The Philippines, Occupational Safety and Health Standards
RULE 1420
LOGGING
Source:
Occupational Safety and Health Standards (As Amended).
Bureau of Working Conditions, Department of Labour and
Employment, Manila, Philippines. Second Publication, as amended,
1990. Copyright Reserved per P.D. 49
RULE 1420
1421 : General Provisions:
(1) Every employer in the logging industry shall organize a
safety committee in accordance with Rule 1040.
(2) Medical and dental services shall be provided in every
workplace where logging operation is in progress in
accordance with Rule 1960.
(3) All persons in charge of a work group or gang shall be
trained first aiders.
(4) At every worksite there shall be provided adequate
communication system and transportation in order to
bring
an injured person to a clinic or hospital for proper
medical care.
1422 : Handtools:
(1) Handtools shall be well maintained, restricted to the use
for which they are intended and shall be issued to and
used
only by workers required and trained to use such tools.
(2) Impact tools which have mushroomed more than 0.6 cm. from
the body of the tool shall be repaired or replaced.
(3) Only spikes or needles of the right quality, size and
condition shall be used for splicing.
(4) Blasting or the use of powder actuated tools shall only be
done by duly trained and authorized workers.
1423 : General Logging Operations :
(1) No work shall be started or continued in timbered areas
during periods of high winds, extremely heavy fogs and
other hazardous weather conditions, or when vision is
impaired by darkness unless adequate lighting
facilities
are provided.
(2) Safety shoes, hard hats and other protective equipment
shall be provided by the employer when warranted by the
type of work and by the hazards in which the workers
are
exposed.
(3) Non-slip materials shall be installed on all decks of
machinery or equipment used by the workers in the
performance of their duties.
(4) Imbedded metals or spikes shall be removed from logs before
they are sent to the mills.
(5) After each shift or work period, a system to account for
all workers returning from the woods shall be
established
and a daily report of these submitted to the immediate
supervisor.
(6) All snags dangerous to any operation or activity shall be
felled.
(7) Blocks, straps, clevises, lugs, lines, riggings, boilers,
prime movers and other similar equipment shall be
thoroughly inspected and the necessary repairs or
replacement made before they are put to use. Only
clevises
or shackles of a screw pin or lock nut type shall be
used
for connections. Moving blocks shall be well greased.
(8) Cross cut or drag saws shall have the teeth shielded while
being transported.
(9) Riding on rigging equipment is prohibited.
(10) All lines, block, loading and yarding equipment shall be of
sufficient strength to safely withstand all imposed
strains.
(11) Servicing of fuel.tanks of gasoline fed equipment shall be
done in an approved manner and no gasoline shall be
handled
in open containers. There shall be no open light or
fire
within 30 m (100 ft.) from the equipment during
refueling
or loading of gasoline or other flammable substances.
(12) Logging cars or trains carrying passengers shall not carry
gasoline over 19 liters (5 gal.) outside of the regular
fuel supply tank The allowable quantity shall be
carried in
especially made container with tight screw covers.
Smoking
or open lights shall not be allowed in cars carrying
gasoline or other flammable substances.
(13) Logging trains carrying passengers shall not be coupled
immediately behind or in front of logging trains
carrying
gasoline over 19 liters (5 gal.).
(14) Fellers shall be so located that they will not endanger
other workers. In steep logging sites, one set of
fellers
shall not be located immediately on the slope from
other
fellers. Fellers shall not be allowed to work alone.
The
head feller shall at all times know the location of
other
workers and passing persons.
(15) When felling trees near a railroad trail or motor road,
traffic shall be controlled to prevent accidents.
(16) Spring boards or chopping platforms shall be so designed to
safely carry all workers and equipment and all wood
materials used therein shall be sound and straight
grained
lumber.
(17) Before felling a tree, a way of escape shall be determined
and this way shall be arranged and kept clear of any
obstruction to permit a quick get-away of all workers.
(18) Undercuts shall be about 1/3 of the diameter of the tree.
Two horizontal undercuts shall not be allowed unless
the
tree is sniped.
(19) After a back-cut is started, a tree shall not be left
standing under any circumstances.
(20) The head feller shall warn all workers in the vicinity of
a tree to be felled, indicating the direction of the
fall
and taking notice that all persons in the vicinity are
out
of reach of the falling tree or other trees which may
be
struck by the falling tree.
(21) All logs liable to roll while bucking shall be propped and
the props shall be removed only after the logs are
moved
away.
(22) If there is danger in cutting through a log while bucking,
a safe margin shall be left and the log distinctly
marked
to warn the rigging man.
1424 : Use and Maintenance of Power Saws:
(1) Power saws shall be stopped when moved from tree to tree,
adjusted or when the tree starts to fall.
(2) The idler of the bar of chain saws shall be adequately
guarded.
(3) Every power saw shall be provided with a deadman grip.
(4) Every power saw shall be provided with a clutch which shall
be maintained in good operating condition.
(5) Every electric power saw shall be grounded and provided
with a shut off switch.
(6) All electric cables of power equipment shall be
disconnected during transfer from one place to another.
1425 : Logging Engine:
(1) Only skilled and experienced workers shall be employed as
logging engine operators
(2) All logging engines shall be provided with sound signalling
devices audible to all persons in the vicinity of the
logging operations
(3) Brake bands, drum and bearings shall be adequate for the
type of service in which they are used.
(4) Ends of lines attached to drums shall be securely fastened.
Ends of line over 2.5 cm. (1 in.) shall be babbited.
(5) Sleds of logging engine shall be designed and constructed
to withstand moving They shall be provided with sheds
designed and constructed to withstand the whipping
action
of breaking lines.
(6) Head blocks and fair-leads shall be fastened with maximum
number of four (4) bolts designed with a factor of
safety
of six (6).
1426 : Logging Engine Operation:
(1) Sufficient rigging shall be set to avoid jerking of the
logging engine. Insecure stumps used to hold the
logging
engine shall be tied back Insecure trees used for holds
shall be guyed.
(2) When holds are being changed, the logging engine shall be
secured with a separate line if there is danger of it
sliding.
(3) Sufficient rigging shall be used when snubbing logging
engines down step grades and during this operation the
mainline shall be used for snubbing and the haul back
for
pulling.
(4) Only the hook tender and the engine operator shall ride the
logging engine when it is moved. A clear way of escape
shall be provided for these workers riding in the
engine.
(5) The high climber shall always be within sight or calling
distance of another worker. He shall be well equipped
with
a safety belt, steel spurs, and steel cored climbing
rope
with an extra set of these equipment reserved in case
of
emergency.
(6) Running lines shall not be moved while the high climber is
working in the trees except as he directs. All signals
shall come from the high climber which shall be
received
and transmitted by an experienced worker assigned to
the
job. While the high climber is working in the tree, all
other workers shall stay at a safe distance.
(7) Spar trees shall be provided with pass lines of from 1 to
1.5 cm. in diameter, in good condition, without short
or
eye-to-eye splices or knots, and long enough for the
purpose.
(8) Pass line equipment shall be properly maintained and
inspected before placing in the trees. The bearing
pinshall
be of the type which will positively secure the nuts
and
pins. The chains shall be of at least 0.6-cm. (1/4 in.)
of
the best material, without cold shuts or wire strands
and
attached to the end of the pass line with a clevis or
ring.
(9) Spar trees shall be sound and of sufficient diameter to
carry out the loads imposed on them. Spar trees used
for
loading or yarding shall be short enough to be rigid
and
the top guy wires shall not be more than 30 cm (12 in.)
or
less than 15 cm. (6 in.) from the top of the spar
trees.
Spar trees, except those belonging to the first, second
or
third group of timber shall be barked.
(10) Guy wires shall not be less than 2.5 cm. (1 in.) in
diameter of plow steel or better material in good
condition, and shall develop a factor of safety of
three
(3) under a load that will stall the engine.
(11) The minimum number of guy lines for logging operations
shall be as follows:
OPERATION
TOP GUY BUCKLE GUY
Logging and Yarding
6
4
Logging and
Swinging
6
4
Loading only (head
tree)
5
-
Loading only (tail
tree)
5
-
Yarding
only
5
3
Yarding with sky
line
Head
tree
6
4
Tail
tree
3
-
(12) Guy line shall be fastened to spar trees by means of
shackles, hooks and slides, or other devices of similar
construction equal in strength to the guy lines. The
use of
loops or wild eyes to attach guy lines is prohibited.
(13) Shackle pins shall be inserted head up and securely
fastened with molls or cotter keys. The "U"
part of the
shackle shall be around the guy lines and the pins
through
the eyes. Only sleeve shackles shall be used to hang
tree
jack.
(14) Guy lines shall be passed alternately around the spar trees
in opposite directions and shall be properly attached
to
the spar trees to prevent their falling when they are
tightened.
(15) Extensions to the guy lines or sky lines shall only be by
regular long splices equal in strength to the lines to
which they are spliced or by shackles connecting two
spliced eyes tucked at least three (3) times. The
shackles
used for connections shall have a strength of at least
1
1/2 times the strength of the lines which they connect.
Shackles shall not be placed where the lines pass
through
blocks or travellers.
(16) Guy lines shall be hung in a tree by jacks and securely
anchored to a stump or dead tree. The end of the sky
lines
shall not be anchored to spar trees.
(17) Stumps shall be carefully chosen as to position and
strength and, if necessary, they shall be tied back.
These
stumps shall be inspected from time to time during the
progress of operation. Standing trees shall not be used
as
stumps except for holding tail trees in yarding
operations.
(18) The anchor ends of guy or sky lines shall be firmly secured
by passing the end lines at least two and one half (2
1/2)
times around the stumps adequately notched to contain
the
end lines. Where spikes are used to secure the lines,
each
turn shall be firmly spiked. Where wire rope clips are
used, they shall be at least three (3) "U"
bolts secured on
the dead end of the rope and spaced at approximate]y
six
(6) times the diameter of the rope.
(19) Tightening of guy and sky lines shall be by mechanical
power. In removing lines from stumps, the last wrap
shall
be removed by blasting, otherwise a reverse safety wrap
shall be put on and the safety holdbacks shall be used.
(20) All tree straps shall be of the best material, properly
seated and at least larger than the pulling lines
(21) All running lines, load blocks, and tree jacks shall be
properly hanged to the spar trees. The strength of
shackles
used to hang blocks and tree jacks shall be not less
than
two (2) times that of the pulling lines. The shackle
pins
shall be secured by a nut with a cotter key or wire
strand
run twice through the pin with the loose ends rolled
in.
(22) Straps of at least double the strength of the running lines
shall be used to hang blocks and tree jacks hanged in
only
one eye. Threaded straps for running lines or swivel
type
blocks shall not be used.
(23) Safety straps of at least 2.5 cm. (1 in.) material shall be
used on all blocks rigged below the guy lines. The end
of
the strap shall be securely fastened to the block and
the
other end to a shackle arranged to slide down on a guy
line
which will carry the blocks in the direction of least
hazard to the workers. Where this arrangement is not
possible, safety strap shall be 1.25 cm. (1/2 in.)
larger
than the pulling lines.
(24) Spar tree rigging shall be arranged so that the lines will
not rub against each other. No block, except pass
blocks,
shall hang above the top guy lines.
(25) Blocks used for yarding or swining shall be hung in at
least two (2) straps, and each strap shall be of a line
equal in strength to the running line.
(26) Yarding with more than one (1) logging engine at one time
in one spar tree is prohibited.
(27) The angle between the logging engine, the high line block
and the yarding or swing line shall not be less than
90ø.
(28) Signals to the engine operator shall be received and
transmitted only by a designated worker, except in case
of
danger, when any one may give the signal. Signals shall
be
clear and distinct.
(29) The workers receiving and transmitting signals shall be in
a place out of moving lines, logs and other hazards and
where he can clearly hear and be clearly heard by the
rigging crew.
(30) Signal system shall be properly installed and maintained in
good condition at all times. Signals on logging
engines,
tractors and other machinery used by yarders shall be
audible to the rigging crew.
(31) Hand signals for yarding and swinging shall only be used in
temporary emergencies and only when the worker giving
the
signal is in plain sight of the logging engine operator
but
shall never be used for distances more than 9 m. (30
ft.)
(32) Signals to the yarding operator shall be given only by one
member of the yarding crew. When this worker is out of
sight, another worker shall be assigned to receive and
transmit all signals during swinging operation.
(33) No log chasing operation shall be made when the logs are
swinging. Log chasers shall be sure that the logs are
securely landed before unhooking the chokers.
(34) Logs shall not be loaded or moved while the chasers are
working on other logs or until all the workers and
equipment are on the clear.
1427 : Tractor Yarding:
(1) Logs shall not be suspended in arches when tractor yarding
is done on slopes of 60ø or over. Instead tractor or
skid
trails shall be constructed and the tractor shall be
equipped with blades.
(2) Sufficient tractor brakes shall be used to hold the machine
on any grade over which it is being operated. Holding
devices shall be provided on brakes which shall be of a
design that will not accidentally release.
(3) Tractor running boards shall be kept from getting slippery,
otherwise they shall be covered with non-slip
materials.
(4) Arches shall be equipped with line guards arranged to
prevent a whipping action if the lines break. If a
coupling
is attached above the drum, it shall be secured by a
strap.
(5) Riding on arches, logs or any part of the tractor, except
on the driver's seat, is prohibited.
(6) Workers shall not stand on the tracks of the logging
tractor, except if required by the nature of the work
they
are doing and only when there is no danger of the
tractor
moving.
(7) Movements of tractors around workers shall be regulated by
clearly visible and distinct signals which can be
understood by the workers.
(8) Every tractor shall be equipped with a canopy guard
designed, constructed and installed to protect the
operator
from falling trees, side winders, breaking lines and
other
such hazards. The design shall be such as to allow the
driver all visibility possible.
1428 : Lines, Blocks, Rigging:
(1) Second hand or used cables and straps shall not be used
until their condition has been established as
sufficient to
carry the imposed loads.
(2) Cables or straps which are badly worn, fatigued, kinked,
chafed, or damaged beyond point of safety shall be
taken
out of service or repaired. Cables with 12 1/2% of the
wires broken within a distance o one wrap shall not be
used.
(3) The following shall be used in permanently splicing running
lines:
Rope
Diameter
Unravelled
0.635 cm. (1/4
in.)
1.52 m.
1.27 cm. (1/2
in.)
2.14 m.
1.905 cm. (3/4
in.)
2.74 m.
2.54 cm. (1
in.)
3.65 m.
3.175 cm. (1-3/4
in.)
4.57 m.
3.81 cm. (1-1/2
in.)
6.10 m.
4.445 cm. (1-3/4
in.)
7.65 m.
5.02 cm. (2
in.)
9.15 m.
(4) Eye splices shall be used in joining long lay ropes.
(5) Short splices, eye-to-eye splices, cat's paws, knots or
molls, or wild eyes shall not be used for permanently
joining ropes, except for temporary purposes when
rigging.
(6) Eye splices in all lines shall be tucked- 3 times, and 4
times if subjected to heavy strains.
(7) Blocks and sheaves shall be in proportion to the size,
stress and design of the cables used. Sheaves shall be
of
solid metal or better material. Bearings shall be well
oiled.
(8) All blocks shall be fitted with line guards to prevent
fouling. The bearings and pins shall be securely
fastened.
(9) Tree jacks shall be repaired or replaced when the wood they
contain becomes insufficient to prevent the lines from
rubbing on the bolts.
(10) High load shackles, sky line shackles, skidder, tower
shackles, or swivels subjected to heavy strains shall
not
be built up by welding. The strength of shackles used
for
joining line shall not be less than 1 1/2 times that of
the
lines they join.
(11) The spread of the jaws of the high load shackles shall fit
the yoke or swivel. High load and rigging shackles,
except
those of manganese steel, shall be heat treated at
intervals.
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