Sawyer Committee Meeting May 16, 2013

NY-NJ TC Trails Council Chainsaw Subcommittee Meeting

May 16, 2012

Present: Gary Haugland, Bob Jonas, Walt Daniels, David Day, Chris Reyling, Joel Pinsker, Pete Zuroff, Jonathan Martin

The three work groups provided written reports for committee members to review as they presented their material.  The following summarizes some of the key points.

1. Safety and First Aid Training for Sawyers and Assistants (Swampers)

   On ATC lands, the requirement is to have paired sawyers – one of the pair being graded at least a “B” by USFS instructors.  Elsewhere, we have been pairing a sawyer with a swamper. The TC needs to be responsive to changing requirements in NY and NJ.

   North Jersey Emergency Training Association offers a one day First Aid and CPR course accredited by American Heart Association; an expanded Wilderness course could be up to 4 days.  There is a desire to eliminate CPR training as there is low likelihood of getting medical assistance is a timely manner, however all sawyers are required to be certified in first aid including CPR in order to utilize USFS certification.  The challenge is getting swampers to take such a course, especially since this may discourage participation as swampers.  The costs of training are estimated to be $80 for First Aid and CPR, $35 for first aid only.

   TC should emphasize addressing emergency situations likely to be encountered.  This would include carrying blood-clotting bandages (e.g., Trauma Paks contain QuikClot bandages) that work quickly to stem bleeding and cover large surface areas.  Trauma Paks cost ~$20/each and the TC would need to purchase 100 for current sawyers and swampers.

   Another challenge is how to recruit swampers, especially with first aid training requirement. Sawyers usually have favorites, or others familiar to them, to accompany on work trips.  It would be good to have a pool of swampers to call on when needed.  Sawyers could provide on-the-spot training for swampers, especially to establish effective communication between them regarding dangers at the site, warning other people in the area, and helping with clearing and transport of equipment.

   Safety equipment currently required are hard hats, eye protection, hearing protection and chaps (USFS regulations are changing – for example, chaps now need to be 5-layers).  Cost ~$120 and up. Hard hats and chaps need to be replaced every 5 years (based on date of manufacture not sale).  Also recommend Whistles providing a shrill warning.  Cost ~$2.25 each with TC logo.  Could purchase in bulk (e.g. 250) and sell any extras to the general public.  Additional useful equipment includes the grip hoist for moving heavy tree trunks and yellow caution tape in certain situations.

2. Chainsaw Training Curriculum

   The USFS certification course for chain sawyers, which is the standard for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, is an excellent and comprehensive program and will continue to be required for work on all Trail Conference trails allowing chain sawing.  (Some trailed areas require cross-cut sawing.)  Current chainsaw training is a multi-day course with a USFS certified instructor to obtain an ‘A’ level certification, and at the time of recertification, the instructor can review the sawyer’s skills to determine qualification for a ‘B’ level certification.

   An ambitious curriculum of additional courses is proposed to bookend the USFS training - an introductory course and a field workshop:

   Part I – Introductory Course will focus on safety/first aid primarily. It can be particularly useful for swampers. It is also a strategy to screen out those with low interest.

   Part II – USFS Certified Training (required for ‘A’ level sawyers, for recertification and advancement to ‘B’ level)

   Part III – Field workshop will focus on sawing and will be broken into smaller groups (a ‘B’ will be required for each group).

   A current challenge is that the USFS instructor pool is shrinking (Jack Shuart suggested it was due to retirements and consolidating offices).  There is a need for the Trail Conference to advocate for additional trainers in the northeast. Maybe a solution would be partnering with other organizations for cost-sharing of a qualified instructor.  Jack Shuart then noted that certifiers need to be agency personnel (e.g., he is with NJ DEP). 

   An alternative training scenario would be to offer a ‘swamper-lite’ course as part of Trail Maintenance 101. Can also take advantage of DVD training material, but need to respect copyright issues.

3. Volunteering and ReportingA concern is whether the Trail Conference can engage our certified chain sawyers during severe weather crises that seem to be occurring more frequently.  It was noted during these storms that TC procedures do not always meet reporting needs for the state agencies (due to ever-evolving FEMA requirements). This is a difficult challenge for all. 

    

   The TC has made the Certification Course free – considering it a reward for agreeing to volunteer for Trail Conference in this dangerous capacity. There is an expectation that attendees will be willing to volunteer their chain sawing skills.  However, some graduates are never available or have no flexibility in terms of going where the need is greatest.  There has been more success in retaining good volunteers recently, but additional procedures may need to be put in place.

   One suggestion was an up-front fee which would be reimbursed after certain amount of work.  Since, in their defense, sawyers have many other expenses - Chaps, Hat, Whistle, First Aid kit, and of course the Chainsaw – it was felt this might not be well received, and we can’t jeopardize our ability to recruit volunteers. We might also explore ways of reimbursing sawyers for equipment purchased as an inducement.  Currently, we do not provide safety equipment to our sawyers.  Maybe, in exchange for money up front, we provide safety equipment and reimburse once a certain number of hours/field trips are given to TC trails.

    

   Perhaps the intro course, if it is implemented, can serve to screen applicants.  We currently find our sawyers in different ways: some are recommended by other TC volunteers (supervisors and chairs), and others are informally screened as they request a slot in the training when it is announced.

4. It was noted that reporting is inconsistent, and we need better procedures for Sawyers and Swampers to report their work.  Some work as part of trail crews so their activities are reported on those forms.  We need to develop a form for sawyers, and possibly for swampers, but as mentioned we also need to know what our park managers need, e.g., what details FEMA is requiring for reimbursement to the parks.  The form would need to estimate location, size and number of downed trees in an area and progress in clearing them.  An initial inventory of trail conditions can be done by maintainers. This feature can be added to the TM 101curriculum. 

    

   The committee had previously agreed it would be good to learn from all our certified sawyers (there are more than 70 at this time).  We can conduct a Sawyer Survey – by phone or internet.  General feeling was the phone was better – able to get more detailed information with follow-up questions.  We should also include people who have been used as swampers for their input. 

5. Next steps

• Review the reports and recommendations from the committee subgroups, including the purchase of whistles, Trauma Paks with QuikClot bandages, printing of swamper oaths on soft plastic material for wide distribution.
• Review the goals of a phone survey and come to an agreement on the questions to be asked.
• Continue drafting a new reporting form that will capture the actual chainsaw work as distinct from other crew work and be responsive to partner reporting requirements.
• Draft a Chainsaw Policy Statement

Submitted by Gary Haugland with Jonathan Martin