The safe felling of a tree includes making three precise and strategic cuts. Learn details about the different methods of cutting the three major notches: Open face, Conventional, and Humbolt. You can compare the details of the notches. Difficult trees require the use of special techniques.

Types of cuts

	Open-faced	Conventional	Humbolt
1st - Top Cut
2nd - Bottom or Undercut
3rd - Back Cut

Highlights of Manual Felling Techniques:

• An undercut must be made in each tree being felled. The undercut must be of a size so the tree will not split and will fall in the intended direction. [29 CFR 1910.266(h)(2)(v)]
• A backcut must be made in each tree being felled. The backcut must leave sufficient hinge wood to hold the tree to the stump during most of its fall so that the hinge is able to guide the tree's fall in the intended direction. Except in Open Face felling, the backcut must be above the level of the horizontal facecut in order to provide an adequate platform to prevent kickback. [29 CFR 1910.266(h)(2)(vi) and (vii)]
• The backcut may be at or below the horizontal facecut in tree pulling operations. [29 CFR 1910.266(h)(2)(vii)]
• Domino felling is prohibited.
• Incorrect backcutting techniques when using a horizontal facecut are outlined here.

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