SOUTH AFRICA · SALARY IN RANDS

Fallers

What the work involves, the skills employers want, and how to get started in South Africa.

  • Cutter Operator
  • Logger
  • Sawyer
  • Timber Cutter
  • Timber Faller
  • Tree Faller
  • Tree Feller
  • Tree Topper
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What do Fallers do?

A Faller is a specialized professional in forestry responsible for the safe and efficient cutting down of trees. This role involves assessing trees for suitability for removal, utilizing various cutting techniques and equipment, such as chainsaws and felling axes, to ensure that trees are cut in a way that minimizes risk to the surrounding environment and personnel. Fallers must be skilled in recognizing tree species, understanding tree health, and evaluating site conditions to make informed decisions. They play a critical role in logging operations, land clearing for development, and forest management practices that aim to promote healthy forest ecosystems. Safety training is paramount in this career, as Fallers often work in remote areas where the risk of injury from falling trees or machinery is significant. Their work may also involve the removal of hazardous trees that pose threats to infrastructure or public safety, emphasizing the importance of both technical skills and environmental stewardship in their profession.

What the work actually is

  • 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.
  • Measure felled trees and cut them into specified log lengths, using chain saws and axes.

Skills employers expect

Skills

  • Operation and Control Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Monitoring Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Operations Monitoring Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Abilities

  • Reaction Time The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Multilimb Coordination 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 The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness 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 The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

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How people get into it

Education of new hires

Less than high school diploma
High school diploma or equivalent
or: GED, High School Equivalency Certificate

A normal week

  • Performing General Physical Activities
  • Controlling Machines and Processes
  • Handling and Moving Objects
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Tools used on the job

Technology

  • Spreadsheet software Microsoft Excel
  • Presentation software Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Geographic information system ESRI ArcView · Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Analytical or scientific software Assisi Compiler · Assisi Software Assisi Resource
  • Electronic mail software Microsoft Outlook

Tools

  • Lumbering equipment Chain flail delimbers · Grapple yarders · Self-loading log transporters
  • Lifting cables Guylines · Haulback lines · Skylines
  • Air or gas tanks or cylinders Combi cans · Gas cans
  • Ultrasonic examination equipment Impact resonance devices · Sonic devices
  • Forestry skidders Log skidders · Rubber tire skidders

Who it suits

Realistic

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

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.

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Questions people ask

How much do Fallers earn in South Africa?

Fallers salaries in South Africa vary by experience, province and employer.

What do Fallers do?

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 and Saw back-cuts, leaving sufficient sound wood to control direction of fall.

How do I know if this career fits me?

Take the free Assessify career assessment. It matches your answers to careers and shows the South African salary next to each one.