Once the tree is felled, it might seem like the most dangerous part is over. This, in my opinion, is not always true. Many accidents have occurred while delimbing a tree, some serious. Branches under pressure can spring once cut or partially cut.

Always observe how the tree is positioned from the stump once it's felled. Did the butt kick to one side or the other? Did it slide away or back past the stump? This will tell you where the pressures are. If it kicks to the right, that means the branches on the right side of the tree are under pressure and could possibly spring once they are released. The same thing applies to topping the tree: depending on which way the tree slid will tell you where the pressure is.

It is almost always safer and easier to cut a branch or limb a few feet away from the tree. Then, once it's cut, you can cut the remaining piece from the log. The important thing is to know what you are dealing with.

Respect your chainsaw an slow down!

Following are some accidents that I have experienced personally or happened to some of my crew members:

A crew member felled a tree, and as it fell, it twisted. When it landed, the hinge portion of the tree was still attached to the stump. He attempted to cut it. Once it was cut, it sprung up and hit his face. He suffered a broken cheekbone and some serious cuts. His unsafe act was not understanding the pressure he was dealing with and not being in a safe position while performing the cut.

Another crew member was delimbing a large oak felled on a steep downslope. After he released a particularly large branch, the tree or log slightly rolled towards him and continued to slide down the slope. He had nowhere to go but to attempt to hop up on it. He hung on the best he could and rode with it for about 20 yards down the slope. His foot was pinched under a branch once everything stopped, and he could not get out. He then realized that the chainsaw also took a ride with him. He was able to reach it and free his foot. He walked away from it all with just a sore foot. His unsafe act was releasing a branch in a dangerous position. He may have been able to make a tongue-and-groove cut so the branch would have been cut but still released. At the very minimum, at least hook it to the skitter to keep it from sliding.

Yet another crew member attempted to fell a small poplar tree that had another small dead tree leaning on it. The tree he was cutting had an odd bend to it at the base, so he cut the stump extra high. He was aware of the other tree leaning on it. He just figured he would quickly escape as the tree falls, but he forgot and just backed away from the tree he was cutting. The tree that was leaning came down right on top of him and luckily landed on the high stump and stayed there. He was knocked to the ground but escaped without any serious injuries. He should have had the skitter pull the dead tree off the tree he wanted to cut prior to cutting.

If you start to feel tired, take a break!

The following accidents happened to me personally:

I attempted to fell a large ash tree. It was still live and had a significant lean. The terrain was very rocky with a moderate slope. I formed a normal open-face notch, created a hinge that was too wide, bored from both sides, and ended my cut at the back of the tree. The tree started to go and then split upwards and then pivoted on itself about 20 feet up and then came straight down. I knew right away that I was in trouble. I only had one way to go, and that was to the one side. If I would have gone straight back, I would certainly have been crushed. The butt of the tree came down and over 9 feet past the stump. Trust me, this happened really fast!

Do not think that you can run from it. It's just not possible. The only reason that I did not die that day was because I went the only way there was to go, which was to the side, and because God was looking out for me.

First of all, ash splits easily. Second, my hinge was too big. Since then, I developed a technique to safely fell leaning trees.

Another time, I was delimbing a tree, and I accidentally got a hickory sapling that was under tremendous pressure. It sprung and very nearly hit my face.

Understand what you are dealing with.

As a friend remarked once, "It's not because of my talent or lack of that I'm still here, but by God's grace."

Sincerely, Benuel F. Esh, Fox Run Timbers, Airville, PA (717) 818-7834

Benuel Esh has been logging for 12 years and also serves as a forestry agent. Raised on a dairy farm, he enjoys his work, the outdoors, and spending time with his wife Emma and their three sons. They reside in Airville, PA.