What Do Fallers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Fallers

Fallers use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage.

Salary
$49520
Becoming One
Very Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Fallers use axes or chainsaws to fell trees using knowledge of tree characteristics and cutting techniques to control direction of fall and minimize tree damage. They also stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls.

Other tasks include:

  • Appraise trees for certain characteristics, such as twist, rot, and heavy limb growth, and gauge amount and direction of lean, to determine how to control the direction of a tree’s fall with the least damage.
  • Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.
  • Clear brush from work areas and escape routes, and cut saplings and other trees from direction of falls, using axes, chainsaws, or bulldozers.
  • Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes.
  • Assess logs after cutting to ensure that the quality and length are correct.
  • Determine position, direction, and depth of cuts to be made, and placement of wedges or jacks.

We asked Fallers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

62%

How meaningful is this job

57%


62% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 57% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Fallers trim off the tops and limbs of trees, using chainsaws, delimbers, or axes. They appraise trees for certain characteristics, such as twist, rot, and heavy limb growth, and gauge amount and direction of lean, to determine how to control the direction of a tree’s fall with the least damage.

A typical day for a Faller will also include:

  • Maintain and repair chainsaws and other equipment, cleaning, oiling, and greasing equipment, and sharpening equipment properly.
  • Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.
  • Select trees to be cut down, assessing factors such as site, terrain, and weather conditions before beginning work.
  • Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls.
  • Determine position, direction, and depth of cuts to be made, and placement of wedges or jacks.

We asked some Fallers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 0% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 16% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 29% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 7% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 0% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 68% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Fallers also tag unsafe trees with high-visibility ribbons. They may also split logs, using axes, wedges, and mauls, and stack wood in ricks or cord lots.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Fallers Load logs or wood onto trucks, trailers, or railroad cars, by hand or using loaders or winches. They might also Place supporting limbs or poles under felled trees to avoid splitting undersides, and to prevent logs from rolling.

In addition, they Secure steel cables or chains to logs for dragging by tractors or for pulling by cable yarding systems.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Work as a member of a team, rotating between chain saw operation and skidder operation.

To some Fallers, it is also their responsibility to Mark logs for identification.


Working life

Working hours

Less than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Faller, you can expect to work less than 40 hours per week.

Do Fallers work in an office-style work environment?

Never
97%


Once a week
3%


Do Fallers work outdoors?

Every day
94%


Once a week
6%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Builders and The Organizers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Fallers

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Related to Fallers Job Description

Fallers job description, what do Fallers do, typical day for Fallers, what is it like to work as a Faller, how many hours do Fallers work, day to day work of a Faller

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/farming-fishing-and-forestry/logging-workers.htm
http://www.forestresources.org/
http://www.forestguild.org/
http://www.fs.fed.us/


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