"Safety in Woods Work: Techniques for Safe Forestry

This educational silent film from the 1930s provides a detailed comparison between safe and hazardous practices in forestry work, particularly in the tasks of felling trees and handling hand tools like axes, spades, and picks. The film uses the felling of a snag, or a tree that is dead, diseased, or deformed, to illustrate key safety principles. It demonstrates the correct procedure by first clearing the surrounding area of brush, then carefully notching the tree to control its direction of fall. The tree is partially sawed, a wedge is inserted to guide the fall, and finally, it's completely cut through. These steps contrast with improper methods that could lead to accidents, emphasizing the importance of preparation, technique, and caution in woods work to prevent injury.