Working in wind

[Barry]

Wind days are the ones that get people hurt. The problem isn't always the tree you're cutting, it's the widow-maker shifting above you, or a hung tree dislodging because the canopy is moving. My personal rule is no felling if there's sustained wind above about 15-20 mph and I'll back that down further if I'm working in standing dead or in areas with a lot of previous disturbance where there's more debris risk. Even at low wind speeds, checking the canopy above the landing zone before you're committed in the cut is non-negotiable. What wind conditions make you walk away from a tree?

 

[Three rings]

That’s a good rule of thumb. Wind adds a second, unpredictable load to everything overhead and it turns otherwise stable hazards into moving ones. If I’m seeing sustained gusts or any visible canopy movement above the work zone, that’s usually enough for me to stop and reassess or call it off.

 

[Alan]

Once the wind starts moving the canopy enough that you can't predict what's going to happen overhead, it's usually time to call it a day and come back later.