Forest Road Deactivation Practices
in the Pacific Northwest
4 - Safety and Road Surface	Working In Isolation, Insloping/Outsloping

Safety

As deactivation activities are frequently carried out by people working alone in isolated areas, sound safety practices are extremely important. A reliable physical or radio check-in procedure must be set up and followed at all times. Radio check-ins should occur at least three times daily, preferably more often. Unreliable radio equipment will lead to misunderstandings and an inconsistent approach to safety check-ins. In areas out of radio contact, set up a physical check-in procedure. Some jurisdictions and companies have established rules for check-ins.

Operators should always be aware if there are others working close by, specifically downslope from the work site. Be aware of possible "rain-on-snow events" on slopes above you, as this is a time when landslides and snow avalanches occur. Follow legal shutdown rules (rainfall limits), and always consider voluntary shutdown guidelines especially when working in steep or potentially unstable terrain.

When working in isolation, only experienced operators should carry out risky operations such as benching down to retrieve extra fill. Do not work under high, unstable cutslope faces. Operators must recognize indicators of unstable road fills, tension cracks, displaced road sections, and unstable cutslopes. Discuss safety concerns with supervisors, and call someone with more experience or expertise if necessary. Never proceed if a safe approach or escape route is not obvious.

Where access is maintained, users of deactivated roads should be made aware of potential safety concerns. Deep cross-ditches, outsloped roads in snow and ice areas, and removed bridges are examples of potential hazards. It some cases, it may be appropriate or even mandatory (in BC) to post warning signs.

Road Surface Considerations

Insloping/Outsloping

Insloping is the re-shaping of road surfaces to direct water towards roadcuts and away from potentially unstable or erodible material. Outsloping is the re-shaping of road surfaces to disperse water off road surfaces and onto fillslopes. Fillslopes must be stable and erosion-resistant. For both practices, the ditch is not necessarily required.

Scarification

Scarification (also referred to as silvicultural fluffing) is the breaking up of road surfaces in an effort to promote and establish vegetation. Road surfaces should be broken up to below the ballast depth in order to expose some plantable spots.

Decompaction

Decompaction is the breaking up of road fill material (ballast and subgrade), and is used primarily to encourage lateral water movement under retrieved road fills. Decompaction must extend to a depth below the bottom of the ditch, and the subsurface outsloped to encourage flow-thru water management. If the ditchline is not intercepted, then decompaction will not be effective.

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Introduction  1   Water Management  2   Waterbars & Ditchblocks  3   Safety and Road Surface  4   Revegetation  5   Sediment Control  6   Erosion Protection  7   Dewatering Streams  8   Cross-Ditches (Road Intact)  9   Cross-Ditches in Pullback  10   Partial Sidecast Pullback  11   Full Sidecast Pullback  12

13  Blanket Drains   14  Trench Drains   15  French Drains   16  Fords   17  Cross-Ditching Practices   18  Cross-Ditching in Pullback   19  Partial Pullback Practices   20  Full Pullback Practices   21  Wood Culvert Removal   22  Metal Culvert Removal   23  Stream Diversion Dams   24  Pre-Work Checklist

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