(1.)
Incident
Response Pocket Guide, dated 1/2002 |
(2.)
Northwest Coordination
Group (NWCG) Fireline Handbook, dated 1/1998 |
(3.) USFS
Health and Safety Code Handbook, dated 12/1999 |
(4.) If
a Tree Falls (video), dated 1995 |
(5.) National
Snag Hazard Report, dated 1993. |
(6.) Reserve
Tree Guide, dated 1995 |
(7.) Long
Range Planning for Developed Sites, dated 1992 |
(8.) Tree
Hazards: Recognition and Reduction in Recreation Sites (This is
a slide show, converted into a .pdf-type file and takes moment to
open) |
(9.)
Tree Strikes You're Out, dated
1998. |
(10.)
Industrial Head Protection:
Hardhats - The maintenance, Inspection, Precautions, and Replacement,
dated July 1997 |
(11.) ICS-215A
Snag Mitigations from Frye's Type I Incident Management Team. |
(12.)
Potential Green Tree Hazards, dated April 2002. (This is a slide
show, converted into a .pdf-type file and takes moment to open) |
(13.) Hazard
Trees and Me. A hazard tree classroom icebreaker quiz. |
(14.) Hazard
Tree Risk Management Process. |
(15.) Blasting
Snags, dated 2000. |
(16.) Fire
Weakened Trees.(Todd Wilson slides- takes a moment to open.) |
(17.) Hazard
Trees of the Rocky Mountain Region.(This is a slide show, converted
into a .pdf-type file and takes moment to open) |
(18.)
An Interactive Study - Hazard Tree Powerpoint Presentation. (This
is a 4.29 MB file - it takes awhile to open.
.PDF Version 3.88 MB |
(19.) Guy's
Vacation 2003 - A Cautionary Tale (.pdf file) |
(20.)
Snag Brochure
Master. (You can copy this and print on card stock. .pdf file) |
(21.)
Job Hazard Analysis, 6/30/05 (.rtf) |
|
(22.)
Sim Limb/Top
Drop aka Falling Tree Top/Limb Simulation Exercise Sim Limb Exercise video web site |
(23). Root Burned
and Snagged Trees |
1. Incident Response Pocket Guide
PMS# 461, NFES# 1077, January 2002,Page 39
Available at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm
or from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Supply, 3833 So.
Development Ave., Boise, ID, 83705-5344.
Snag Safety - Environmental conditions that
increase snag hazards: |
· Strong winds |
· Night operations |
· Steep slopes |
· Diseased or bug-kill areas |
Hazard tree indicators: |
Trees have been burning for an extended period |
· High risk tree species (rot and shallow root system) |
· Numerous down trees |
· Dead or broken tops and limbs overhead |
· Accumulation of down limbs |
· Absence of needles, bark or limbs |
Leaning or hung-up trees |
|
Back to Top
2. NWCG Fireline Handbook
PMS 410-1, NFES 0065, January 1998
Available at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm
or from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Supply, 3833 So. Development
Ave., Boise, ID, 83705-5344. Snags are mentioned along with power lines
as examples of hazards (page 5), but did not make the Initial Attack Safety
Checklist (page 7). The fireline handbook discusses snag felling (page
48), but very little general snag safety. Snag felling, and saw skills
are a related topic, and sawyers may have some of the best “snag
intelligence” currently available; however, this program seeks a
much broader audience.
Back to Top
3. USFS
Health and Safety Code Handbook
FSH 6709.11 December 1999
The Health and Safety Code lacks detailed guidelines or defect information
related to snags. Mentioned briefly in falling operations, hazard trees
are not mentioned in terms of facilities, campgrounds, roads, or people
working in the forest. Indicators, identification and management of tree
hazards are absent.
Back to Top
4. If A Tree Falls (video)
PMS 408, NFES 1847, 1995 16 Minutes
This is an excellent awareness raising production, and an outcome of the
National Snag Hazard Report. The video can be ordered from the National
Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Supply, 3833 So. Development Ave. Boise,
ID, 83705-5344, or available at http://www.nwcg.gov/pms/pubs/pubs.htm.
Back to Top
5.
National Snag Hazard Report
A thorough and detailed document included in its entirety
with the "Reference Material." Not all the recommendations from
this report were completed. We are not including crew cohesion findings
at this time.
Findings: |
|
Lack of snag hazard awareness at all levels in fire
management.
Detailed "Snag Intelligence" is needed, such as species
and size, burn through time, etc.
Management Policies and economic/safety tradeoffs must be communicated
and understood.
Fatigue, boredom, and familiarity can result in a lack of attention.
Many basic rules covered in training are not being applied. |
Proposals: |
|
Strengthen awareness
Additional training
Awareness flyer/brochure
Increased research
Produce a video |
Back to Top
6.
Reserve Tree Guide
A Reserve tree guide is a 14-page USFS Northern Region
document intended to provide technical framework for interdisciplinary
teams to make informed decisions for resource objectives and safe working
practices during harvesting activities.
7. Long Range Planning for Developed Sites
The Context of Hazard Tree Management
Robert Harvey and Paul Hessburg, 1992
The Long Range Planning / Hazard Tree Management is a superb 120 page
USFS Pacific Northwest Region publication detailing a comprehensive program
to analyze, assess hazards and risk values, document, and manage trees
in the vicinity of campgrounds and other facilities. It has excellent
photos and descriptions of indicators indicating structural defects in
conifer and hardwood species common in the Pacific Northwest. The text
has been edited to remove portions related to ongoing management and documentation,
but retaining information related to identifying and assessing hazard
trees.The entire text will be added to the “Reference Materials”
A. S. A. P
Back to Top
8.Tree
Hazards: Recognition and Reduction in Recreation Sites - PowerPoint
Show
USFS, David Johnson and Robert James, 1978
The Tree Hazards: Recognition and Reduction in Recreation Sites, a document
produced in the Rocky Mountain Region, helps manage tree hazards in campgrounds
and other facilities. It provides a number of photos and descriptions
of common structural defects and their indicators. The entire text will
be added to the “Reference Materials” A. S. A. P.
Back to Top
9. Tree Strikes
You're Out
This pamphlet, an outgrowth of the National Snag
Hazard Task Force of 1993, is an excellent example of a local initiative
that involved committees, survey, etc.
10. Industrial
Head Protection: Hardhats - The Maintenance, Inspection, Precautions,
and Replacement
This is an excellent and detailed 2+-page discussion
about the management of hardhats. Upon inspection, some hardhats worn
by snag victims reveal cracks and aging that lower the hardhat's ability
to protect the wearer.
Back to Top
11. ICS-215A Snag Mitigations from Frye’s
Type I Incident Management Team
The following list is a part of a “click
and drag” technique developed by Steve Frye’s team to electronically
add common mitigations to the division assignment page, ICS-204. The risks
are identified in the ICS-215-A risk assessment process. Not all elements
are used each time, and additional elements may be added manually, as
the situation dictates. This is their complete list.
SNAG MITIGATION |
* Identify snags, hazard trees and unstable rocks. (Look up, look
down, look around). |
* Identify kill zone and inform others. (Flag, describe or post
lookouts to keep others out). |
* Consider wind and weather. |
* Felling of snags and hazard trees will proceed line construction
and mop-up. |
* Felling by qualified fallers only. |
* Secure, eliminate or avoid unstable material on slopes. |
* Remember, logs can roll, spin, slide or shift. |
* Do not work below other firefighters. |
* Rocks can roll, slide or bounce. |
* No class B/C felling after dark. |
* Establish drop points, rest areas, sleeping and parking areas
free of snags. |
* Remain alert to noise or movement – it could signal
Immediate Danger. Face your danger to decide escape. |
* Consider staying out of snag areas after dark. |
* Any increase in wind or change in wind direction means danger,
stay alert! |
* One falling snag may trigger a cascade of snags, now or hours
from now – reassess your situation if a snag goes down. |
* Broken branches and widow makers from a falling snags may be thrown
far from the snag itself, be sure to consider that when doing your
assessment |
Back to Top
12.
Potential Green Tree Hazards (Powerpoint presentation)
This is an excellent slide presentation taken from
sources such as the R-6 Long Range Planning for Developed sites, which
present a clear introduction to disease and mechanical defects.
13.
Hazard Tree and Me
A ten-question quiz is intended as an icebreaker
and a tool to generate discussion. Human factors and employee knowledge
of the physical characteristics of hazard trees are included with an easy-going
style.
14.
Hazard Tree Risk Management Process
The Incident Response Pocket Guide opens with a
Risk Management Process directed towards fire suppression which adapts
the same process to hazard tree/snag issues.
Back to Top
15.
Blasting Snags
Pages 105-107 in MTDC's Guide for Using, Storing
and Transporting Explosives and Blasting Materials (2000 edition)(0067-2803-MTDC)
describes internal, external and topping trees with explosives. For use
by fully qualified blasters, it also discusses special considerations,
and explosive loads guidelines.
16.
Fire Weakened Trees
Todd Wilson assembled a Powerpoint collection of
hazard tree slides, largely fro the Northern Rockies. Most, but not all
involve fire; however, firefighters encounter all these situations while
in the woods.
Back to Top
17.
Hazard Trees of the Rocky Mountain Region.
This Powerpoint presentation discusses basic hazard
tree indicators and situations for the Rocky Mountain States of Colorado
and Wyoming. The 15-slide shows common trees and their defects, often
near developed sites.
18.
Interactive Study - A Hazard Tree Powerpoint Presentation
This 45 minute Powerpoint slide program
leads groups or individuals through a discussion; participants learn to
identify indicators or tree structural issues while they
decide between three risk levels. In the program, universal
principles achieved through the "Up the Ante" Initiative are
finding enthusiastic audiences across the U.S. and Canada.
19. Guy's
Vacation 2003 - A Cautionary Tale
Travel to Montana 2003, with Alabama Forestry
Commission's Safety Officer Guy Slayden. Take a brief walk through a snag
victim rescue and see the snag and damaged hardhat.
20. Snag
Brochure Master.
This snag brochure master is available
to copy and print on card stock. It is the work of the US Forest Service
Southeast Region's Snag/Hazardous Tree Awareness Team, with contributions
from Plumas Hotshot snag victim Krs Evans.
21. Job
Hazard Analysis, 6/30/05
22.
Sim Limb/Top
Drop aka Falling Tree Top/Limb
Simulation Exercise
Utilizing a flag pole, dummy soft limb, and trip
line, years of close-call experiences will be compressed to an hour. This
exercise will demonstrate the speed limbs, tops, and debris fall from
trees and snags. Sim
Limb Exercise Video web site.
23. Root
Burned and Snagged Trees from Canada
One of the hazards fire personnel always have to be aware
of is the safety hazards posed by root burned and snag trees while working
on fires.
Attached is an advisory covering an incident which occurred
to one of our Helitack crews working on a fire east of Grande Prairie
and just south of the Wapiti River on Friday the 13th.
During mop up on a hold over fire, a medium helicopter
was been used to deliver water onto the fire; and during one of the drops,
an aspen snag was knocked over by the down wash and hit one of the crew
members a glancing blow to the side of his hard hat.
The injured worked was medivaced to Grande Prairie hospital
where he was treated.
One of the key lessons to be learned by everyone from
this incident is that hard hats do work!!!
Back to Top
|