Trail Maintenance and Construction Tasks, Their Hazards, and Recommended Safety Gear

Compiled by the Appalachian Trail Conference, 1994

This chart was prepared by ATC using trail work job-hazard analyses by US. Forest Service district personnel, AT-club volunteers, ATC volunteer-crew leaders, and ATC management staff.  The information provided in the chart represents a distillation of information about accidents that have occurred or that are likely to occur during different types of trail work.

The ATC skills-training and Trail-crew safety policy, adopted by the ATC Board of Managers in April 1993, emphasizes the importance of safety equipment and job-hazard analyses in preventing work-related accidents.

This chart is only a guide.  Common sense and awareness are the best tools you can use on any task.

Basic safety equipment for all Trail work should include: sturdy boots, work gloves, long pants, and appropriate dress for the weather.

Maintain tools in good working condition; know your abilities and limits; and take breaks before you are tired.

Perhaps the most important part of any trail-maintenance or trail-construction project occurs during the first few minutes.  This is when the project leader should call everyone together and take a few minutes to talk about safety and the proper use of tools. (a.k.a. a "tailgate" meeting)

Safety is a concern for everyone, not just "first-timers.'  Some 'old-timers' tend to become complacent and forget about safety, too. Even if there are only a few people involved, it's good to remind ourselves that trail tools - especially swinging tools and cutting tools - can do a great deal of damage to the human body.

Trail Maintenance and Construction Tasks, Their Hazards, and Recommended Safety Gear
Compiled by the Appalachian Trail Conference, 1994

Basic safety equipment for all Trail work: sturdy boots, work gloves, long pants, and appropriate dress for the weather.
Maintain tools in good working condition; know your abilities and limits; take breaks before you are tired.

Trail Tasks Likely Job Hazards Recommended Safety Gear Additional Comments
balds-clearing sharp tools, back and arm strain, dehydration, loud noise (if using power equipment), lightning, overexposure to sun, rain, or  wind gloves, boots, sun hat, sunscreen, goggles, weed eater harness, and hearing protection (if using power equipment) Drink at least two quarts of water per day, keep proper spacing between workers, leave ridge crest during lightning storms.
brush-cutting sharp tools, spring poles, loose footing, flying brush, poison ivy, bee stings, snakebites gloves, boots, goggles, shin guards (optional) Have soap & wash water available; know who is allergic to bee stings and poison ivy.
carpentry sharp tools, splinters, flying nail chips or sawdust, smashed fingers or thumbs gloves, goggles  
chainsaw use severe, ragged cuts from the chainsaw, kickback, fire, back or muscle strains, falling trees or limbs, loud noise gloves, boots, chainsaw chaps, hardhat, eye and hearing protection, wedges, extra chain  
crush and fill (gravel making) rock shrapnel, splinters or broken tool handles, carpal-tunnel syndrome, working too close to other workers gloves, boots, goggles, shin guards, hardhats, long pants and sleeves Keep wrists rigid when swinging sledgehammer; keep proper spacing between workers.
log work (peeling, rolling, setting) sharp tools, slippery logs, rolling logs, back or muscle strain gloves, boots, shin guards (optional) Keep back straight, lift with legs or mechanical advantage, work in unison.
power-mowing loud noise, thrown debris gloves, boots, goggles, hearing protection, long pants Do not operate near other people; cool engine before fueling
rigging (winch work) frayed cable, improper attachment of load or anchors, standing in the "bite", use of inadequate equipment (climbing hardware), overhead loads, cable hard to see gloves, boots, hardhats Station lookouts, inspect equipment frequently, protect trees from damage, avoid improper use of winch (do not be seduced by the power of the winch).
rock work crushed extremities, slippery footing, back or muscle strain gloves, boots (steel-toed optional), shin guards, hardhat Keep back straight, lift with legs or mechanical advantage, work in unison.
sharpening sharp tools, flying filings gloves, goggles, file handle and knuckle guard  
sidehill-trail construction back or muscle strain, carpal-tunnel syndrome, sharp tools, slippery footing, steep slopes, working too close to or walking by others gloves (optional), boots, shin guards, goggles (optional) Keep wrists rigid, place one foot in front of the other, and keep back straight when swinging or pulling digging tools.  Keep proper spacing between workers.
tree-felling   (non-motorized) falling trees and limbs, hollow trees, bee stings gloves, boots, hardhat, goggles, ropes or winches, wedges Two-person crew, minimum (one as spotter).  Know who is allergic to bee stings and poison ivy.