1. HUNG UP TREE AWARENESS
By far and away hang-ups are the most dangerous situation that sawyers face.

2. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THIS CHART THE FELLING OF HANGUPS IS A FACTOR IN A LITTLE OVER A THIRD OF ALL FATALITIES AND WHEN YOU ADD POOR FELLING TECHNIQUE THE TWO ARE FACTORS IN ABOUT HALF OF FATALITIES.

3. CHAINSAW FELLING FATAL ACCIDENT CAUSES
Hang-up fell: A little over 25%
Broken limbs or top: About 12%
Agency trends:
The majority of near miss reports we receive concern hang-ups and are related to the top coming out or the snag not falling where they thought it would.
We have had serious injuries because the top came out while removing hang-ups.

4. Size up
When assessing a hang-up you are confronted with one of the most complex situations there is. The first question you must answer is: Does the hang up really need to come down or can it be safely mitigated?
The results of many Peer Review following incidents involving hang ups has concluded that the tree presented a greater risk to someone cutting it then simply taking mitigation actions to manage or avoid the hazard. Just because a tree is hung up does not make it a hazard.

5. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
Key words:
THOROUGH – EXECUTED WITHOUT NEGLIGENCE OR OMISSIONS.
COMPLEX – CLOSELY CONNECTED; A WEAVING OR TWINING TOGETHER. 1. CONSISTING OF TWO OR MORE RELATED PARTS.
COMPLEXITY – THE CONDITION OR QUALITY OF BEING COMPLEX.
Understanding these three words and their meanings are key to situational awareness.

6. SITUATIONAL AWARNESS INDIVIDUAL COMPLEXITY
THE COMPLEXITY OF THE ASSIGNMENT MUST BE DETERMINED BY THE INDIVIDUAL SAWYER.
This is based on his/her individual skill, knowledge and understanding of personal capabilities and limitations.
The final decision to cut any tree is left up to the individual sawyer; therefore, giving him/her the choice to say “NO” and walk away from any sawing situation they have determined to be beyond their capabilities.

7. SITUATIONAL AWARNESS INDIVIDUAL COMPLEXITY
If a thorough job assessing the complexity of the individual situation has been completed, the decision to cut or not to cut will be determined by the GO-NO-GO process.
Straight forward-”I FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE SAWING SITUATION, I WILL CUT IT” or “I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE SITUATION, I WILL WALK AWAY FROM IT”
Do not base your decision on
“I THINK I CAN DO IT”

8. TAKING DOWN A HANG UP – IS IT FALLING OR BUCKING?
What is the difference between falling a tree and removing a hang-up?
Generate discussion before moving on to next slide about what individual perceptions are concerning the practices of taking down a hang up. What should we call the process, falling and/or bucking?

9. FALLING
Falling – Constructing a hinge to control and direct a tree to a predetermined lay.
The tree is connected to the stump by the hinge which is the controlling force.

10. BUCKING Bucking – Cutting a fallen tree into sections.
The tree is on the ground at foot level.
The movement of the tree is limited by contact with the ground which is the controlling force.

11. HANG-UP REMOVAL
Hang-up removal – Cutting a fallen tree (That hasn’t hit the ground) into sections for removal.
Being in a vertical position gravity and the tree that is hung are the controlling force’s.
The trees movement is uncontrolled and unlimited after you release it.
This applies to removal by chain saw not mechanical means.

12. You need to ask yourself:
Did you create it?
If so:
What did plan?
What happened?
What did you learn?
Will you ask for assistance?
Can it be left hung and mitigated?
Just because you hung it up does not mean you own it to the point of risking your own safety. Don’t take unnecessary risk taking down a hang up just to avoid potential embarrassment. Hang ups are experienced by all fallers.

13. Did it occur naturally? Instructor note:
A well hung tree can many times can be safely left in place and any residual hazard mitigated.

14. Is it truly a hazard? How solid is it?
Will cutting on it make it a hazard?
Bole hung or limb hung?
Do we really have to work around or under it?
If so, are there alternatives to falling it?
Mechanical, blasting, equipment.
Creating a no work zone.
Discuss each of these questions and the importance of asking them when confronted with a hang-up in the field.
Link to optional “Hazard Tree Assessment PPT training program and instruction on how to identify and established effective no work zones (NWZ).
Link to Hazard tree Assessment_03_20_06.zip

15. NATURALLY ACURING Is it still rooted or fastened to the stump?
Or has it rotted off the stump?

16. Can you see all of it? Can you identify all overhead hazards?
Rotten top?
Lose limbs?
Will it come out?
Has it damaged the tree it’s in?
Important questions when assessing all felling operations. It you can’t see all the hazards then it is likely unsafe to take down.

17. What is the condition? Is it a green tree? Is it hollow? Is it sound?
Size, how large is it?
Can you mitigate all hazards?
Is it likely that dead material exist at the top and can come out on you?

18. What is the angle?
Is it close to vertical or steep?

19. ANGLE CONSIDERATIONS
The closer to vertical the more dangerous it is due to:
Harder to control.
Creates extreme end bind.
Need to work directly under hazards.
Potential exposure to overhead hazards.
Harder to determine where it may fall.

20. ANGLE CONSIDERATIONS
The greater the angle, the greater the tension and usually:
Closer to the ground.
Less exposure to overhead hazards.
Easier to determine where it may fall.
Easier to construct a hinge to control and slow the fall.

21. Do you know where it will fall?
If you can’t determine where it will fall, how can you determine and established a reliable escape route.

22. Do you truly have an escape route?
Do you truly have an escape route or are you just hoping a duck and run tactic might work this time?

23. ESCAPE ROUTE CONSIDERATIONS
The most over looked part of the evaluation process when dealing with hang-ups.
Consider how fast a hang-up hits the ground compared to a normal falling situation.
Can you even get one step away?
Would you stand at the base of a tree while it fell? So, why would you accept the risk when falling a hang-up?

24. CUTTING CONSIDERATIONS
Does it really need to be cut?
Have you identified all overhead hazards?
Is there a place to work without standing under any overhead hazards?
Do you have an escape route?
Do not practice a stand and dodge escape tactic.
Do you have the proper equipment?
Have you done a thorough assessment?
Is your gut telling you this is unsafe?

25. CUTTING CONSIDERATIONS
Avoid kerf cutting! (Single saw cut for relief)
Why?
Easy to get bar pinched.
Difficult to make cuts match.
Stalls then releases fast, limited time to step back.
May not release.

26. CONSIDER
A wedge cut.
This allows hinge construction which gives some control and slows the movement some.
Allows more time to move away.

27. Pulling method Start by securing a rope or fire hose to hang-up
Once again, does it really need to come down? It there more risk to safety taking it down then leaving it standing and mitigate?

28. Pulling method cont.
Once again, does it really need to come down? It there more risk to safety taking it down then leaving it standing and mitigate?

29. Pulling method cont. Pull from a safe distance
Once again, does it really need to come down? It there more risk to safety taking it down then leaving it standing and mitigate?
Pull from a safe distance

30. Safely on the Ground
What did you learn – consider an After Action Review with those involved..

31. HUNG UP TREE AWARENESS Critique.
Go to second training topic on Hazard Tree Awareness and how to effectively establish a No Work Zone (NWZ)