Cut and hold techniques
Arborists use cut and hold techniques to prune and dismantle trees whilst working from EWP baskets .
Similar techniques should be used by rescue crews to cut branches and limbs whilst clearing an access path for a rescue appliance .
Cut and hold techniques will require two rescuers to be in the rescue basket , both wearing suitable chainsaw PPE , including helmet , hearing protection , eye protection and chainsaw chaps or trousers .
The chainsaw should be secured to the basket via the rear handle to reduce the ‘ drop potential ’.
The limbs are held by one crew member and cut in small pieces by the other .
Each section must be small enough to control comfortably .
Each section is then thrown to the ground and not piled up on the platform .
The area below the platform needs to be isolated to ensure that no persons can be hit by falling debris .
Workers continue to shorten each branch to gain access . This may need to be done below and above the injured worker to allow clear access for the basket and knuckle .
Arborists usually dismantle trees beginning at the lower branches to clear space for higher branches to be dropped . Where multiple branches must be removed the optimal sequence of branch cuts should be considered .
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