Skil CS4555-00 Owner's Manual page 21

Felling a Tree
Hazardous Conditions
WARNING
Do not fell trees during periods of high wind or heavy precipitation. Wait until the hazardous
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weather has ended.
Do not fell trees that lean at extreme angles or large trees with rotten limbs, loose bark, or
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hollow trunks. Instead, have these trees pushed or dragged down with heavy equipment and
then cut them up.
Do not fell trees near electrical wires or buildings.
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Check the tree for damaged or dead branches that could fall and hit you during felling.
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Periodically glance at the top of the tree during the back cut to assure the tree is going to fall
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in the desired direction.
If the tree starts to fall in the wrong direction, or if the saw gets caught or hung up during the
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fall, leave the saw and save yourself!
P
reparation for Tree Felling
When bucking and felling operations are
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being performed by two or more persons at
the same time, the felling operation should
be separated from the bucking operation by
a distance of at least twice the height of the
tree being felled. Trees should not be felled
in a manner that would endanger any person,
strike any utility line or cause any property
damage. If the tree does make contact with
any utility line, the utility company should be
notified immediately.
The chain saw operator should stand on the
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uphill side of the terrain, as the tree is likely
to roll or slide downhill after it is felled.
Before any cuts are started, pick your escape route (or routes, in case the intended route is
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blocked). Clear the immediate area around the tree and make sure that there are no ob-
structions in your planned paths of retreat. Clear a path of safe retreat approximately 135°
from the planned line of fall. The retreat path should extend back and diagonally to the rear
of the expected line of fall. See Figure 15.
Before felling is started, consider the natural lean of the tree, the location of larger branches
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and the wind direction to judge which way the tree will fall.
Remove dirt, stones, loose bark, nails, staples, and wire from the tree where felling cuts are
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to be made.
When felling a tree, it is important that you heed the following
warnings to prevent possible serious injury .
Fig. 15
Felling Direction
Dangerous Zone
Safety Retreat
Path
45
o
Dangerous Zone
Safety Retreat
Path
21