axes only in roped off ax yards?

[Oldscout448]

As a result of an ice storm last month, our local campsite if full of broken pine limbs, some downed poplars, and a dead oak or two.

 

We are planning a Saturday cleanup but some of the Scouters are sure that we can not use full or 3/4 axes to limb the trunks, unless we rope the area off.

 

They plan to use chain saws for the adults and bow saws for the scouts. This seems to me to be a rare and perfect time to teach the older scouts the reason the bigger axes exist

 

they say it's in G2SS somewhere.... but can't find it to show me.

 

Is it really there? or somewhere else? I can't seem to find it anywhere

[Scouter99]

When using axes, you have the safe work area and the ax yard. The safe work area is analogous to the blood circle, but bigger: 10 feet at least. The ax yard is a stationary area set up for long-term use. A safe work area is not necessarily an ax yard, but an ax yard is a safe work area.

This information begins on page 406 of the Scout Handbook, which most scouters have never read.

 

In limbing trees that have fallen all over the place, what you need is to observe a safe work area. That means that the area around the boy within the ax's length should be clear of obstructions, and no person should be within 10 feet of him. It does not mean moving a rope around all day, which is the antithesis of what an ax yard is (stationary, long-term)

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We had a similar debate over hack saws: What do you need for pioneering projects? Poles. How do you get them? Hack saws. B-b-b-but saws can't be used outside the ax yard. OK, then you move the rope every 5 minutes, or gnaw the poles with your teeth. Suddenly the made-up rule isn't so important or official anymore.

[KenDavis500]

Nothing in the GTSS.

 

In the Boy Scout Handbook:

Safe Work area - you must have plenty of room to swing an ax. .... Be certain other people stay at least 10 feet away while you are cutting.

In a long-term camp where you will be using lots of firewood, rope off an ax yard...

 

I read that as no, you don't need to rope off the area to use the ax for cleanup.

[IM_Kathy]

Only time we use an axe yard is when teaching toten chip and for a week of summer camp. Other times we use the safe circle and know surroundings for those using axes and those moving around

[Stosh]

We use a "safety area" at all campouts. If boys wish to use axes, saws, knives, etc. they have a place to go. Usually it's just an area roped off with twine between 4 trees. It's worked well for us. During service projects where tools will be used, the boy with the tool is responsible for the safety of anyone (including themselves) in a 10' radius of their work. No two people can be in those areas at the same time without getting yelled at by anyone seeing it.

 

Stosh

[SSScout]

What they said. Teach the safe use of the tool, play the "what if" game, make each boy responsible for his actions, plan ahead:::: What If.....

Limbing a downed trunk: Stand on the OPPOSITE side of the trunk, swing axe to cut from the down to the up of the tree into the limb. Keepahold of the handle, don't work when you are too tired.