Best Management and Operating Practices for Steep Slope Machine Logging: Revised 2019

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bonauto, David ; Naillon T ; Rappin, Christina
• Description:
  Safety and production concerns in traditional steep slope logging operations have led to the development of steep slope machine (SSM) logging technology. Traditional steep slope logging operations involve manual tree falling and cable rigging operations in difficult terrain. Timber fallers and rigging crew members suffer some of the highest rates of severe job-related injury in the United States. Using an SSM reduces risk by eliminating the need for manual ground work. Traditional steep slope logging is labor-intensive, and the primary cost of production is labor. In situations where an SSM can operate, it can replace six or more people on the ground and modify work practices to improve efficiency and safety. SSM logging improves the efficiency of production by mechanizing processes. Current SSM operations are associated with timber falling, but the use of a grapple yarder with the system is anticipated. If these innovations occur, all ground personnel would be eliminated where the use of SSMs is feasible. Contract loggers have been working on steep slopes using self-leveling cab equipment. The self-leveling cab redistributes the center of gravity uphill to improve stability for work on slopes over 65 percent (Visser & Stampfer, 2015). Loggers have been trying to improve safety, reduce costs, and increase production on steeper slopes for years and mechanizing the operation has the ability to do that. Between leveling the machine for stability and increasing grouser length for traction, loggers have already been increasing the slope where they can operate. Steep slope machine logging is the next advancement in mechanizing logging operations. While steep slope machines have been used in Europe since the 1990's (Sebulke, 2011), the technology has only recently been adopted in the US. SSMs can be used for falling trees, yarding (the movement of logs from the place they are felled to a landing), or both. Although there are variations of the system, an SSM is typically attached by one or more wire ropes to an anchor, either a base machine or stump. The technology works by winching the SSM to the anchor, providing traction assistance for the SSM. The traction assistance allows steeper slopes to be harvested by machine rather than harvested manually. Some steep slope machines use an internal wire rope winch and anchor to a fixed object (Photo 1). In other systems, the SSM is connected to a stationary base machine that has one or two winches to assist the tracked machine on steep slopes (Photos 2 & 3). The operator controls the winch or winches for traction assistance while ascending and descending slopes. Multiple variations of these systems are currently being used in Washington State. They all perform the same basic function of allowing mechanical harvesting to take place on steeper slopes than has previously been possible. There is a common misconception that steep slope machines are suspended and may fall or slide uncontrollably without the winch rope holding them in position. The winch rope is designed for traction assistance and does not hold the machine on the hillside (Evanson, et.al, 2013). On most SSMs, the winches function automatically during normal operations and are not under the control of the operator (MacDonald, 2016). The winches let line in or out as the operator moves the machine as they would in normal operations. Most equipment roll overs are caused by an initial loss of traction resulting in an uncontrolled gain in momentum (Visser & Stampfer, 2015). In SSM equipment, the wire rope assists so that the loss of traction does not occur. Brief studies in Australia and New Zealand indicate that the actual tensions do exceed expected tensions on SSM when traveling (Visser & Stampfer, 2015). [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Forestry Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Equipment Design Equipment Operation Equipment Operators Equipment Reliability Injuries Logging Industry Logging Safety Logging Workers Traumatic Injuries
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Handbooks
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-43
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057979
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 98-02-2019, 2019 Jun; :1-43
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Best management and operating practices for steep slope macine logging: revised 2019
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b936faa153b1a2d88390160355c9a9a2a2149490f1879bac05ce3a65df3480218dc032a4ac2147a08335679f59e73c34af88d4f1d580eff2f14e9c4b80604619
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215175/cdc_215175_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.57 MB ]