Grapple Kills Spotter

Summary

In this safety video, Officer Larry Spooler of WorkSafeBC recounts a tragic accident involving a spotter struck and killed by a grapple yarder's cable due to not being in the clear. The video emphasizes the importance of clear communication and visibility between spotters and yarder operators. It stresses the need for spotters to ensure they are in a safe position before signaling and for operators to confirm spotters' positions before moving the grapple, especially in blind conditions. Employers are urged to develop and train workers on safe work procedures to prevent such fatalities in cable yarding operations.

Takeaways

• 🚨 Safety First: Working around cable yarders requires constant vigilance and adherence to safety protocols.
• 📍 Importance of Being in the Clear: A spotter must always be in the clear, visible and safe position before any yarder operation.
• 🔍 Visibility Issues: The spotter's visibility is crucial for the yarder operator to avoid accidents.
• 🚨 Tragic Incident: A spotter was killed due to being struck by the grapple's cable while not in the clear.
• 🛠️ Yarder Mechanics: Grapple yarders function like giant pincers, with a heavy grapple and a long choker cable for log retrieval.
• ⚠️ High Force Movement: Grapples move with tremendous force, making it imperative for spotters to be out of the danger zone.
• 🗣️ Communication Essential: The spotter acts as the yarder operator's eyes and must communicate effectively for safe operations.
• 📻 Radio Protocol: Before moving the grapple in blind conditions, the yarder operator should radio to confirm the spotter's safe position.
• 📋 Develop Safe Work Procedures: Employers should establish and enforce safe work procedures including communication protocols.
• 👥 Training Crucial: Workers must be trained in these safe work procedures to prevent accidents in cable yarding operations.
• ❗️ Confirmation Over Assumption: Never assume spotters are in the clear; always use the radio to confirm their position before proceeding.

Q & A

What is the role of a spotter in cable yarding operations?

A spotter acts as the yarder operator's eyes, directing the placement of the grapple over logs and ensuring the safety of the operation.

What is a grapple yarder and how does it function?

A grapple yarder is a piece of heavy machinery used for logging that functions like giant pincers, gripping onto logs. It is attached to a cable and can retrieve logs beyond its reach.

What was the estimated weight of the grapple involved in the incident described in the script?

The grapple in the incident was estimated to weigh more than a ton, approximately as much as a car.

What is the purpose of the 30-foot choker cable attached to the grapple?

The 30-foot choker cable is used to secure the logs for retrieval when the grapple yarder extends beyond its normal reach.

What is the 'clear' in the context of yarding operations and why is it important?

Being 'in the clear' means being in a safe and visible position where the yarder operator can see the spotter and the area of operation, which is crucial for preventing accidents.

What was the primary cause of the accident mentioned in the script?

The accident occurred because the spotter was not in the clear and the yarder operator made a blind throw without confirming the spotter's position.

What should a yarder operator do before moving a grapple in blind conditions?

The yarder operator should radio to confirm that the spotter is in a safe position before moving the grapple in blind conditions.

What responsibilities do employers have regarding safe work procedures in cable yarding?

Employers should develop safe work procedures that include communication protocols for moving a grapple and train workers in these procedures to ensure safety.

What is the importance of communication between the yarder operator and the spotter?

Effective communication is vital for coordinating the movement of the grapple and ensuring that both the operator and the spotter are aware of each other's positions and intentions.

What can be inferred as the number one cause of death in cable yarding operations according to the script?

Not being in the clear is the number one cause of death in cable yarding operations, as it leads to accidents where workers are struck by moving equipment.

What steps should a spotter take to ensure their safety during cable yarding operations?

A spotter should make sure they are in the clear and visible to the yarder operator before giving the go-ahead signal and should always communicate their position.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Safety First in Cable Yarding Operations

This paragraph discusses a tragic accident involving a spotter and a cable yarder, highlighting the importance of being in the clear when working around such machinery. The spotter, who was not visible to the yarder operator due to being in a retention patch of trees, was struck and killed by the grapple's cable while attempting to retrieve a log. The incident underscores the need for clear communication and confirmation of the spotter's position before any yarder movement. It emphasizes the role of the spotter as the operator's eyes and the critical nature of being in a safe position before signaling the go-ahead. The paragraph calls for employers to develop and implement safe work procedures, including communication protocols for yarder operators and spotters, to prevent such accidents.

Keywords

💡Larry Spooler

Larry Spooler is mentioned as an investigating officer with WorkSafeBC, which is a workplace safety authority. His role is central to the narrative as he provides an authoritative perspective on the incident discussed in the video. The script uses his position to underscore the importance of safety protocols in cable yarding operations.

💡WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC is an organization responsible for ensuring workplace safety in British Columbia, Canada. It is mentioned to establish the credibility of the investigation and the importance of adhering to safety standards. The script implies that WorkSafeBC sets the guidelines for safe practices in various industries, including cable yarding.

💡Cable yarder

A cable yarder is a piece of heavy machinery used in logging to move logs from the forest to a landing area. It is central to the video's theme as the accident discussed involves the use of this machinery. The script describes the cable yarder's function and the associated risks when operating it without proper safety measures.

💡Spotter

A spotter in this context is an individual who acts as the 'eyes' for the yarder operator, directing the placement of the grapple over logs. The role of the spotter is crucial for safety, as the script illustrates with the tragic incident where a spotter was killed due to not being in the clear.

💡Grapple

The grapple is a part of the cable yarder, described as weighing more than a ton and functioning like giant pincers to grip logs. It is a key component in the machinery's operation and is directly involved in the fatal incident described in the script, highlighting the need for caution when it is in motion.

💡Choker cable

A choker cable is a type of cable used in logging to secure logs for extraction. In the script, it is attached to the grapple and extends the yarder's reach. The choker cable's role is highlighted as part of the setup that led to the accident, emphasizing the need for careful handling and positioning.

💡Retention patch

A retention patch refers to an area of trees that is retained or left standing during logging operations. In the script, the spotter was hidden in a retention patch, which obstructed the yarder operator's view and led to the accident. This term is important for understanding the environmental context and the challenges it presents for safety.

💡Blind throw

A blind throw is an action taken by the yarder operator without visual confirmation of the spotter's or the log's position. The script uses this term to describe the operator's mistake that led to the spotter being struck and killed, underscoring the danger of operating machinery without proper visibility.

💡Safe Work procedures

Safe Work procedures refer to the established safety protocols that must be followed to prevent accidents. The script emphasizes the need for employers to develop these procedures, including communication protocols, to ensure the safety of workers in cable yarding operations.

💡Communication procedure

A communication procedure is a specific type of Safe Work procedure that dictates how workers should communicate with each other, especially in situations where visual contact is not possible. The script highlights the importance of such procedures in coordinating the movements of the grapple and ensuring the spotter's safety.

💡In the clear

Being 'in the clear' means being in a safe and visible position where one is not at risk of being struck by moving machinery or objects. The script repeatedly emphasizes this concept as the primary safety measure that, if followed, could have prevented the fatal accident.

Highlights

Larry Spooler, an investigating officer with WorkSafeBC, emphasizes the importance of being 'in the clear' when working around cable yarders.

A spotter's death occurred due to not being in the clear and being struck by the yarder's grapple or stroker cable.

Grapple yarders function like giant pincers, gripping onto logs and can weigh over a ton, similar to a car.

A 30-foot choker cable is attached to the grapple to retrieve logs beyond the grapple's reach.

The grapple moves with tremendous force, and a spotter acts as the yarder operator's eyes, directing grapple placement.

The spotter was hidden in a retention patch of trees and wanted to remove a log, leading to a fatal mistake.

The yarder operator made a blind throw without confirming the spotter's position, resulting in the spotter's death.

The accident could have been prevented with proper communication and confirmation of the spotter's position.

Before moving a grapple in blind conditions, a yarder operator should radio to confirm the spotter is in a safe position.

Spotters must ensure they are in the clear before giving the go-ahead signal.

Employers should develop Safe Work procedures, including communication protocols for moving a grapple when visibility is limited.

Training workers in these Safe Work procedures is crucial to prevent accidents in cable yarding operations.

Not being in the clear is identified as the number one cause of death in cable yarding operations.

The importance of not assuming spotters are in the clear and the necessity of radio confirmation is highlighted.

The transcript serves as a reminder of the critical need for clear communication and safety measures in yarding operations.

The incident underscores the potential hazards of working with heavy machinery like grapple yarders and the importance of safety protocols.

Transcripts

I'm Larry spooler investigating officer

with WorkSafeBC if there's one thing to

remember when working around cable

yarders it's be in the clear here

a spotter died when he was not in the

clear he was struck by the yarders

grapple or it stroker cable a crew was

removing logs from a hillside using this

grapple yarder grapples worked like

giant pincers gripping onto logs

the grapple in this incident was

estimated to weigh more than a ton about

as much as a car attached to the grapple

was a 30-foot choker cable to retrieve

logs beyond the grapples reach the

position of grapple to the right or left

a yarder operator swinging or throws the

gravel as you can see a grapple moves

with tremendous force a spotter acts as

the yarder operators eyes and directs

the placement of the grapple over logs

the spotter was hidden in this retention

patch of trees he wanted to remove a log

from the retention patch so he radioed

the yarder operator to swing the grapple

unable to see the spotter of the log the

yarder operator made a blind throw

without first confirming the spotters

position the spotter then asked for the

grapple to be moved a bit more the

operator swung the grapple again the

spotter who was not in the clear was

struck and killed this accident could

have been prevented before moving a

grapple and blind conditions a yarder

operator should radio to confirm that

the spotter is in a safe position if

you're a spotter make sure you are in

the clear before giving the go-ahead

signal employers should develop Safe

Work procedures that include a

communication procedure for moving a

grapple when the yarder operator cannot

City the spotter train workers in these

procedures not being in the clear is the

number one cause of death and cable

yarding operations don't assume spotters

are in the clear radio to confirm