Managing Lean in Felling Operations

摘要

A key component of the five-step felling plan is the lean of the tree. Not only will a lean ignored likely make for a much longer day for a tree crew with possible property damage, it is often a culprit in injury accidents — and sadly even deaths —among tree crew members. Lean must always be evaluated when formulating the plan to get the tree on the ground. But then the crew must also have the skills, tools and techniques to manage the existing lean, or even overcome it, in order to get the tree safely and efficiently on the ground in the chosen landing zone. The Tree Felling Primer in this issue (see page 6) does an excellent job of introducing and explaining the basic components to getting a tree on the ground; and explains how to evaluate thelean and determine the "good" and "bad" side of the tree. This article will help tree care professionals understand some of their options in dealing with the lean they have just discovered in their evaluation of the targeted tree.