When you are inside the fall zone - death

Eric Frei

I've done my share of felling. Used all sorts of rigs, machines, vehicles etc.

Done redirects, side ropes etc. Been criticized by some for doing it alone too.

One of the Golden rules I have always adhered to is being outside the fall zone ... or the tree's height + some with the pulling devices/machines/vehicles etc ... and having no-one inside that zone (preferably but some times impossible). The plus some is because the tree might come off the stump a little and add to length, debris can fly, and you might have estimated wrong.

It's generally accepted that 1.5X tree height is the no go zone, sometimes 2X but that's hard in urban areas.

Now in USA "A Knoxville man was killed after a large oak tree crashed on the pickup truck cab in which he was sitting during a tree-cutting operation."

Read the story.
Man killed by falling tree : Local News : Knoxville News Sentinel

WBIR.com | Knoxville, TN | Update: Identity of man killed in freak accident released

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newguy18

I wish they would show pics of the stump,could have been poor felling practice.Not enough span between truck and tree is more likely though,my prayers go out to the family.This is why we should all remember the 6 p's.

prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

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old schooler

treefeller

Sad to hear. It sounds like they have totally mis judged the hieght of the tree when it was being felled. But saying that was their enough clearence to allow for the tree and the truck. Was it a restricted site, Why was the tree sectioned first

southsoundtree

I think that there is a big difference in "working alone" in the sense of no other work partners, homeowner onsite, and "working alone" with nobody around at all.

If the homeowner knows their address, lets hope, and can call emergency services, or drive to access them, as a co-worker could, then most work is fine.

There definitely are times that extra working hands are necessary, and lots of times that one person can put on the whole show.

Why is it that people want to stand barely out of the falling lane, without a safety distance?? I guess they haven't seen enough debris fly.

TrevMcRev

For it to hit side on it doesnt look like the pick up was being used for pulling so it probably fell sideways or backwards unexpectedly. The stump holds the answer.

Didnt look the most professional operation....

treevet

Looks like hypoxelon on the trunk common to oaks in advanced decay. Could have played a part in unexpected direction of fall.

Father and son....very sad.