Groundman's Bible

[teamtree]

Years ago I found a document that was basically a laymen's guide for a groundie. I want to say TreeSlayer or someone else wrote it in plain english and it was several pages long. I used to give it out to my new employees. I had it saved on an old computer and lost it.

Can anyone help me out with this or remember reading the same document?

 

[snowyman]

It was probably HOW TO BECOME AN EXCELLENT GROUNDMAN Written by Butch Ballowe with help from the members of Arboristsite.com

PM me if you can't find it. It's to long to copy/paste.:msp_smile:

 

[imagineero]

It's pretty unrealistic. It would better be called a jerk off list for tree company owners. Anybody who has all those things isn't going to work for you for groundie wages, they're going to run their own show. I've said it before, and I'll say it again (though I'm not proud to say it!); Grounding is not an intelligent career choice. It's low paid, high risk, with not much opportunity for career progression. The job is tough, the benefits are lacking, and you don't get a lot of respect. It doesn't have the appeal of being a logger either. People who are long term groundies are often in that position because they've failed to make sensible decisions in life.

When I find a ground guy whop turns up most days (maybe 3 or 4 sick days a year) sober and isn't on drugs, has some small amount of common sense and can run either a saw OR ropes and run a chipper, then I'm onto a good thing. Hanging on to them is another story, and I treat my guys pretty well. I'd love to see someone who fulfills all the requirements on the list and is still a groundie!

Shaun

 

[teamtree]

Shaun....well if you understand the industry and you know it is high turnover then you must choose to be in it or leave it. The reason I am looking for this document is more because it was written in a manner to add levity to the situation. I have had good groundmen and most of them moved on to other industries for more steady work. Ground work is tough and most will not take the 2 years to get to be a great groundman. If they move on to run their own show then they are in the same situation as we are in....they can do the work but have trouble finding good guys to help. I will pay a good ground guy $20 per hour if they can help me make money. My ground guy did something the other day and it caused me to loose an hour of work. I explained to him that because of his mistake, I lost out on an hour of revenue and my added costs was about $150. I told him my frustration is that when he screws up and it takes us longer to do the job.....he gets paid an extra hour and I lose my wages for the day. I said if he watched what he does closely and he helps me get things done quicker then I could take the 150 and pay him $1 more per hour for a whole month. But when those mistakes happen too often then there is little chance of getting a raise. I don't like it but I understand it.

 

[teamtree]

Found it!

http://www.#################.com/index.php?pageid=groundman

 

[flushcut]

Found it!

http://www.#################.com/index.php?pageid=groundman

Your link has been edited. So what's it really called.

 

[flushcut]

Groundies come and go I think they all fancy themselves as climbers making good money.

 

[ROPECLIMBER]

Try this one http://www.arboristsite.com/attachments/commercial-tree-care-climbing/12714d1084238567-handbook-zip

 

[sgreanbeans]

I couldn't open it? Would like too. Think I have read it along time ago, think it would be a good handout fur me guys.

Sean, I hear ya, however, in some of the big shows, in order to move up, you need to master the groundie stuff first, here, that is where ya start, with every intention of moving you up the chain............... and up the tree. My boss's boss, was a groundie once, tho many moons ago, but never the less, that is where he started with the company. Now he makes big freakin money!

 

[treeclimber101]

I couldn't open it? Would like too. Think I have read it along time ago, think it would be a good handout fur me guys.

Sean, I hear ya, however, in some of the big shows, in order to move up, you need to master the groundie stuff first, here, that is where ya start, with every intention of moving you up the chain............... and up the tree. My boss's boss, was a groundie once, tho many moons ago, but never the less, that is where he started with the company. Now he makes big freakin money!

I rewrote a abridged edition , shut the #### up you don't know #### until i tell you what you know , move out the way if the saws running above ,and move brush from tree to truck til it's all gone .

 

[sgreanbeans]

Thanks Del, modified it a bit it to my needs.

 

[Rudedog]

Here it is.

Thanks for the pdf. I could see that I already was able to pass the first two suggestions about showing up on time and sober when I help my buddy.

 

[GrassGuerilla]

I rewrote a abridged edition , shut the #### up you don't know #### until i tell you what you know , move out the way if the saws running above ,and move brush from tree to truck til it's all gone .

Even this may be too much for some to grasp.

 

[formationrx]

...

if u got passion for ANY job you'll stick with it... as for ground men... ive met a tiny fraction who actually thrive on it... looking forward to seeing this "bible" thingy... though... i dont believe this job can be learned from a book effectively... IMO it must be done in your face eyeball to eyeball...