Training with professionals, students in the Glenville State College (GSC) Department of Land Resources timber harvesting course recently participated in the West Virginia Division of Forestry’s (WVDOF) Timber Felling and Chainsaw Safety Workshop on the GSC Farm. During the workshop, students learned the importance of personal protective equipment, timber harvesting laws and regulations, how to obtain a timber harvesting license in the State of West Virginia, and OSHA regulations. The workshop, organized by Service Forester Jesse King, was led by Johnny King and Jack Spencer of the Division of Forestry.
Following a session on laws and regulations, the students began refining the skills they had already learned in their timber harvesting course, as well as learning new skills along the way. The hands-on training included practicing notches, boring into a tree, spring pole removal, tree topping and more. Johnny King demonstrated a safe tree felling, followed by a stump analysis to discuss proper felling technique.
Jesse King noted that the training teaches students what it takes to be safe. Students could work as sawyers or work for agencies/companies in which it will be their responsibility to supervise employees and keep them safe.