Guys, don't get complacent out there!!!

[wyk]

That is a hard lesson learned. Good thing it wasn't your last. It could easily have been.

Regardless of the lean, or PPE, what appears to be the main problem resulting in injury is you had chainsaw target fixation. Situational awareness is very important. Once that tree commits, get the hell out of there. No helmet in the world will protect you from being crushed by a tree. PPE is simply the protection part while cutting and remaining stationary. And, yes, it is very important. You were fine up to the point the work was done. All you had to do was run like hell. A helmet would have helped you in this situation, being aware and leaving the stump would have avoided the situation altogether.

I've had an oak do something similar to me. I let one go, and a limb smacked me so hard I lost my balance. I had a helmet, but that didn't save me when I fell backwards into the trunk of another large oak it was near, hitting the back of my head pretty hard. had I simply ran when the oak I was falling let go, I would have been fine.

Be careful out there. All of you.

 

[Jtheo]

Brad, Thanks for posting this. You are a stand up guy.

I have to admit that I have got a little careless in that I have been cutting by myself recently, knowing that I should not, in case something went wrong.

This is a good wake up call for me.

 

[blsnelling]

Pure Speculation on my part, Not sure a basic skull bucket would have helped you here. Looks like your head is down and you got pummeled a few times. My bet is that your helmet would have been gone by the time the big one hit you.

I wear a Petzl climbing helmet with the muffs and face shield now. The straps should help keep the helmet in place if it goes bad. My personal preference only mind you. I like having the helmet secure on my head for getting on the tractor, bending over, etc, and it is lighter than the Stihl helmet.

You make some valid points, some that I've been considering. I did have a cold weather hat on. It's one of those goofy looking hats that an old school bomber would wear. It's made of heavy leather and lined with fleece. It had to have given me at least a little protection. It was 6'-8' away, on the other side of the stump. However, I strongly believe it was on my head when the big one hit me. There was a good sized clump of hair still inside the hat, pulled from where the wound happened. But it provided me no protection on my forehead. I don't think a typical helmet would have either. This has me thinking the strap on type would give me the most protection. I'm thinking it's the only style of helmet that might have protected me front and back. I also like the shields I've seen on a couple of these.

 

[andydodgegeek]

WOW I just watched the video. You are very lucky. Keep us informed on your recovery. I am kicking myself as we speak for not wearing my helmet. I bought a new helmet several months ago and have not worn it once. I have been cutting alot over the last couple weeks, cleaning up from the big nasty wind storm we had in july. Lots of trees hung up together, lots of tension. I know it wouldnt take much for one of these trees under tension to take me out. I almost always cut alone, usually no one around. I dont have much of an option for getting someone to come with but I can at least start wearing my ppe. Thanks for posting this horrific video, I will change my ways. OUCH, man that looks nasty.

 

[CTYank]

Brad, it takes a tough guy to take a licking like that and publish the specifics to the world. We can only guess how many serious injuries/fatalities you'll help prevent. (You could tell people you were in a tree-punching contest and the tree got in a couple of hits.) Seriously, hope nothing permanent.

Even the best helmet can only protect against so much. As a summer groundie in college, my boss trimming above let a stream of pretty good-sized chunks of brush go. One hit my helmet- good solid hit; next hit me on the shoulder- was in la-la land for a bit.

 

[Raganr]

Don't drop trees alone, study your tree carefully, NEVER cut through your hinge, always have wedges, always have a backup saw and/or bar, always look up, and never try to save a saw!

Glad you made it out with only minor injuries and thank you for sharing. I would much rather learn from the mistakes of others rather than my own.

 

[CWME]

If you do decide to go this route be careful in your selection. Petzl at least, makes the same helmet with a pressure release clasp designed to let go if hung up. They have a closed shell and one that is vented. I like the vented because I sweat a lot. Only downside is the sweat tends to run down my face because it doesn't have an absorbent band like the stihl. Something to Mod come spring

Hat or Helmet, I think you were still going to get hurt in that situation. I know in my case the helmet kept me from leaking blood and getting staples in my head like you. (That was gross BTW:msp_flapper

You make some valid points, some that I've been considering. I did have a cold weather hat on. It's one of those goofy looking hats that an old school bomber would wear. It's made of heavy leather and lined with fleece. It had to have given me at least a little protection. It was 6'-8' away, on the other side of the stump. However, I strongly believe it was on my head when the big one hit me. There was a good sized clump of hair still inside the hat, pulled from where the wound happened. But it provided me no protection on my forehead. I don't think a typical helmet would have either. This has me thinking the strap on type would give me the most protection. I'm thinking it's the only style of helmet that might have protected me front and back. I also like the shields I've seen on a couple of these.

 

[zogger]

Wow!

Close one man! Glad you made it with just a knocking about and a bent bar. Geez loweez be careful! When I am cutting big ones, I don't care how tedious or silly it might get, I throw a line and a comealong on them anyway if they are the least bit iffy looking to me.

Decades ago, guardian angel action saved me, it is the only answer I can come up with. Did a small one, about 12 inches or so, no biggee, fell where it was supposed to. I am bucking it up into a few small logs to hand drag out, finish bucking at my cabin. Like around five minutes later I get this feeling of just dread, impending doom, a threat. overwhelming. I looked around..this ain't normal..see nothing, but couldn't stand it, dropped my bowsaw and walked about 10 feet away still looking around...WHOMP! A definite widow maker falls hard right where I had been standing. Never saw it or heard it until it hit the ground.

 

[naturelover]

Speaking of the staples.......

Remember when I was younger, I was running and fell on the edge of the brick sidewalk and peeled some skin from my knee. I could literally pull the flap back and such.

Well, parents took me to the doc, nurse comes in with this 6' long (well, it looked it) needle and proceeded to try to put it together.

After fumbling with it a few seconds, she looked at it and said "well, no wonder, this part is made in China, and this part is made in Japan...."

Thought "uh oh" as she jabbed it right in the wound. Talk about pain.... I think she could have just sewed it up without anesthesia and it would have hurt less.

Sorry, OT.

 

[pgg]

sucks getting slapped by a tree, those with brains never let it happen twice, no1 piece of safety equipment in the bush felling is helmet, Some will rave on and on about chaps/flouro vests/goggles/steel cap boots/pink ribbons and safety manuals blah blah but helmet is No1

 

[sun64]

Thanks for sharing Brad, it just shows how dangerous this game can be. A great reminder to us all.
My wife's cousin was a professional pine faller and was killed on the job.
I had a close call a few months ago dropping a gum in a rain forrest, 25 metres tall, just over 350 mm ( 14 inches at the base ) not much room for my wedges and a gust of wind came up and she went over backwards on me bringing another trees branch down in the process.
Yes you really have to evaluate EVERY tree and conditions.
Thanks for the post and reminders. Hope you heal up soon.
sun64

 

[hillwilliam]

Thanks for the post

You done good to post your story - and video. We wouldn't all be man enough to do that. You deserve a lot of credit for fessing up.

I cut timber for a long time, including some big timber, and i was good at it. But I've made similar mistakes. I'd be dead now, if it wasn't for a tin hat that's now a dog dish. And I'd be almost an inch taller if i was as good a faller as i thought I was.

Glad you're OK so far. You already got some good advice on medical aspects, as well as some other advice you may not need.

Hillwilliam

 

[stihl waters]

Tks for sharing, we all make mistakes,it's the old "familiarity breeds contempt" thing. You've done a great service by posting that vid., seeing is believing !!

 

[MotorSeven]

Brad, thanks for having the stones to post this. We all make mistakes, sometimes we skate, but sooner or later we get caught.

I always cut firewood alone and since I have been building my log house & milling lots of logs, I sometimes rush things when I shouldn't. Last year I was cutting in a big pick-up sticks blow down. The 20" trunk was 3' off the ground and hung, and I studied the thing for 20 min before cutting, since unseen tension gives me the willies. Anyway, when I made it through the cut and stepped back, the trunk rolled. A 3" branch that I did not see trapped under the trunk unloaded and whipped back. I felt the wind from it go by my head...it could not have missed me by more than an inch or two. I went right for the whiskey when I got home, and it still bothers me that I made that huge mistake.

I know the purpose of your post is to make us think...thanks...message received.

 

[NORMZILLA44]

I'm glad your ok Brad, glad somebody was looking out for you I don't want to lose anymore friends, for a long long time.

 

[andydodgegeek]

Hi, Brad, this is Andy's wife, Sarah. Just got home & sat down for dinner and a little movie... Wow. Andy can attest- I just sat here making that gasping noise us women are so known for as I watched... I'm sure I'm not alone in seeing enough of the results of unpredictable tree falling to not want to see any more good folks get wacked! Glad to see you're among the land of the living still. As a recent head-injury victim myself, I hope your recovery is fast and complete, it's definitely a reality check!

Take care...

ps- Andy said that he understands that it would be hard to run away from your saw when it is in danger- but you shoulda just said to heck with it & ran away! You do have other saws... and you needed that saw like you needed another hole in the head-oops-now you got one of them too!

 

[nick 55]

Brad, I think the only head protection that would have prevented all but a sore jaw would be something like this.

Nick

View attachment 223758

 

[nick 55]

You do have other saws... and you needed that saw like you needed another hole in the head

Blasphemy! I think that head injury has definitely affected you.

Just kidding Sarah,

Nick

Let the negative rep rain down on me for that....

 

[jropo]

You make some valid points, some that I've been considering. I did have a cold weather hat on. It's one of those goofy looking hats that an old school bomber would wear. It's made of heavy leather and lined with fleece. It had to have given me at least a little protection. It was 6'-8' away, on the other side of the stump. However, I strongly believe it was on my head when the big one hit me. There was a good sized clump of hair still inside the hat, pulled from where the wound happened. But it provided me no protection on my forehead. I don't think a typical helmet would have either. This has me thinking the strap on type would give me the most protection. I'm thinking it's the only style of helmet that might have protected me front and back. I also like the shields I've seen on a couple of these.

Use what ever your going to feel comfortable in, it all goes w/ trusting your gear.
If you don't like it you won't wear it. (Just like my chaps)
You don't seem to be much of a hat guy, but I think even one of these might of saved you some staples.

Bailey's - Rockman Bump Cap


Put it on when your felling, when its safe, take it off.
Like the others said knowing when to leave the stump is key and sometimes hard to do, when your pride and joy is left to the mercy of the tree that it just killed.
Like someone else said its not always the big ones that get ya, (you have a respect for them) its the little SOB's that are knocked over in the process that like to make your day interesting.
Rest,reflect,get new bar, GET EVEN!!!!
A nice slab of that tree would be a good place to hang your bent bar on.

 

[Busmech]

Glad you are still around to talk about this. Anybody that falls many trees has had a close call, any body that says they havn't just hasn't found the one with his name on it. An old timer that i was bucking for showed me a safer way to rescue your saw, he said when your saw gets pinched and the tree is going the wrong way don't hold the handle, hold the rope handle, that lets you get two to three feet further from the stump. hold tension on the rope if the saw comes loose yank it to you. I got to see him use that method several times over the years and his saw allways pulled thru.