Falling limbs, tree tops, green trees, and dead trees are one of the firefighter’s most unpredictable risks. Over the last six years, five hazard tree/tree felling fatalities and five serious injuries have been reported on wildland fire assignments. To assist in training and hazard tree awareness, several initiatives have provided valuable resources for annual fireline safety refreshers, “tailgate” safety sessions and other uses.

The following link takes you to a library of tree hazard related material. Click on “Reference Materials” and find 20 items including downloadable masters for snag awareness pocket cards. The flagship reference, “Hazard Trees- An Interactive Study” is an interactive one hour + PowerPoint presentation promoting identification, risk assessment, and mitigation of basic hazard tree issues.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/projects/haztree_index.shtml

New in 2006, and still being discovered is the SIM LIMB / TOP DROP. A short video shows how to conduct this dramatic falling-limb exercise utilizing a flag pole and chainless saw. Participants quickly see for themselves the speed objects fall, and practice appropriate ‘heads up’ sawing. Find an essay describing the exercise at the Hazard Tree website above, and find the video clip at: http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/safety/council/newsletters/may06/may06.

Some excellent lessons learned can be gleaned from Issues 16 and 17 of Scratchline – a Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Newsletter. Twelve journeymen chainsaw operators including regional saw program coordinators from the federal fire agencies and the private sector were recently interviewed regarding their notable successes, most difficult challenges, effective prac­tices, and most pressing safety issues in chainsaw operations with respect to Lookout/Communications/Escape Routes/Safety Zones (LCES) and Situational Awareness (SA).
http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/Scratchline_Issue16.pdf
http://www.wildfirelessons.net/documents/Scratchline_Issue17.pdf

One of the identified corrective actions from a 2004 snag fatality was the preparation of an interagency Hazard Tree Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) template. The intent of the JHA is to serve as a model for field units to prepare hazard tree JHAs at the local level. The template JHA should be modified as needed to meet the specific work conditions and requirements of the individual unit. The JHA also contains relevant information for review at annual fireline safety refreshers. This JHA is available at: http://www.nifc.gov/safety_study/ffast.html.