Fallers

Overview

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Job Zone One: Little or No Preparation Needed
Experience

Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.

Education

Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Examples

These occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include agricultural equipment operators, dishwashers, floor sanders and finishers, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, baristas, and maids and housekeeping cleaners.

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

Yearly Salary

High: $80K
Median: $43K
Low: $29K

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Stop saw engines, pull cutting bars from cuts, and run to safety as tree falls.
  • 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.
  • Assess logs after cutting to ensure that the quality and length are correct.
  • Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes.
  • Determine position, direction, and depth of cuts to be made, and placement of wedges or jacks.
  • Control the direction of a tree's fall by scoring cutting lines with axes, sawing undercuts along scored lines with chainsaws, knocking slabs from cuts with single-bit axes, and driving wedges.
  • Select trees to be cut down, assessing factors such as site, terrain, and weather conditions before beginning work.
  • Trim off the tops and limbs of trees, using chainsaws, delimbers, or axes.
  • Maintain and repair chainsaws and other equipment, cleaning, oiling, and greasing equipment, and sharpening equipment properly.
  • Insert jacks or drive wedges behind saws to prevent binding of saws and to start trees falling.
  • Tag unsafe trees with high-visibility ribbons.
  • Secure steel cables or chains to logs for dragging by tractors or for pulling by cable yarding systems.
  • Load logs or wood onto trucks, trailers, or railroad cars, by hand or using loaders or winches.
  • Mark logs for identification.
  • Work as a member of a team, rotating between chain saw operation and skidder operation.
  • Place supporting limbs or poles under felled trees to avoid splitting undersides, and to prevent logs from rolling.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Accounting software
BCS Woodlands Software The Logger Tracker
Analytical or scientific software
Assisi Software Assisi Resource
Data base user interface and query software
Assisi Software Assisi Manager
Electronic mail software
Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
BCS Woodlands Software Woodlands Tracker
Geographic information system
Geographic information system GIS systems
Inventory management software
Assisi Software Assisi Inventory
Office suite software
Microsoft Office software
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Agricultural and forestry and landscape machinery and equipment
Chain flail delimbers
Aircraft
Forestry helicopters
Communications Devices and Accessories
Frequency modulation FM two way radios
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Personal computers
Consumer electronics
Global positioning system GPS receivers
Containers and storage
Combi cans
Explosive materials
Remote detonation systems
Fire protection
Portable dry chemical fire extinguishers
Hand tools
File sharpeners
Heavy construction machinery and equipment
Knuckleboom loaders
Industrial process machinery and equipment and supplies
Sharpening jigs
Marine transport
Logging boats
Material handling machinery and equipment
Hand winches
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Impact resonance devices
Mobile medical services products
Emergency first aid kits
Motor vehicles
All terrain vehicles ATV
Office machines and their supplies and accessories
Pocket calculators
Personal safety and protection
Protective hard hats
Rope and chain and cable and wire and strap
Guylines
Security surveillance and detection
Warning whistles

Top 10 Knowledge Required

Mechanical
58%
Importance

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Production and Processing
55%
Importance

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Administration and Management
50%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Public Safety and Security
49%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Customer and Personal Service
47%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mathematics
45%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Economics and Accounting
44%
Importance

Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.

Education and Training
42%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Engineering and Technology
42%
Importance

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Law and Government
42%
Importance

Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Top 10 Skills

Operation and Control
68%
Importance

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Critical Thinking
65%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Monitoring
65%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Operations Monitoring
65%
Importance

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Judgment and Decision Making
60%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Active Listening
58%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Equipment Maintenance
58%
Importance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing
55%
Importance

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Troubleshooting
55%
Importance

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Complex Problem Solving
53%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Top 10 Abilities

Reaction Time
83%
Importance

The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

Multilimb Coordination
75%
Importance

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Control Precision
73%
Importance

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Arm-Hand Steadiness
70%
Importance

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Manual Dexterity
70%
Importance

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Speed of Limb Movement
70%
Importance

The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.

Static Strength
70%
Importance

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

Auditory Attention
68%
Importance

The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

Depth Perception
68%
Importance

The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.

Gross Body Coordination
68%
Importance

The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.

Top 10 Work Activities

Controlling Machines and Processes
87%
Importance

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Performing General Physical Activities
87%
Importance

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Handling and Moving Objects
84%
Importance

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
79%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
76%
Importance

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
72%
Importance

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
71%
Importance

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
70%
Importance

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Getting Information
69%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
67%
Importance

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Cut trees or logs.
  • Operate forestry equipment.
  • Evaluate quality of plants or crops.
  • Trim trees or other vegetation.
  • Measure physical characteristics of forestry or agricultural products.
  • Evaluate log quality.
  • Determine forestry techniques or methods.
  • Maintain forestry, hunting, or agricultural equipment.
  • Mark agricultural or forestry products for identification.
  • Attach equipment extensions or accessories.
  • Load agricultural or forestry products for shipment.
  • Perform manual agricultural, aquacultural, or horticultural tasks.

Education

Interests

Realistic
100%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional
48%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Investigative
36%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Social
28%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Enterprising
23%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Artistic
17%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Work Values

Support
81%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Independence
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Working Conditions
50%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Relationships
48%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Achievement
43%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition
29%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.