I don't want to drag out dirty laundry. But I want to find out what ideas regarding safety everyone may have. I don't want to point fingers, just bring up ideas. I don't think we can emphasize safety enough. Stack this year was amazing, I think the rope crews on the tall logs are a fantastic adition.

Things mentioned lately

Hard hats instead of pots
goggles while cutting

While safety goggles may seem like an addition to safety in the woods, I didn't really care for their use in the woods back in the day when we used them. While on paper it seemed like a good idea, in practice they tended to scratch up in short order and were notorious for fogging up as you worked. So while they may be good for protecting your eyes from small chips and debris, they usually ended up impeding vision and that doesn't seem like something you want when you are swinging an axe.

- Chain or hard cable used for swings and/or separate safety lines. They are safer than rope (which can be cut by chainsaw or topped logs) and can be adjusted easier.

- Tighten up on the limitation of horse-play / grodeing.

- COVER YOUR ENDS! Whoever taught cut class forgot all about this.

- Students riding in the back of trucks. Big No-no.




-------------------------------------------------------
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

Back when we started everything, I made a CD that contained everything that would have to be implemented to be OSHA compliant. It should be floating around somewhere with one of the past (or possibly present) leaders.

Note: For those of you unfamiliar with OSHA standards, they are VERY, VERY strict on what can and cannot be done, and because of this I am not/would not recommend following them verbatim. They can however give an idea of the ABSOLUTE safest conditions. They also don't really apply to anything but cut as they are logging standards.

[This message has been edited by agstudent (edited 11/28/2005 4:43p).]

I pretty much always wear sunglasses when I am at cut, mainly for the same reason as goggles.

I agree with opie that this year people were really bad about covering their ends and being aware of their surroundings, especially at stack. I saw a couple of people get knocked down because they weren't aware of what was going on around them.

I agree with improving the swing lines, but don't see anything wrong with riding in the back of a truck, since its legal

Greg White from Aston died coming back from cut in '96. He was riding in the bed of a pickup truck that flipped on Highway 6.

While transportation to and from site is technically not the concern of ASB, and riding in pickup trucks is legal, ASB can and should do what's in the interest of safety and not allow such vehicles to enter cut or stack site.

True.

I heard stories of the corps interlocking arms and legs while riding on the flatbeds out to cut. Of course, that was way back in the day.

I think fatigue causes a lot of accidents. It should be made more clear to everybody, that if you're getting tired, stop swinging the axe. Thats when people slip or miss the tree.

Except in Lew's case

quote:

---

I think fatigue causes a lot of accidents. It should be made more clear to everybody, that if you're getting tired, stop swinging the axe. Thats when people slip or miss the tree.

Except in Lew's case

---

Gotta agree with you there. It can be scary being around Lew when he is swinging; tired or not!


[This message has been edited by Ag_B_10 (edited 11/28/2005 9:27p).]

I agree with the seperate safety lines on the swings, but I disagree with the chain. It may be tougher than rope, but it can kink up, it can pinch fingers, it gives 0 shock absorption in case of a fall, that same low stretch translates into a jarring effect on your back when swinging off of stack and covering a log, no stretch also means a tougher time getting around a tall log...

Scott Coker '92

If they are going to cut out driving students in the backs of trucks they should plan for a lot more room for parking. Possibly, maybe get a bus service if its reasonable, like put a boarding toll on it. Easier access may spur more participation. That or have certain people as designated taxi drivers and the people could pay a fare for the gas. Im sure a schedule could be worked out as well as pick up points.

No riding in trucks please. An old baseball buddy of mine is in a vegetative state because of that. In 99 they (jrps) wouldn't let you through the gate at cut if you had anyone in your truck bed. They wouldn't even let my friend in who was riding behind the back seat of my ford exploder. He had to get out and find another vehicle with an empty seat. It was a good policy then and should still be enforced.

My opinion is that safety glasses are good enough. When I worked at ExxonMobil we had to keep goggles on our hard hats at all times but never really used them. As oldyeller mentioned above, they can get annoying.

Hard hats are an easy and cheap way to provide better protection, reduce liability and are basic personal protective equipment everywhere else. Why not at Bonfire?

Coker makes a good point about the cable.

quote:

---

rope (which can be cut by chainsaw or topped logs)

---

Chainsaws should not be used in proximity to swing lines while people are on them. Ropes should be inspected before each new shift at minimum. Routine site and equipment safety checks should take place if they aren't already. They should also be performed by people who have been trained on what to look for/know what they're doing.

Glad to see this discussion taking place.

quote:

---

Chainsaws should not be used in proximity to swing lines while people are on them.

---

If you weren't aware, Mama Chauncy decided it would be a good idea to cut a swing rope while he was on 2nd stack topping logs this year. It was cut to the point that the swing couldn't be used until replacement rope was overnighted to Jim's house (3 days later). A chain would not have been cut, would be cheaper, and could be adjusted easier.

My 03 cents, for what it is worth.

-------------------------------------------------------
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

To clarify, there was not anyone in the swings while Chance was topping the stack.

Thanks, Jim.

-------------------------------------------------------
If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

quote:

---

I agree with the seperate safety lines on the swings, but I disagree with the chain. It may be tougher than rope, but it can kink up, it can pinch fingers, it gives 0 shock absorption in case of a fall, that same low stretch translates into a jarring effect on your back when swinging off of stack and covering a log, no stretch also means a tougher time getting around a tall log...

---

Completely agree.

Use rope that's moderately dynamic (has "stretch" and make inspection prior to each shift standard procedure.

The swing ropes were a 2-part combination: The rope that fastened to the collar on centerpole was of nylon construction. It also was a dynamic-load type rope meaning that it was designed for a shock load. The second rope was a nylon static-load rope that wove thru the swings and was fastened to the dynamic-load rope via a choke knot. THe person in the swings could a) hook his/her safety line to the dynamic rope or b)hook into the stack. If he/she hooked into the dynamic rope, this would provide safety if the swing gave way. If he/she hooked into the stack, it would provide safety if the whole apparatus gave way. The dynamic load rope would provide cushion and absorb the gravitational energy thus providing a cushion to the swing person. I would like to see a retarder system used as a safety line next year, however.
James Frazier '07

Retarder System: n. The system in place consisting of Lone Star and random shots that when used by Graypots at The Chicken causes them to order a 16 oz cup of gravy and drink it down like beer.



Scott Coker '92

[This message has been edited by COKEMAN (edited 11/29/2005 10:02p).]

Thank God for cellphone cameras. I feel another t-shirt coming along.

Mama Chance shirt, take two!

"Healthy, Healthy...I know how to eat healthy!" :-p

Ya'll guys do it again next year and it'll be a tradition.

Whoop! for MamaChance

[This message has been edited by slim-jim (edited 11/30/2005 7:08a).]

Don't let James stay out of the line of fire. He was sitting across the table and they passed that gravy back and forth like it was a bottle of scotch.

Scott Coker '92

I didn't know Mike's made a hard gravy