Widow Maker

Widow Maker Definition of a Widowmaker Loggers have always had to deal with daily exposure to situations that could seriously jeopardize  their health and even cause death. There are many ways forestry workers and recreational users of a forest can quickly suffer from a tree-related accident. The term widow maker came to be as a morbid reminder for people working in the woods to avoid situations that can both cause death and profoundly affect the family. The short definition of the term can be translated into the phrase - any loose overhead debris such as limbs or tree tops that may fall at any time. Widow makers are extremely dangerous and present a tree  faller with a continual source of danger. Limb or other loose material dropped or thrown from a tree toward the faller as the tree is felled. Wildland fire fighters, foresters and woods workers have expanded this definition to include many situations in which a tree can cause harm leading to a fatality.   Hazards that Qualify as a Widowmaker The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has expanded these hazards into conditions that should be avoided or eliminated before attempting to fell trees. Anyone that regularly visits the forest should understand how to  evaluate the surrounding area to identify potential tree hazards. Here are those important hazards you need to recognize in a forest: Snags  are stand alone dead trees and subject to failure and falling at any moment. Snags are significantly dangerous when equipment vibrations, high winds and fire undermine an already unsturdy structure. Throwback is usually seen when trees fall through other trees and on objects during felling a tree. Size up the direction a tree will fall before cutting. Never turn your back on a falling tree and plan an escape route if you are the feller. Extreme Weather includes wind, rain and ice. You increase you chances for harm as your exposure to these natural disturbances. Do your woods-work or play on a safer site or another day. Tree Tension Release is usually not a problem during a casual visit to a forest.   It often happens when harvesting trees in multi-layered canopies. On example of this is called a spring pole where a  tree, segment of a tree, limb, or sapling under stress or tension is released due to the pressure or weight of another tree or object.   Terrain effect ca n provide the physics to initiate a catalyst to cause a ripple of multiple hazards to occur. If the tree falls onto stumps, rocks, or uneven ground, a hazard may be created. Always be aware of your surroundings,