First job help!

[TreeCutter3000]

My name is Owen, and I am a high school student from the Midwest. I joined this website to prepare for my new role as ground crew at a medium-large tree company. Do I need to know anything before heading to my first job in a few days? Any help is appreciated!

 

[Section VIII]

My name is Owen, and I am a high school student from the Midwest. I joined this website to prepare for my new role as ground crew at a medium-large tree company. Do I need to know anything before heading to my first job in a few days? Any help is appreciated!

I imagine it's like any other job:

1. Work hard
2. Safety
3. Listen and do
4. Be a sponge

 

[Blue Oaks]

Leave your phone in your car.

 

[Bullseye T&L]

Learn the fine art of listening, and just doing exactly what they tell you. You can figure out the why as you go along.

 

[JMcMahonJr]

Leave your phone in your car.

Amen to that and keep your hands out of your pockets.

 

[sea2summit]

PPE
Don’t put anything in the chipper you want to keep.
PPE
Pay attention to the details
PPE
Pace yourself but don’t stop or be lazy, gonna be a long first week(s)

 

[singinwoodwackr]

Be prepared to be sore as hell the morning after your first day. Well, and the rest of the first week. But, that will pass.

 

[Bullseye T&L]

Whatever you do, don't say "I think we ought to ...." or "Why don't we/you ..." after the rigging line is attached and the climber is about to start the saw. It's hard to explain, but that could get you fired.

And forget the [low] pay and chronic tiredness and pain. You're becoming a badass, and it's hard to put an hourly rate or a price on that.

This thread could get long.

 

[StihlsawuserMS361]

I would offer ask questions, and listen to the pros. Show respect, stay out of the limelight.

You sound like "old school", which is rare in today's world. You'll fit in just fine!

 

[lone wolf]

Don't get hit with trees being cut, always look up when you move in to pick up brush or logs.
Don't stick your hands or feet in the in feed mouth of the chipper.
Don't pretend to be raking while the others are picking up logs and dragging brush, help them.
Don't complain!

 

[alanbaker]

You are never on time. You are late or early. Always be early. If start time is 8, you are ready at 7:55, not just getting out of your car, punching in running to the bathroom etc

 

[jefflovstrom]

All good answers, but you said a medium size or so 'Company", I would think a respectable and professional company would have an "On Boarding' process. We hire guys all the time but we set them up with everything they need to know and what is expected along with our training.
It was a beautiful day!
Jeff

 

[Breckinridge Elkins]

I'm not a tree guy but this advice comes from 30 years in the building trades. I think there are some parallels:
-Start time isn't when you show up. Start time is when you have all the tools and materials laid out and you are working. So if you are told, "We start at 8 am" you need to account for travel and set up time. Quitting time works the same way. And don't tell your boss when it's quitting time. He will tell you.

-Always be busy. If you don't know what to do, ask. But don't be afraid to be a self starter. There is always something that can be cleaned up, put away, made ready, etc.

-There is a fine line between being ready to help vs getting in the way. Sometimes people can be rude about it. You might get yelled at. Don't get discouraged. Stick with it and you will figure out the workflow. This is part of paying your dues. If you are the guy who stands around waiting to be told, the crew will come to resent you. If you are the guy always ready to lend a hand, they will come to respect you.

-Leave your phone in the car if you drive yourself to the site. Leave it in your lunchbox if you are driven by the crew.

-Be vigilant about safety. Not just for yourself but for everyone. It's not just the obvious things like saws and falling objects. Look for trip hazards, boards with nails, broken safety equipment, etc. Those little details are going to be your responsibility as the grunt. I guarantee you if someone trips over a tool they are going to look straight at you with murder in their eyes.

-Remember "Quiet Coyote". Mouth shut, ears open.

 

[rarefish383]

If someone yells HEADACHE! Don't laugh and look up. That means something is heading your way at 32' per second squared. Know where you are in relation to your climber. Never stand directly under him. I've seen climbers drop saws, missed the ri g on the saddle and let go, it happens.