The Working Conditions of a Logger
Loggers have one of the most rugged jobs around. Their working conditions include just about anything Mother Nature can dole out. For instance, rain and snow, wild animals, and poisonous snakes are just a few of the hazards a logger faces. The terrain is rough and rugged, the loads are heavy, and the work is hard. But working conditions for loggers are better than they used to be.
Loggers still do a lot of work by hand, but heavy equipment is available for some of the heavy lifting tasks. The crew has to be able to get to where the logging is going on. Since this is probably a remote area, the commuting distances are long. Some loggers live together in bunkhouses during jobs.
Some of the specific job titles around a logging operation are fallers, buckers, scalers, and chokers. The fallers are the ones who cut the trees down. This is usually done in pairs for safety. Using a chain saw, they cut a v-shaped cut in one side of the tree. Then on the other side of the tree they cut toward the V. This causes the tree to fall in the direction they have chosen. Sometimes fallers use axes in their work.
The buckers have the job of cutting the limbs off the felled tree, and then cutting the wood into the desired lengths. They use chainsaws for this. The scalers measure the wood next. Finally the chokers come and attach chains to the logs for moving them out. Sometimes helicopters are used for carrying the logs out, but usually they are loaded onto trucks by means of heavy equipment.
The fallers, buckers, scalers, and chokers all have to do much of their work outside in the weather, regardless of snow, rain, or wind. There are many dangers when working around logging operations. Limbs can fall at any time, so loggers use hardhats to protect their heads. They must wear sturdy protective clothing. The chainsaws and other machinery are noisy, so ear protection is required. In very bad weather, logging is sometimes postponed. This is especially true when the wind is very strong or the roads are closed due to heavy snow.
Loggers learn their trade on the job and don’t generally need any education beyond a high school diploma to begin. They do need to be in good shape physically, however, because the job requires hiking around rough areas and clamboring over trees. It’s a real benefit, too, if a logger enjoys working outdoors. When loggers want to advance to higher paying work in more pleasant conditions, they can learn to fix or operate trucks and machinery.
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