The woodlands of the world can yield many useable and marketable goods. In fact, Canada’s leader in manufacturing and net exports is forestry goods. These products have become a cornerstone of the economy, a major component of the country’s industrial structure and the region’s base for employment.

In the United States, the growing trend of timber product consumption is attributed to rising demand paired with an increased population, increased economic activity and increased personal income. These factors have become the driving force behind the growing demand for products from the woodlands. There are the same reasons for growth in business sectors that invest in this industry.

One Obstacle

The woodlands have become a valued asset to many businesses. Some companies are willing to invest in products associated with this industry. In spite of this, employees who work in the woods are encountering one particular obstacle to the safe handling of one part of their job, namely taking tree samples and removing limbs from the top of trees. This is a hazardous task since such heights are certainly not accessible by use of a normal ladder. Such a task has been made much simpler by using the forestry bucket truck.

Safety Precautions

Dealing with tall trees can be very challenging. Those woodlands workers have to work at great height to get tree samples or cutting dead tree limbs and they face danger from this risk. The following is a list of how an operator can use certain safety precautions on the job.

• Fall protection – In order to prevent falling, the operator must be fastened properly into the bucket. In addition, the worker is never allowed to place anything inside the bucket to use for increasing the work height such as a ladder or step stool. A fall protection guard should always be in place while descending from the any height and the operator should not exit the bucket until it is completely safe.

• Dropping Debris Protection – An operator faces a certain danger when cutting large limbs. If not done properly, falling debris can harm the employees inside the cab. Forestry bucket trucks are equipped with a cab guard that protects the operator inside the cab if a large limb should fall on the cab. The cab guard is built to resist the impact of a large limb while protecting the personnel inside the cab.

• Electrocution Protection - There are times that a woodlands worker will have a job with trees near power lines. For this reason, forestry bucket trucks are equipped with an insulated boom. This feature provides operators with added safety to perform their jobs near power lines. It is also common under these circumstances to seek assistance from a power-line expert to avoid such risks.

• Stability - A forester should never use a lift that is not stable. The placement of the boom is designed to allow for easier maneuverability to reach any hard-to-reach areas. With the placement of the boom behind the cab of the truck, stability is greatly increased by being able to get close to the trees. The operator can get to work sites and perform all designated tasks in a safe manner.

Every forestry task is made easier to handle with the help of these unique bucket trucks. This heavy-duty vehicle is especially designed to fill the needs of forestry workers. There are risks for all personnel when working in the woods; these risks can be minimized or even eliminated with the proper forestry bucket truck safety training. Then the woodlands of the world can indeed become the very best friend of the forester!