lumberjack

A lumberjack, also called a logger, is a worker in the forestry industry who fells, trims, and transports trees for timber. In many regions, lumberjacks work in teams to harvest timber, often in remote forests. Core duties include felling trees, bucking trunks into sections, limbing branches, and dragging or loading logs onto trucks or skidways to a mill or loading site.

Tools and equipment: Historically, hand saws and axes; today primarily chainsaws for cutting, with crosscut saws and felling wedges still used. Loggers may also operate skidders, forwarders, yarders, and loaders to move logs. Personal protective equipment includes hard hat, eye and hearing protection, chainsaw chaps, steel-toed boots, gloves, and protective clothing.

Work environment and safety: Jobs require outdoor work in forests, often in varying weather, rough terrain, and at heights. The work is physically demanding and hazardous, with risks from falling trees, streams, equipment, and fatigue. Training is typically on the job, with safety certification and sometimes formal apprenticeships or union training. Crew leadership often includes a faller or feller coordinating tree felling and a chainsaw operator.

History and modern context: The term originates in North America during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with large-scale logging camps forming in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Mechanization and improved logistics have increased productivity, while environmental regulations and sustainable forestry practices shape contemporary work.