OUCH!!!!!! I would have never thought the limb would have went in that direction. That was weird.
Not trying to be a wise a$$, but that response is exactly why this post belongs here. If climbers, and the groundsmen holding the ropes, don't understand why the limb reacted in the way it did they are putting themselves in grave danger. I think all climbers and groundsmen should see this video followed by a discussion about why the accident occurred.
The accident could have been a lot worse though, the limb would have come straight back, rather than rotating and coming back, either forcing the chain saw into the victim or the limb hitting him in the torso or head.
Some companies require their climbers to drop crotch the limb being lowered to avoid this scenario. That is where the crotch used for the rope is at or just below where the cut is being made. This way the limb cannot come back, at least any more than the distance to where the rope is tied or the first hitch.
At least 4 factors contributed to the limb in the video coming back at the victim:
The rope in the video had been placed in a crotch many feet higher in the tree, the rope had been tied too far out on the limb, and then rope must have been pulled taut then tied off before the victim ascended the ladder to make the cut.
I would like to see this video re-posted periodically. If the video gives pause to anyone attempting to do this it may save a life, and isn't that what this forum is about.