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A chainsaw operator had a frightening moment when trimming the hinge from the butt of a large Sitka spruce they had felled.
- The tree was too large and the ground too steep to use a mechanised harvester, so motor manual felling had been The operator had bored through the centre of the hinge whilst felling the tree. The tree fell safely and in the intended direction.
The operator then proceeded to trim the hinge from the butt of the felled tree. As they did this the end of the underside of the bar contacted the material left by boring through the hinge. The saw then moved sharply upwards and backwards toward the operator in a kickback style motion.
The chain brake worked and stopped the chain before it contacted the operator’s neck. The stationary chain caused two cuts that required stitching. The investigation is still on going
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