23 Jan Logging Yarding Safety

Logging Yarding Safety

Yarding is the logging operation used to move felled trees, logs, and other materials from the cutting area to a landing or storage area. Yarding may involve cable systems, skidders, yarders, rigging, and other heavy equipment operating on steep, uneven, or unstable terrain.

The combination of heavy loads, tensioned cables, moving equipment, falling or rolling material, and difficult terrain makes yarding one of the more hazardous logging operations. Careful planning, proper rigging, effective communication, and staying clear of danger zones are essential.

Guide for Discussion

Plan the Yarding Operation

Safe yarding begins before the first log is moved.

• Select a yarding system appropriate for the terrain, timber size, volume, travel distance, and landing location.
• Identify suitable anchor, tailhold, and deflection points.
• Identify dead, damaged, leaning, or otherwise hazardous trees that could affect the operation.
• Plan yarding routes to minimize hang-ups, uncontrolled movement, and exposure to workers.
• Establish safe locations for employees during yarding operations.
• Communicate the yarding plan and any changes to everyone involved.

Never make significant changes to the yarding setup without evaluating how the change could affect workers, equipment, rigging, and surrounding conditions.

Inspect Rigging and Equipment

Cables and rigging components can be subjected to tremendous forces during yarding.

Before and during operations, inspect:

• Wire rope and cables.
• Chokers and connectors.
• Blocks and sheaves.
• Shackles and other rigging hardware.
• Anchors and tailholds.
• Spars and supporting equipment.
• Skidders, yarders, and other machinery.

Remove defective or excessively worn components from service. Never continue operating equipment or rigging that appears damaged or unsafe.

Stay Clear of Tensioned Lines

A tensioned cable can break, release, or move suddenly with tremendous force.

• Stay out of the bight of lines.
• Never step over, stand on, or work unnecessarily near a tensioned line.
• Keep clear of areas where a broken cable could recoil or whip.
• Be alert for logs, limbs, root balls, rocks, or other materials that could be moved or thrown by a cable.
• Never attempt to free a hung-up load while the line remains under hazardous tension.
• Move to the established safe location before signaling for the line or load to move.

Your hands and body should be clear of the rigging before the cable is tensioned.

Control Logs and Loads

Logs can roll, swing, slide, or change direction unexpectedly, particularly on sloped terrain.

• Stay clear of moving logs and suspended loads.
• Never position yourself downhill from logs or materials that could roll or slide.
• Avoid standing between a moving load and a tree, stump, equipment, or other fixed object.
• Watch for unstable logs, slash, root balls, and other materials.
• Maintain established clearance from load paths and landing operations.
• Do not approach a load until movement has stopped and it is safe to do so.

Maintain a Safe Landing

The landing must provide adequate room for workers, yarding equipment, logs, and logging trucks.

• Keep the landing as stable and level as practical.
• Maintain adequate space for equipment and vehicle movement.
• Keep employees clear of equipment operating areas.
• Maintain orderly log and material storage.
• Watch for rolling or shifting logs.
• Keep unnecessary personnel away from active landing operations.
• Maintain safe access for logging trucks entering, maneuvering, loading, and leaving the area.

Communicate Clearly

Effective communication is critical because operators may not always be able to see workers, rigging, or loads.

• Establish and review signals before operations begin.
• Ensure everyone understands the signals being used.
• Use only designated signals and communication methods.
• Confirm that workers are clear before moving a line or load.
• Stop operations if communication is lost or a signal is unclear.
• Communicate changes in the yarding plan before work resumes.

Wear Required PPE

Wear PPE appropriate for the operation, including required head protection, safety footwear, gloves, eye protection, hearing protection, and high-visibility clothing where applicable.

Maintain secure footing when traveling over slash, slopes, logs, and uneven terrain, and use proper lifting techniques when manually handling equipment or rigging.

Remember

Never underestimate the energy stored in tensioned cables or the movement of heavy logs. Inspect equipment, stay outside line and load danger zones, maintain clear communication, and never approach rigging until the system is safe.