Standard Occupational Classification (SOC): Fallers

Fallers are workers who fell trees using chainsaws or other specialized equipment. I’m not aware of fallers working in the healthcare industry. Fallers typically work in the forestry or logging industry, and their job duties include:

Identifying trees to be felled based on factors such as the species, size, and location of the tree Using chainsaws or other specialized equipment to cut the tree at a specific height or angle to control its direction of fall Removing branches and limbs from the tree using a chainsaw or other cutting tools Trimming the tree trunk to remove any remaining branches or knots Managing the safety of the felling operation, including setting up warning signs and barriers, and ensuring that other workers and bystanders are out of harm’s way To become a faller, you typically need to have a high school diploma or equivalent and undergo on-the-job training. Some employers may require fallers to have a specific certification or license, such as a faller certification from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. Fallers should be physically fit and able to work in a variety of weather conditions. They should also have good spatial awareness, as they need to be able to judge the direction in which a tree will fall and plan their cuts accordingly.