NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS
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A publication of the National Wildfire NWCG Standards for Coordinating Group Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations PMS 212 AUGUST 2021 NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations August 2021 PMS 212 The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations establishes national interagency standards for chainsaw operations on wildland fires. • Meets or exceeds all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1910.266 Logging Standards. • Ensures that risk management is incorporated into all aspects with an emphasis on open communications. • Promotes safe and standardized chainsaw methods, techniques, and procedures for chainsaw operators from participating agencies. • Provide consistent interagency guidance, common terms, definitions, and standardized procedures for wildland firefighting chainsaw use. • Provides a standardized framework for current and future chainsaw training curriculum. • Includes optional crosscut saws in Appendix A. • Member agencies have agreed to meet or exceed the standards found within this document for certification of sawyers. The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) provides national leadership to enable interoperable wildland fire operations among federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local partners. NWCG operations standards are interagency by design; they are developed with the intent of universal adoption by the member agencies. However, the decision to adopt and utilize them is made independently by the individual member agencies and communicated through their respective directives systems. Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Well-Being and Human Factors ...................................................................................... 1 Physical Well-Being .......................................................................................................................... 1 Mental Well-Being ............................................................................................................................ 1 Human Factors .................................................................................................................................. 2 Chapter 2 – Safety, First Aid, and Personal Protective Equipment .................................................. 4 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) .................................................................. 4 First Aid Policy and Training Requirements ...................................................................................... 4 First Aid Equipment .......................................................................................................................... 4 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) ................................................................................................ 5 Work Zone Control ........................................................................................................................... 6 Emergency Evacuation Plan .............................................................................................................. 6 Lessons Learned and Importance of Close Calls ................................................................................ 7 Fuel Geyser Mitigation ...................................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 3 – Complexity, Size up, and Risk Management .................................................................. 9 Complexity ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Size Up Procedures ......................................................................................................................... 11 Risk Management............................................................................................................................ 13 Chapter 4 – Tree Anatomy and Defects Contributing to Failure .................................................... 14 Tree Anatomy ................................................................................................................................. 14 Decay Types ................................................................................................................................... 15 Root Damage .................................................................................................................................. 16 Chapter 5 – Chainsaw Components, Maintenance, and Repairs ..................................................... 25 Equipment ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Maintenance .................................................................................................................................... 30 Chainsaw Repairs ............................................................................................................................ 35 Chapter 6 – Basic Saw Operations and Handling ............................................................................ 38 Starting a Chainsaw ......................................................................................................................... 38 Transporting a Chainsaw ................................................................................................................. 39 Safe Handling.................................................................................................................................. 40 Sawyer/Swamper Teams ................................................................................................................. 42 Chapter 7 – Brushing, Limbing, and Bucking .................................................................................. 44 Cutting Zone Safety ........................................................................................................................ 44 Brushing.......................................................................................................................................... 45 Limbing .......................................................................................................................................... 46 Bucking ........................................................................................................................................... 46 Chapter 8 – Directional Felling ......................................................................................................... 50 Standards ........................................................................................................................................ 50 Narrative ......................................................................................................................................... 50 Hazardous Tree Risk Refusal Practices ............................................................................................ 50 Develop a Falling Plan .................................................................................................................... 51 General Felling Operations .............................................................................................................. 54 Types of Undercuts ......................................................................................................................... 54 Felling Away from the Natural Lean ............................................................................................... 61 Chapter 9 – Advanced Felling ........................................................................................................... 63 NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations i Standards ........................................................................................................................................ 63 Narrative ......................................................................................................................................... 63 Large Diameter Tree Felling............................................................................................................ 63 Leaner Trees ................................................................................................................................... 70 Hang-up Trees ................................................................................................................................. 71 Limb-Tied Trees ............................................................................................................................. 76 Steep Slopes .................................................................................................................................... 77 Fire-Damaged Trees ........................................................................................................................ 78 Appendix A: Crosscut Saws .............................................................................................................. 81 Saws ............................................................................................................................................... 81 How a Saw Cuts .............................................................................................................................. 83 Maintenance .................................................................................................................................... 84 Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................................