<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hey ChainPoint's...<div><br></div><div>Just returning from a belated Spring training week in Illinois. We arrived to 65 degree temps and by Wednesday night its 24 and snowing. Go figure... The training groups were great though. Always well organized by PDRMA and NIPSTA - training parks and public works personnel. </div><div><br></div><div>We had some problems on our return to Hiram. At about 65mph, the right front wheel bearing decided to lock down on the bus. had oil in the hub, so it must have just been time for it to go. Had to have it towed from Glendale, KY to Nashville, TN to a place to repair. So, we are accepting donations for the tow bill $$$. We are hoping to have it back rolling for the PA and MA training coming up next week.</div><div><br></div><div>This week we have one workshop in GA for the GALTAP in Stockbridge, GA.</div><div><br></div><div>Fuel prices are on the rise! As if you didn't already know... It makes TruFuel / 50Fuel a greater value. Buy it at your local outlet or our eStore before it too goes up...</div><div><br></div><div>The eStore has guide bar dressers back in stock too...</div><div><br></div><div>I have posted several new videos regarding PPE from Elvex on my YouTube channel. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/ARDTIM">www.youtube.com/ARDTIM</a> </div><div><br></div><div>I have added a cool feature to our website - SPOT locations... You can now click a link from our homepage <a href="http://www.ForestApps.com">www.ForestApps.com</a> and see where we are in our training and travels. Check it out!</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for all your orders from our eStore and Barnes and Noble on our eBook. It continues to give a lot of information to first time and experienced chainsaw operators. Links on our homepage.</div><div><br></div><div>Laura and I are looking forward to a busy Spring Training Schedule... We hope to see you there! Click our event link on the website for details.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The Article below highlights a few thoughts on clearing the road of storm debris. I hope it creates some thought and planning questions in your approach to storm clean up. Remember, every situation is different so take the time to look over new possibilities as you approach a chainsaw task.</div><div><br><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><i>Good Sawing,</i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><i><b>Tim Ard</b></i></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><a href="mailto:timard@forestapps.com">timard@forestapps.com</a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; ">(O) 770.222.2511</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><br></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; "><a href="http://www.ForestApps.com">www.ForestApps.com</a></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; ">FB - Forest Applications Training</div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; ">Twitter - @ForestApps</div></div></span>
</div><div>YouTube - ARDTIM</div><div><br></div><div><!--StartFragment-->
<h1><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Clearing the Road</span></h1><p class="HeaderFooter"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">By Tim
Ard, Forest Applications Training, Inc.</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">If a storm or
natural process leaves debris for you to utilize your chainsaw skills on, what
do you do? The treetop is in the road and you and your saw have to make movable
pieces of it. Where you start may mean the difference between a little work and
a lot of hard risky work. It could even mean injury or death to you or someone
else with you. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">So what do we
do? How do we make a plan to complete this task the quickest and best that it
can be done and safely...?</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">In most
implementations of the storm cleanup process I see (and hear of), the operators
simply grab a chainsaw, start it up and begin cutting the end of the tree
that's over the road. Sound familiar? Is there another way?</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">A couple thoughts,
I guess you could call them techniques; I've come to appreciate...</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Look
over the situation at hand from several angles. Walk around and identify any
hazards overhead and around the project. Are there saplings or limbs bent over
creating spring poles in the work area.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Identify
any possibility of roll over or twisted side binds that you see. Could your
feet and legs be quickly swept out from under you by side-to-side a movement?</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Is
the trunk and now horizontal canopy going to come down with each cut or may
that cut unleash up pressure that may come at you. </span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">What
about backpressure from limbs imbedded and pushing back or the possibility of
the tree sliding forward or down an embankment.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Know
the top four information steps before you make a cut. Repeat them over and over
as you plan and execute each cut.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Make
sure your chainsaw is running up to the manufacturers specs and that your saw
chain is sharp and cutting at it's best. Pushing and pulling are not techniques
that are neither beneficial nor safe when cutting downed debris.</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Does your plan
begin at the crown in the road? Could it be that you could better accomplish
the task to clear the road or area by starting at the butt of the tree? People
ask me all the time what I mean with that statement. I will try to clarify...</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">If
I start at the end or crown of many trees it constitutes the need to cut high,
sometimes higher than you should without a pole saw. Never cut above your
shoulders with the saw and if you have to lift the saw a little high, make sure
to turn the bar almost sideways to eliminate being right in line with the
reactive kick-back forces and the cutting chain. Don't just cut with the
spinning chain pointed right inline with your head and body. When you lift the
saw very high or up and down often fatigue rises quickly. Fatigue and saw work
do not mix well, like drinking, fatigue and driving.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">When
you cut the limbs of the crown from the end, you generally have to cut and then
stop and pull them out and down and maybe even out of the way.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">The
limb ends, or top pieces, are usually smaller diameter and vibrate as the chain
pulls them about. This increases chances of chain derailing and limbs throwing
the saw about, usually at a level even with the upper body.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo2"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">More
cuts on small limbs have to be made to start at the top.</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h2><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">The Alternative</span></h2><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Begin
at the butt end. It may be that you can start right at the stump. It often is
better in your plan to move up the trunk to the edge of the road or first major
crotch to begin the process. Try not to pass any limbs unless you are using
them as support or scotches.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">When
removing limbs up the trunk it's easier to maintain saw control at a lower
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You can work up the trunk
removing limbs and having room to move and leaving some debris until you're out
of the immediate area before swamper’s move it. Leaving the debris momentarily
can even be used as roll protection or support. Moving should be practiced with
the chain brake engaged and make sure to have a plan in mind and stabile
footing before making the next cut.</span></p><p class="Body1" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3"><span style="font-family:Symbol;mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:
Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">The
neat part of de-limbing up the trunk direction is that you can severe the limb
close to the trunk and in many cases the swamper can pull the limb right out of
the road or back to the chipper without having to cut so many times. Limb
direction can easily be changed too without having to do so much manhandling to
get it off the road. Many trees you can remove and drag less that a dozen limbs
to clear the road instead of fifty cuts on small pieces, making fifty trips to
the roadside or chipper. </span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Just step back
and look at your next tree cleanup project and you will see what I mean...</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:
Helvetica">Please think about this too</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:
Helvetica"> - Only one person with a saw on the tree until the tree is
stabilized. You do not want one person cutting the trunk and another cutting
limbs until these two sections are disconnected and stabile. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">You don't want
anything to roll over on another sawyer or someone pulling brush. Make sure to
give enough distance between the sawyer and the swamper or brush tender. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Don't hold limbs
waiting on them to be cut. Let the cuts be made, then come in when the Sawyer
requests your help. Working too close together or trying to hurry the process
and saw contact is inevitable.</span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Always wear Your
Personal Protective Equipment when you operate a chain saw. Head, eye, ear,
gloves, leg protection and boots are the best insurance you can have against
personal injury, along with a complete cutting plan. </span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">For more on this
topic and many other chain saw safety thoughts and techniques visit </span><u><a href="http://www.ForestApps.com"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica;
color:black">www.ForestApps.com</span></a></u><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:
Helvetica"> </span></p><p class="Body1"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">Tim Ard is
president of Forest Applications Training, Inc. Contact Tim with any questions
or for further explanations at </span><u><a href="mailto:info@ForestApps.com"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica;color:black">info@ForestApps.com</span></a></u><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">. We specialize in training operators
of outdoor power equipment at city, county and state levels nationwide. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="Body1"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Helvetica">© Copyright 2011
Forest Applications Training, Inc.</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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