[printer friendly version]

FOREST SERVICE HANDBOOK
San Francisco, California

FSH 6709.11 - HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE HANDBOOK
R5 SUPPLEMENT 6709.11-95-1
EFFECTIVE 06/01/95

POSTING NOTICE: Supplements are numbered consecutively by handbook number and calendar year. Post documents in numerical order by chapters (FSH 1109.12, sec. 4.32, ex.01). Retain this transmittal as the first page of the document. The last supplement to this handbook was R5 supplement 15 to chapters 3, 5, and 6 dated 4/16/92.

This supplement supersedes corresponding portions of R5 supplement no. 15 dated 4/16/92.

Digest:

This is one of several supplements which were issued as part of the settlement agreement in Bernardi, et al. v. Madigan C-73-1110 SC. Some portions of these supplements had a special provision requiring the Chief's review and concurrence prior to amending, revising, or revoking the supplement. The codes where supplements have been issued with this special provision are: FSM 1700, FSH 1709.11, FSM 6100, FSH 6109.12, FSH 6109.13, FSH 6700, FSH 6709.11, and FSH 6709.12. The settlement agreement in Bernardi v. Madigan ended on May 19, 1994. Effective April 5, 1995, the Chief has rescinded the restriction on the Region's authority to amend, revise, or revoke these supplements.

3-1 - Clarifies cross-references.

G. LYNN SPRAGUE
Regional Forester

FSH 6709.11 - HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE HANDBOOK
R5 SUPPLEMENT 6709.11-95-1
EFFECTIVE 06/01/95

CHAPTER 3 - PROJECT WORK AND ACTIVITIES

3-1 - General - All Projects.

A. Job Safety and Health Hazard Analysis. Supervisors must:

6. Analyze tools, equipment, and facilities needs necessary for safe operations. Tools selected should not present barriers to any qualified employee because they do not reasonably accommodate physical size, gender, or persons with disabilities. Report barriers found on form FS-6700-7, Job Hazard Analysis (R5 FSH 6709.12, sec. 14.1). See R5 FSM 6710.6 for additional direction.

B. Protective Equipment and Clothing. Supervisors must ensure that protective equipment and clothing are available to all employees. See FSM 6716.03 for specific policy.

In R5, employees shall use only non-conducting hardhats. This restriction applies to all employees who perform work which requires the use of a hardhat. See FSM 6716.11 for requirements.

C. Life-Threatening Work Area Hazards Warning. Use yellow and black striped flagging to alert employees to life-threatening hazards in work areas. Hang enough flagging in the immediate area to alert others to the hazard, provide an adequate safety zone, and identify the type of hazard with a tag attached to the flagging.

Use only yellow and black striped flagging to identify life-threatening work area hazards. Life-threatening hazards include, but are not limited to, electrical hazards, snags, widow makers, burned through trees, poisonous reptile and insect areas, rolling rocks and logs, cliffs, and open holes.

3-3 - Firefighting.

B. Protective Clothing and Equipment (FSM 5130, FSH 5109.17). See R5 restriction on hardhats set forth in section 3-1.

3-15 - Tree Felling and Bucking.

B. Rules for Felling.

1. The following limitations and criteria apply to R5 employees operating chain saws for tree felling and bucking:

Class A. Limit inexperienced operators to material under 8 inches in diameter. Minimum training requirements for inexperienced operators are S-212.

Class B. Limit trainee fallers to felling and bucking of material under 24 inches in diameter. Minimum training requirements for trainee fallers are S-212 and timber industry training.

Class C. Fully qualified fallers are skilled in felling and bucking material over 24 inches in diameter.

A trainee faller demonstrating skills for two or more seasons and satisfactorily completing an advanced felling course may be considered fully qualified.

2. The following are requirements for supervising or instructing employees in felling and bucking for Class C certification:

a. A cadre leader shall be a qualified class C Faller/Falling Boss, or have successfully completed a falling school instructor course. The leader shall ensure that a professional faller with demonstrated instructor skills provides the training.

b. Trainee fallers shall be under the direct supervision of a fully qualified faller if permitted to operate in material over 24 inches in diameter.

c. Individuals requiring advanced faller training to meet fully qualified faller standards shall receive training from a qualified instructor.

3. After successfully completing training, the trainee will receive a Chain Saw Operator Qualification Card, form R5-6700-4.

back to the top