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SAFENET ID:
20200518-0001
Event Start Date:
05/14/2020 0900
Event Stop Date:
 
Incident Name:
Mikes Creek Juniper reduction Project
Fire Number:
 
State:
North Dakota
Jurisdiction:
USFS
Local Unit:
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Incident Type:
Prescribed/Fuels Treatment
Incident Activity:
Line
Stage of Incident:
Other
Position Title:
Firefighter 
Task:
Mechanical treatments to reduce the amount of Rocky Mountain Juniper in Mike’s creek watershed (Lop and Scatter) 
Management Level:
N/A
Resources Involved:
2 Type 6 engine crews on site for this shift. 
Contributing Factors
Contributing Factors:
Human Factors
Human Factors:
Performance, Situational Awareness  
Other Factors:
 
Narrative
Describe in detail what happened including the concern or potential issue, the environment (weather, terrain, fire behavior, etc), and the resulting health issue.
This incident involved a crew member of a type 6 engine crew that was assigned fuels reduction work. The unit consisted of Rocky Mountain Juniper and the project work was to lop and scatter the juniper. Tree size ranged from seedling size to mature Juniper approximately 18 inch DBH. Topography on the site consisted of rolling terrain with some of the steeper slopes of 30%. This project is expected to last throughout the field season.

This was the crew member's first day cutting on the project for the season. The crew member has been with the engine module for the past few seasons and has operated a chainsaw while with the module. Other members on the crew have been cutting on the project site the previous week. The Crew member was an A Faller (FAL3). The crewmember was limited on their falling experience and was cutting next to a B faller (FAL2).

With the arrival of a new member to the project a Tailgate safety briefing was conducted with the JHA. Proper PPE was discussed and all personnel were wearing chainsaw operations PPE. One of the safety issues discussed was the fact that crew members have not run a chainsaw in several months and slower production was expected on the first few shifts on the project while personnel reacquainted themselves with chainsaw operations. The fuels reduction prescription was outlined and discussed. Then personnel proceeded to cut for the day.

The crew member voluntary decided to wear line gear while cutting. This was not discussed at the briefing.

When limbing a fallen juniper on a 20% slope the crew member sliced the top of his left boot with the tip off the chainsaw bar. The Crew member stated they lost awareness of foot placement and had their left foot on the uphill side. The cut to the logger style boot is approximately 2 inches long. The crew members sock had fibers pulled from it. The saw tip did not injure the crew member.
Immediate Action Taken
Reporting Individual : please describe actions you took to correct or mitigate the unsafe/unhealthful event.
Once the incident occurred, the crew member ceased sawing and immediately informed the crew Forman whom the crew member was working next too. Both of these individuals then informed the Engine Captain of the situation.

The Engine Captain then had the crew cease sawing while an AAR was conducted on the incident. After a discussion of proper saw techniques and Situational Awareness the Crew Member was assigned to scattering brush the rest of the shift.

Items that were discussed in the AAR were.

1. Situational awareness of saw tip
2. Foot placement.
3. Cutting and limbing on slope.
4. How Proper PPE is used and how it protects the wearer.
5. Not wearing Line gear while cutting on fuels reduction projects.
6. Work Production on project work. (i.e. its not a race)

Once the crew member acquires new boots they will resume saw operations on the project.


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