headache!

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topnotchtree

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I know the tree lingo varies from place to place, around here when you need to tell someone to look out, we yell HEADACHE! That seems to be universal from utility to private tree work around here. Is there something you guys yell, other that look out?
 
Yeap, use that word some, tap my hard hat mostly thou:)
It reminds me of the company I quit. I had a bad feeling about the crew. Well, 2 months later I seen one of them at the store.
"Man we've had three dudes go to the hospital scence you been gone.!"
WTheck happened. "Bucket man cutting and droppin stuff on our heads." your kidding I said. Nope and look at this.

I had told this huge dude not to wrap the rope around his arm 3 times then around his back like the anchorman in tug-of-war so many time i just quit tellin him. Sure enuff he rolls up his sleave.
Durn dude you got a snake tattoo??
No man thats rope burn! Look its almost 2 inches 3 times around my arm! Hey man I say how many time I tell you about doing that crap? huh?
I know man he said but it looks cool huh?
Yeah man your real cool now!
Dem not heads.KNot gonna do it.
 
I yell 'headache' ALL the time.

It IS the word!!!

My only problem are groundies that think that word means 'Look up at me'. :(

HEADACHE MEANS MOVE AWAY FROM THE SOUND OF MY VOICE IMMEDIATELY!

Then, fell free to look all you want. :) :)
 
I quit using "headache" when a new-hire groundie walked underneath. When I got done and on the ground I asked him why he didn't look up when I yelled "headache". In all seriousness he said that he thought I was asking for aspirin or something.

Stand clear is a much better warning. Pedestrians and children all know what it means.

Tom
 
Headache is for run away immidialtly with most that I work for.

General working rules I use the "caomand/resoponce" of "stand clear" and reply of clear/all clear. The second responce given by one person only when all help is out of the zone.

Set the cut up, then one last look around befor starting the back cut.
 
This needs to be standardized, just like any signal. I agree with 'Stand Clear'. It is more easily responded to because it sounds more authoritative/more of a command.

"STAND CLEAR!"

I'm a gonna try to work that into my lexicon.
 
here, we have always used the "headache" statement when tossing/dropping little stuff.

I like the idea JPS had of double calling or command/response. I sometimes use that when im on the ground and a climber yells out.

We too tell rookies that if they hear a saw running, look to see what is being cut BEFORE they enter the work zone. if a chipper is obstructing hearing ability, look anyway, as they may not get the 'clear out' signal.

One guy here tell his hands that and if they get hit, its their own dam fault. that one warning is all theyre going to get. I know this is not smart, but i do like it to a sense as i get tired of always yelling 'headache'. Its kind of like, 'catch a clue man, im cutting up here so stay out of the way. look before you cross.' you know, you would cross a street w/o looking, same here applies.

I also feel it is the responsiblity of groundies to communicate w/ each other. Ive had fellow groundies walk under the climber w/o a care in the world while cutting was going on. No one has been hurt, but i take it as my responsibility to keep my fellow groundies safe.
 
Originally posted by TimberMcPherson
... although "rock" does come out from my rock climbing days!


Ditto... but mine was from repellin, COPE, and a rock wall as we aint got too many rocks around here.
 
Usually I just use "Incoming" if I am diliberatly droping limbs or chunks. I only sound off with "headache" if a hanger falls or some other extreme situation. When I am through cutting an ready to reposition my self i sound off with "clear"

:Monkey:
 
BELOW

we use below as a command, the climber doesnt always shout as we all know where he is and what he is doing....well not always, always look up when walking below the tree. if the climber starts cutting and someone is in the DZ the groundies also shout below....either that or let a blood curdeling scream loose

jamie
 
the correct word to use for timber /branch coming down /look out in the uk is to shout WOOD not many people know this or use it:mad:
 
I think that short of gov't intervention, there are going to be a variety of terms used, which is not that bad a thing. Most important though, is that everyone on a jobsite be trained in the meaning and proper response. On a work site safety is everybody's responsibility. I get mad to think that some ???? cowboy would think it's OK to put anybody at risk of injury just because they haven't been trained well. I guess there's all kinds out there.
ArborMaster trains to the call/response "Stand Clear!"
I use "Headache!" ,but I surely wait to see that everyone's attending and safe before anything drops.
 
ANSI Z-133 recomends command and responce and I beleive requires a prework briefing of all personel.

I think it is a stupid risk to not enuser that all people are aware of what is going to happen.

I've had it where I've thought I've crossed all my t's and come close to dropping a limb on someone.

One was a modest Ginko removal in high winds where i thought my buddy/client responded properly, turned out he was moving around the area as I made my backcut and got brushe by the tips of the top I dropped out.

Another was I got the responce form one goundie on a storm broken silver maple and as the top I cut released different one came running under to grab a branch. G#1 did not know to stop G#2 because there was no breifing ans I assumed it would be SOP.

Luckilly with 60ft of crown for the thing to slide through she got out before anything could have happened. Completely obliviouse...
 

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