News Article

Proper wood cutting procedures focus of city workshop


1/31/2003 3:42:13 PM


From left, Stan Pinksen of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, and workshop co-ordinators Mark Brake and Terry Healey, show Dr. Ernest Dureke the proper way to cut a log with a chainsaw. The mannequin, right, is dressed in safety gear.

By Gary Kean
The Western Star
Reprinted with permission


January 30 – Dr. Ernest Dureke has been cutting wood at his cabin in Howley for the last decade, but he says he'll be much more sure of what he’s doing the next time he goes about that chore.

The Corner Brook doctor was one of about a dozen people who recently took the time to attend a domestic wood cutting workshop organized by a pair of College of the North Atlantic forest resource technician students at College of the North Atlantic’s Corner Brook campus. The day-long session, the brainchild of students Mark Brake and Terry Healey, involved formal presentations on aspects of proper domestic wood harvesting procedures, as well as opportunities for hands-on training in cutting wood with chainsaws.

“I came to learn how to handle domestic wood cutting, to learn how to do it properly and to have proper safety precautions taught to me,” said Dr. Dureke.

“I’ve been cutting wood at my cabin in Howley for about 10 years, but I don’t think I’ve been doing it correctly. With this course, I will have proper respect for the chainsaw and how to cut wood properly.”

As he himself suspected, Dr. Dureke did learn a great deal about what he was doing incorrectly and how to go about cutting wood more efficiently.

“I’m glad I came,” he said.

“One of the things I learned is proper maintenance of the chainsaw and the safety aspects of using it. I think, from now on, I’m going to have a little bit more confidence in cutting wood.”

Given the nature of the subject, Brake and Healey say they were pleased with the workshop, which they planned as part of their course work at the college.

To help them out, the students recruited the expertise of George Crocker, a safety co-ordinator with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, and Stan Pinksen, another mill employee. Those who participated in the workshop were shown the proper and safe way to maintain a chainsaw, as well as how to fell a tree, limb it, buck it and pile it.

“To have 11 or 12 people show up for something like this was good because a lot of times it’s hard to get people out doing stuff,” said Brake.

“And you couldn’t ask for a better presentation and two better people to present it than George and Stan.”

Healey added that all of the participants seemed pleased with their newfound knowledge of everything from sharpening chains to learning the right angles to approach cutting a tree, to the various safety equipment one should wear while cutting wood with a chainsaw.

“We had people here who have been in the woods for 20 years and people who don't even have a chainsaw yet, so we had pretty well all levels of people,” said Healey.

Crocker, meanwhile, said he and Pinksen were more than eager to share their knowledge of the activity in the name of educating the general public.

“Any time we get the chance to help out the community in any way at all, we’re glad to help, and sessions like this is how it’s done,” he said.

“It’s one way to get to the public and, hopefully, have them respect the chainsaw a bit more by showing them some techniques that will make it a little bit easier and a whole lot safer.”

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For more information contact:

Stephen Lee
Communications Manager
(709) 643-7929

or

Tanya Alexander
Public Information Officer
(709) 643-7928