1910.266 Logging Operations

This paragraph contains the list of paragraphs and appendices contained in this section.

1. Table of contents
2. Scope and application
3. Definitions
4. General requirements
   
   
   1. Personal protective equipment
   2. First-aid kits
   3. Seat belts
   4. Fire extinguishers
   5. Environmental conditions
   6. Work areas
   7. Signaling and signal equipment
   8. Overhead electric lines
   9. Flammable and combustible liquids
   10. Explosives and blasting agents
5. Hand and portable powered tools
   
   
   1. General requirements
   2. Chain saws
6. Machines
   
   
   1. General requirements
   2. Machine operation
   3. Protective structures
   4. Overhead guards
   5. Machine access
   6. Exhaust systems
   7. Brakes
   8. Guarding
7. Vehicles
8. Tree harvesting
   1. General requirements
   2. Manual felling
   3. Bucking and limbing
   4. Chipping
   5. Yarding
   6. Loading and unloading
   7. Loading and unloading
   8. Storage
9. Training
10. Appendices

Appendix A -- Minimum First-aid Supplies
Appendix B -- Minimum First-aid Training
Appendix C -- Corresponding ISO Agreements

This standard establishes safety practices, means, methods and operations for all types of logging, regardless of the end use of the wood. These types of logging include, but are not limited to, pulpwood and timber harvesting and the logging of sawlogs, veneer bolts, poles, pilings and other forest products. This standard does not cover the construction or use of cable yarding systems.

This standard applies to all logging operations as defined by this section.

Hazards and working conditions not specifically addressed by this section are covered by other applicable sections of Part 1910.

"Arch." An open-framed trailer or built-up framework used to suspend the leading ends of trees or logs when they are skidded.

"Backcut (felling cut)." The final cut in a felling operation.

"Ballistic nylon." A nylon fabric of high tensile properties designed to provide protection from lacerations.

"Buck." To cut a felled tree into logs.

"Butt." The bottom of the felled part of a tree.

"Cable yarding." The movement of felled trees or logs from the area where they are felled to the landing on a system composed of a cable suspended from spars and/or towers. The trees or logs may be either dragged across the ground on the cable or carried while suspended from the cable.

"Chock." A block, often wedge shaped, which is used to prevent movement; e.g., a log from rolling, a wheel from turning.

"Choker." A sling used to encircle the end of a log for yarding. One end is passed around the load, then through a loop eye, end fitting or other device at the other end of the sling. The end that passed through the end fitting or other device is then hooked to the lifting or pulling machine.

"Danger tree." A standing tree that presents a hazard to employees due to conditions such as, but not limited to, deterioration or physical damage to the root system, trunk, stem or limbs, and the direction and lean of the tree.

"Debark." To remove bark from trees or logs.

"Deck." A stack of trees or logs.

"Designated person." An employee who has the requisite knowledge, training and experience to perform specific duties.

"Domino felling." The partial cutting of multiple trees which are left standing and then pushed over with a pusher tree.

"Fell (fall)." To cut down trees.

"Feller (faller)." An employee who fells trees.

"Grounded." The placement of a component of a machine on the ground or on a device where it is firmly supported.

"Guarded." Covered, shielded, fenced, enclosed, or otherwise protected by means of suitable enclosures, covers, casings, shields, troughs, railings, screens, mats, or platforms, or by location, to prevent injury.

"Health care provider." A health care practitioner operating with the scope of his/her license, certificate, registration or legally authorized practice.

"Landing." Any place where logs are laid after being yarded, and before transport from the work site.

"Limbing." To cut branches off felled trees.

"Lodged tree (hung tree)." A tree leaning against another tree or object which prevents it from falling to the ground.

"Log." A segment sawed or split from a felled tree, such as, but not limited to, a section, bolt, or tree length.

"Logging operations." Operations associated with felling and moving trees and logs from the stump to the point of delivery, such as, but not limited to, marking danger trees and trees/logs to be cut to length, felling, limbing, bucking, debarking, chipping, yarding, loading, unloading, storing, and transporting machines, equipment and personnel to, from and between logging sites.

"Machine." A piece of stationary or mobile equipment having a self-contained power plant, that is operated off-road and used for the movement of material. Machines include, but are not limited to, tractors, skidders, front-end loaders, scrapers, graders, bulldozers, swing yarders, log stackers, log loaders, and mechanical felling devices, such as tree shears and feller-bunchers. Machines do not include airplanes or aircraft (e.g., helicopters).

"Rated capacity." The maximum load a system, vehicle, machine or piece of equipment was designed by the manufacturer to handle.

"Root wad." The ball of a tree root and dirt that is pulled from the ground when a tree is uprooted.

"Serviceable condition." A state or ability of a tool, machine, vehicle or other device to operate as it was intended by the manufacturer to operate.

"Skidding." The yarding of trees or logs by pulling or towing them across the ground.

"Slope (grade)." The increase or decrease in altitude over a horizontal distance expressed as a percentage. For example, a change of altitude of 20 feet (6 m) over a horizontal distance of 100 feet (30 m) is expressed as a 20 percent slope.

"Snag." Any standing dead tree or portion thereof.

"Spring pole." A tree, segment of a tree, limb, or sapling which is under stress or tension due to the pressure or weight of another object.

"Tie down." Chain, cable, steel strips or fiber webbing and binders attached to a truck, trailer or other conveyance as a means to secure loads and to prevent them from shifting or moving when they are being transported.

"Undercut." A notch cut in a tree to guide the direction of the tree fall and to prevent splitting or kickback.

"Vehicle." A car, bus, truck, trailer or semi-trailer owned, leased or rented by the employer that is used for transportation of employees or movement of material.

"Winching." The winding of cable or rope onto a spool or drum.

"Yarding." The movement of logs from the place they are felled to a landing.

The employer shall assure that personal protective equipment, including any personal protective equipment provided by an employee, is maintained in a serviceable condition.

The employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that each employee handling wire rope wears, hand protection which provides adequate protection from puncture wounds, cuts and lacerations.

The employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that each employee who operates a chain saw wears leg protection constructed with cut-resistant material, such as ballistic nylon. The leg protection shall cover the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot on each leg to protect against contact with a moving chain saw. Exception: This requirement does not apply when an employee is working as a climber if the employer demonstrates that a greater hazard is posed by wearing leg protection in the particular situation, or when an employee is working from a vehicular mounted elevating and rotating work platform meeting the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.67.

The employer shall assure that each employee wears foot protection, such as heavy-duty logging boots that are waterproof or water repellent, cover and provide support to the ankle. The employer shall assure that each employee who operates a chain saw wears foot protection that is constructed with cut-resistant material which will protect the employee against contact with a running chain saw. Sharp, calk-soled boots or other slip-resistant type boots may be worn where the employer demonstrates that they are necessary for the employee's job, the terrain, the timber type, and the weather conditions, provided that foot protection otherwise required by this paragraph is met.

The employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that each employee who works in an area where there is potential for head injury from falling or flying objects wears head protection meeting the requirements of subpart I of Part 1910.

The employer shall provide, at no cost to the employee, and assure that each employee wears the following:

Eye protection meeting the requirements of subpart I of Part 1910 where there is potential for eye injury due to falling or flying objects; and

Face protection meeting the requirements of subpart I of Part 1910 where there is potential for facial injury such as, but not limited to, operating a chipper. Logger-type mesh screens may be worn by employees performing chain-saw operations and yarding.

Note to paragraph (d)(1)(vii): The employee does not have to wear a separate eye protection device where face protection covering both the eyes and face is worn.

The employer shall assure that personal protective equipment, including any personal protective equipment provided by an employee, is inspected before initial use during each workshift. Defects or damage shall be repaired or the unserviceable personal protective equipment shall be replaced before work is commenced.

The employer shall provide first-aid kits at each work site where trees are being cut (e.g., felling, buckling, limbing), at each active landing, and on each employee transport vehicle. The number of first-aid kits and the content of each kit shall reflect the degree of isolation, the number of employees, and the hazards reasonably anticipated at the work site.

The employer also may have the number and content of first-aid kits reviewed and approved annually by a health care provider.

The employer shall maintain the contents of each first-aid kit in a serviceable condition.

At a minimum, each first-aid kit shall contain the items listed in Appendix A at all times.

For each vehicle or machine (equipped with ROPS/FOPS or overhead guards), including any vehicle or machine provided by an employee, the employer shall assure:

That a seat belt is provided for each vehicle or machine operator;

That each employee securely and tightly fastens the seat belt to restrain the employee within the vehicle or machine cab;

That each machine seat belt meets the requirements of the Society of Automotive Engineers Standard SAE J386, June 1985, "Operator Restraint Systems for Off-Road Work Machines", which is incorporated by reference as specified in Sec. 1910.6.

That seat belts are not removed from any vehicle or machine. The employer shall replace each seat belt which has been removed from any vehicle or machine that was equipped with seat belts at the time of manufacture; and

That each seat belt is maintained in a serviceable condition.

That each employee uses the available seat belt while the vehicle or machine is being operated;

The employer shall provide and maintain portable fire extinguishers on each machine and vehicle in accordance with the requirements of subpart L of Part 1910.

All work shall terminate and each employee shall move to a place of safety when environmental conditions, such as but not limited to, electrical storms, strong winds which may affect the fall of a tree, heavy rain or snow, extreme cold, dense fog, fires, mudslides, and darkness, create a hazard for the employee in the performance of the job.

Employees shall be spaced and the duties of each employee shall be organized so the actions of one employee will not create a hazard for any other employee.

Each employee performing a logging operation at a logging work site shall work in a position or location that is within visual or audible contact with another employee.

The employer shall account for each employee at the end of each workshift.

Work areas shall be assigned so that trees cannot fall into an adjacent occupied work area. The distance between adjacent occupied work areas shall be at least two tree lengths of the trees being felled. The distance between adjacent occupied work areas shall reflect the degree of slope, the density of the growth, the height of the trees, the soil structure and other hazards reasonably anticipated at that work site. A distance of greater than two tree lengths shall be maintained between adjacent occupied work areas on any slope where rolling or sliding of trees or logs is reasonably foreseeable.

Hand signals or audible contact, such as but not limited to, whistles, horns, or radios, shall be utilized whenever noise, distance, restricted visibility, or other factors prevent clear understanding of normal voice communications between employees.

Only a designated person shall give signals, except in an emergency.

Engine noise, such as from a chain saw, is not an acceptable means of signaling. Other locally and regionally recognized signals may be used.

Logging operations near overhead electric lines shall be done in accordance with the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.333(c)(3).

The employer shall notify the power company immediately if a felled tree makes contact with any power line. Each employee shall remain clear of the area until the power company advises that there are no electrical hazards.

Flammable and combustible liquids shall be stored, handled, transported, and used in accordance with the requirements of subpart H of Part 1910.

Each machine, vehicle and portable powered tool shall be shut off during fueling. Diesel-powered machines and vehicles may be fueled while they are at idle, provided that continued operation is intended and that the employer follows safe fueling and operating procedures.