Any loose overhead debris, such as a snapped branch or a lodged tree, suspended above a work area. These hazards are notorious for dropping silently on loggers or equipment operators due to wind or the vibration of chainsaws. Identifying and avoiding them is the first step in any safe felling operation.
Heard on the job
Keep your eyes up when you walk into that hemlock grove, the last storm left a dozen widow-makers hanging in the crowns.
Insider tip
Always scan the canopy before starting your saw. If a widow-maker is directly over your work area, leave the tree for a machine to fell.
Also heard as
- fool killer