Spring Pole Propels Saw Into Loggers Face

BACKGROUND: A logger was felling hardwood sawtimber on a clear, sunny day in January in the Lake States, as part of a two-man logging team.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: The 31-year old logger had four years’ experience cutting timber. He was considered fully trained and had no previous injuries. He was wearing all his personal protective equipment, and the chain brake on his saw was fully functional.

UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITION: He had felled a red oak sawlog tree and was limbing his way up the tree. The tree had landed on a two-inch hemlock, laying it over so that it was flat on the ground under the sawlog. The hemlock did not appear to be under any tension.

ACCIDENT: The logger, thinking the little hemlock was not under any tension, started to cut it about 18 inches above ground level. As soon as he touched it with the saw, the hemlock snapped, propelling the chain saw back toward him.

INJURY: The functioning chain brake stopped the circulation of the chain, but the impact of the saw bar and chain damaged the logger’s hardhat, face shield, and earmuff, and lacerated the logger’s lower jaw and neck. He was flown to a hospital, where he underwent two and a half hours of surgery to fix the neck muscle and veins. He only stayed in the hospital overnight, but he will be out of work for approximately two months. He will most likely need physical therapy on his neck.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION:

Always treat bent-over trees as possible springpoles!
Release springpoles by carefully shaving the underside of the springpole to allow the wood fiber on the top side to release slowly.

The incident reinforces the importance of never working alone in the woods, providing high-quality first-aid training, and having an emergency evacuation plan.

Courtesy of the Forest Resources Association: forestresources.org.

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