Scott S Scott OHSA is everywhere and just like any Federal enigma they know little about the job and doing it everyday and don't care about how much money the companies makes as long as there rules are followed. I know the Yarder operator can't see you 1000 yards away next mountain over. But at times on the show you guys are hitting the horn before you have feet on solid ground. Unless there is dead spots on the mountains, VERBAL is still IMO better.Yarder has a set of ear phones on to cut down on noise. You slip and fall in a Vee when the yarder is already pulling up the load, the odds are you could loss a leg or arm because your hands are not on the horn to stop this from happening. You are trying to catch yourself on the falling. We use just hand signls dropping trees in lots. We have 2 cutters, Everybody stay out until trees are on the ground. 1 guy runs behind them and removes limbs. Last guy cuts to length. We have had accidents from new guys running with chainsaws. The Hurry up system doesn't work. OSHA doesn't have COMMON SENSE. They just issue large fines any where they can to prove they need to be there. It doesn't take a NASA engineer to know that Talking is a better communication that horn blowing. Sorry bad example. They killed 7 people with not listening to a guy about rubber O-Rings. You stay safe for the family and friends. Listen to that little guy on your shoulder when something may be going wrong. He will know before you.
Scott side note, don't you guys have to remove or chip the tops of the trees for mulch?? You are not going to remove the stumps. That's alot of firewood left on the mountains. No wonder when they go up in flames there is nothing left to save. Rick