NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Logger killed by falling sheave when yarder tower collapses.

Authors
Oregon Department of Human Services
Source
Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 03OR006, 2003 Oct; :1-6
NIOSHTIC No.
20028694
Abstract
On April 18, 2003, a 42-year-old logger, working as a chaser, was killed while standing on the landing site during a cable yarding operation. A Madill 071 yarder was in the process of completing a turn when the tower collapsed. The tower fell on the boom of a delimber that was also operating on the landing site. The force of the impact caused a sheave (cable pulley guide) to sheer off from the side of the delimber's boom. The falling sheave struck the chaser on the head, and punched through his hard hat. Life Flight was summoned. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after emergency help arrived. Recommendations: 1. Plan the landing site for yarding requirements beforehand. Make sure nearby anchor stumps are left at an appropriate height to secure guylines, and the guylines will not interfere with decking the logs at the landing. 2. Set up yarder guylines according to manufacturer's recommendations, making sure lines are at no more than a 50-degree angle, equally sharing the load, and secured by additional support for the anchors. 3. Check integrity of the guyline anchors daily, before and during operation. 4. Maintain proper deflection in the skyline to reduce stress on the yarder tower.
Keywords
Region-10; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Work-operations; Work-analysis; Work-areas; Work-performance; Work-practices; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Logging-workers; Forestry; Forestry-workers
Publication Date
20031021
Document Type
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Fiscal Year
2004
NTIS Accession No.
PB2006-100892
NTIS Price
A03
Identifying No.
FACE-03OR006; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-021204; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-OH-008324
SIC Code
NAICS-11
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
State
OR; WV
Performing Organization
Oregon Department of Human Services
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division