SAFETY RULES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 188, 26 August 1937, Page 10

SAFETY RULES

Mask an axe when not in use., When an axe is being carried, it is best to have a special mask or case for it so that thp euttiug edge is covered. When an axe is being laid aside after a job kas been completed the edge should be rnasked, eitlier by being, placed • in its case or by jabbing it into a Jog or stput branch. As much of the haft (or kandle as many call it) should be covered by the log, in addition to the whole of tlie ■ edge • being embedded in it. JS'ever chop a leaning stick. When ehopping firewood, or cutting a pole to the required lengtb always rest the part of the stick to- be cut on a sohd surface. If the stick is. leant up against a log and hit in the middle the pnds are bound to fly up into the air, and may do damage to eyes. ' Jn cutting small branches for firewood it is always best to hold them with the left hand and lay them across the choppingblock, resting the place to be cut on the far edge of the block, so that the blow can be direeted downwards and away. . 8ee that everyone is a good distance away from the axe. This safety rule seelns so-obvious that it should 'not be nceded, for comniou sense *is the guJdeu rule of axemanship as well as oi liie iu general; bufc experience shows that ib is the rule mosfc l'r"quentJy ignoreu. It applies to the hand axe as well as lo tlie felling axe. As applied to the felling axe it .is usually worded as "on-

lookers must stand two axe lengths away."* , The remaining rules apply mainly to the felling axe and to its use when felling a tree. Carry the axe in a safe way. A felling axe should be. carried either on the shoulder with the cutting edge facing out, or with the head held in the hand, cutting edge in,' tho. hand and arm being at the side. The latter ' is the method adopted in lumber camps and is the safer of tlie two, although ib does not look it. Compauioiis must walk on tlie sido away from the axe. (Jiear the ground an axe lengtb away; An axe length is really the circle covered by the axe when swung at full arm's length from tlie shoulder. All branches and other obstacles within this radius sbould be removed, as if struck they are likely to deflect tho blow, | I will give you the rest of tho talk on axes next - week.