Rigging for Removal

Abstract

The intent of this paper is to briefly detail prin- ciples and concepts of rigging for tree and tree limb removal. This paper is intended as a reference tool for tree workers already skilled in tree removal techniques. It is in no way a substitute for hands-on instruction by skilled pro- fessional arborists. Rigging becomes necessary when free-falling is not possible because: a) a structure is in the way, b) sensitive landscaping would be damaged, or c) energized conductors or some other obstacle present a hazard. Rigging Rigging becomes desirable when: A. Roping large pieces provide better control and greater efficiency than chunking down smaller pieces, ie: piecing back a limb on a hillside backyard. If you don't rope it, you might have to chase a piece through two or three yards and fish it out of a swimming pool. B. Large pieces may produce an option in a more useable by-product than firewood. Sometimes taking down a tree in saw-log lengths provides saleable lumber. Black walnut, redwood and fir come to mind in the S.F. Bay Area, but you must have a known ready market. An lot of sawlogs have collected borers for several years waiting for a buyer before it has ended up as cord- wood anyway. C. Margin of worker safety is increased. In my opinion and philosophy,- rigging's primary function is to decrease worker exposure to hazard. Con- sider this situation: you are faced with a long, horizontal limb. You can chunk it down if you make 20 small cuts, hold on to them and throw them out 10' to clear an obstacle. It wjlK take you 15 minutes to rig a tip tie and a tag line, but then you can take it in one cut. One cut means you have reduced your exposure by a factor of 20 to 1. Those are excellent odds. Also, even though those 15 minutes of rigging might seem like a long time of doing nothing with a crew, when done pro- perly, the time invested works out to be less than the time needed to physically chunk out 20 pieces. Rope