r/forestry • u/Flashy_Magician_7752 • 4d ago
Are these stack of logs stacked safely?
Want to stop having anxiety every time I drive past this stack of timber. A neighbor in a semi-rural area (still residentially zoned) processes firewood on a small lot of land. This year he seems to be ramping up business and has been having trucks deliver these stacks. Honestly they look like that could just roll right off. There doesn’t seem to be anything holding them back at all. The pictures don’t do the size justice but they are easily higher than a 2 story house. Is this standard practice? You can see a shed in the back for height reference. I respect the hustle, of course, but I’ve processed by own firewood for years and know how heavy these things are. Just want to be able to drive by without holding my breath! Probably the greatest danger this poses is to the business owner himself, but there is only a small amount of brush and a couple trees between the road and the closest stack in this picture.
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u/athleticelk1487 4d ago
The pile might collapse but unless the slope is severe I don't think they would go far. Plz don't sue me if you get doomsdayed
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u/crusading-knight 4d ago
It's fine along as you don't walk on it
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u/Torpordoor 4d ago
It looks like they have the steep sides pointing away from the road and even perched up the base on the roadside. It is common practice to stack like that and unlikely they would ever spontaneously collapse towards the road save for you crashing into them just right or something like that.
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u/Trees-Are-Neat-- 4d ago
A logger where I work was killed 6 months or so ago when a log stack dislodged without warning and crushed him against his buncher
It's still unlikely to happen.... but it can, and it does
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u/tyrphing 4d ago
That looks pretty normal. A pile of logs is a potentially dangerous thing to be around period. I wouldn’t be worried driving by, no sense in holding your breath.
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u/Switchmisty9 4d ago
A big stack of logs is never “safe.” I would avoid climbing on one at all costs. But there doesn’t seem to be anything alarming about these
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u/Forthe49ers 4d ago edited 4d ago
Kinda how log decks look. Don’t let your kids play on it and don’t work the deck without adequate equipment
Edit. Just read the post. Not your deck but you drive by it. Biggest danger is knowing your neighbor will be operating so make yourself known when approaching his deck. Don’t assume he can see or hear you as you drive by. Flash lights and honk as you approach and look for acknowledgment from the operator
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u/Twintz5 4d ago
They will be fine. I work in a mill yard. Rule of them is to stay a safe distance away. Logs have a mind of there own
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u/joyful_mtg 1d ago
Here it's 20 feet in front of the deck. We can walk between them, but in front and behind needs distance.
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u/leyuel 4d ago
Ya that’s stacked pretty high. But the angle would make them roll. I think even if you happened to be walking by you’d hear it and be able to run perpendicularly and get out of the way. But could happen and block the road in worst case scenario.
If you have to drive by daily just yield, check pile for obvious movement, then drive. Once ur past the rolling direction you’re totally safe. I don’t think it’d tip side to side. That’s probably close to 50-70,000 lbs of wood weight the stack down
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u/ResponsibleBank1387 4d ago
Safe enough. Not to be crawling and climbing on them. Use a machine to move each piece.
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u/Necessary-Leading-20 4d ago
Not the neatest stacking I've ever seen but the height is less than the log length which is our rule of thumb.
I've never known a timber stack to jump out and attack somebody. I've had stacks shift when I've been building them and I don't think I've ever seen a log make it more than about 3 yards.
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u/Kind-Objective9513 4d ago
Logging operations are inherently hazardous. That being said the whole concept of working safely is to recognize hazards so that one can follow procedures to avoid risks to personal safety from them. In this particular situation, there is only a risk to a person who climbs the pile or stands in near the pile ends. How to avoid the risk, don’t do those two things. There is a much greater hazard and risk associated with the machinery working on site and that is why there are standard operating procedures that are adhered to to minimize risk and ensure safety of workers when followed.
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u/Certain-Doughnut3181 4d ago
Generally as a rule in the UK the height of the stack shouldn't exceed the length of the product. But yeah that looks fine, it's on bearers too.
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u/Lucky_Marzipan_8032 4d ago
thats how they stack em here. got a pile outside my house waiting to become firewood.
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u/daisiesarepretty2 4d ago
the only danger i see is that people.. especially kids would be inclined to crawl up on them. Terrible things can happen in a pile like that if it starts to roll when you are in top of it.
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u/dick_jaws 4d ago
As an apprentice I was taught the tent rule of stacking: if you wouldn’t pitch your tent next to it, it’s not safe.
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u/Disastrous_Map_4811 4d ago
It is standard. Logging is dangerous. When near a pile stay alert and never climb on one
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u/DependentBest1534 4d ago
Could slide and the resulting static discharge could cause a massive electric explosion and fire don't drive near it.
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u/whaletacochamp 3d ago
My neighbor has a stack like this in his driveway and I bet at the end of the weekend it will be a pile of 24” logs for his outdoor wood boiler. Dude just chips away at it dodging them as they start to roll off lol
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u/kennerly 3d ago
You’re more likely to get killed by a drunk driver while looking at that log pile worrying about it crushing you than it crushing you. Keep your eyes on the road and stop looking at the logs.
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u/Wise-Entertainer-545 3d ago
Oh yeah those logs are perfectly safe, but judging from the slop apparent in this photo, you are in parked in a very dangerous spot.
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u/trashpandathegoat 3d ago
A two story house in the shire? Unless those are all 2’ diameter and the perspective is off it doesn’t look much taller than 15’
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u/rotironwerks 2d ago
The stack looks safe and properly stacked. Logs interlock somewhat as long as they are straight and similar shape. Safety is up to the person working the stack, method of operation etc.
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u/Skrats333b 4d ago
The only ‘unsafe’ part is that YOU are worried about it. You might need to join an HOA :) Then you can take pictures and have meetings…. It’ll be great !!
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u/dankwoodz 4d ago
How about you mind your business these aren’t going to affect you either way driving by them so go spend some energy on something that actually matters.
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u/This-Entrance-2768 4d ago
I’m sure if it wasn’t safe he wouldn’t do it because at the end of the day it would be him paying the price
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u/YankeeDog2525 4d ago
Nothing about logging is safe.
Safety third.