at a landing or skid site. Mechanised thinning The configuration