How long would U wait to hand a greenhorn a stump grinder?

[prentice110]

Had way too much on my plate today. Had a Vermeer SC60 track on loan from another CO. Got a lil late, got sic of being the only one with a brain. Set up the unit myself, BIG BURR OAK stump in a tight corner and handed it to a first day $10-hr grunt. I had to load with the mini. Wanted to go home. Guy I subbed for asked how I got dun so fast. I dont lie so I told him. He flipped. Any way, answer the ?. I'd love to know your OP. P.S., jr rocked the #### outta the stump, didnt hurt a thing. Those newer ## are idiot proof my op.

 

[imagineero]

Demonstrated competence is the requirement. Whether it's a vehicle, a saw or a stump grinder.... when someone demonstrates competence I'll leave them to it. To me, there's no 'minimum time' requirement, you've either competent or you're not. Some people are ready on the first day, some will never get there.

You really can't be too careful with this kind of thing... A friend recently hired some backpackers to give him a hand with with his firewood side business which he puts all his logs through. Has a modern hydraulic splitter with all the safety guards etc. Fool proof, right? Took the 2 guys up to the yard, showed them how it all works, watched them do a couple then went off to do another job and left them to it. One of the guys took the tips of a couple fingers off somehow, now in hospital getting surgery.

What will be the outcome? As yet unknown... The guy obviously didn't have insurance (and if he had, would the insurance have covered incompetent untrained unsupervised people?) he's married with kids, a mortgage to pay off, etc etc... and what about the poor guy who cut off his fingers?

As the experienced competent qualified person (and the employer) it is your duty to assess and train people working for you, and to make the call on their behalf about when they are competent. They obviously can't make that call themselves. Consider making it a semi formal/paper backed thing.

Shaun

 

[Bigus Termitius]

I'm with Shaun, just don't ever give a loaner to a backpacker. LOL!

I can understand why the guy was a little tweaked though, since it was a loaner. Obviously you felt comfortable with the guy's abilities, but idiot proof can be a relative term.

I've learned that no matter my initial perception, I need time to evaluate to be sure that the perception has merit. How much time depends on what I see as I go, progress from easy tasks to more complex ones can be a quick one, but I've seen guys plateau fairly early on and then can’t figure out why they don’t get to do anything else.

Without being there I can't say you were wrong. After understanding a few basics, I rented a 252 and went to work, but I've got an excellent background for it.

I wouldn't have given it to a first day guy and left, but I might have discussed, demonstrated, and then handed it over while I stood off to the side. But I'm not in your shoes. I guess the best questions you might ask are:

Would you have done the same if it was your machine?

And maybe more important to understand the reaction:

Would you be happy if someone else did the same thing with your machine?

Understanding that the stumper owner didn't have the same confidence is the key here I think. Had he been there, he might have given the same guy the keys. It's not that he doesn't trust your judgment, but it's the not knowing for himself that got him excited, I think. JMHO.

 

[sbumgarner78]

Very user friendly machine. I would not hesitate to do the same thing you did.

 

[c.willard]

I operated a northstar stump grinder when I first started. He thought pushing a 270 pound chunk of steel up hill on soft dirt would get me in shape. Forgot to mention the brake is broken. I also used a Vermeer Dutchman, which I used today too. I learned to stump grind before I got my "D**k beaters", as he says, on a 660 or 880 for large bucking and flushing

 

[prentice110]

@Big, duly noted. Thanks for the input guys. I was no more than 130 feet from him the whole time he ran it. Kept lookin over my shoulder to check, make sure. Only thing I had to do was go back and set the depth cuz he wasnt goin deep enuff. Guys X-army, gotta brain. Only thing I didnt like about him is he didnt jump in here and there. Off topic.

 

[treemandan]

Had way too much on my plate today. Had a Vermeer SC60 track on loan from another CO. Got a lil late, got sic of being the only one with a brain. Set up the unit myself, BIG BURR OAK stump in a tight corner and handed it to a first day $10-hr grunt. I had to load with the mini. Wanted to go home. Guy I subbed for asked how I got dun so fast. I dont lie so I told him. He flipped. Any way, answer the ?. I'd love to know your OP. P.S., jr rocked the #### outta the stump, didnt hurt a thing. Those newer ## are idiot proof my op.

I don't know how you got away with that. :taped:

 

[prentice110]

I don't know how you got away with that. :taped:

Perks of being me I guess. Only reason guy flipped is hes one of those equipment beater bad luck types that everythings always broke deals. You know the type. Pull this batt when you get to the job to start the chipper/stumper. Guys nice, means well, but Im not a liar and some times the truth hurts. He started with pops back in 79, went out on his own in 87, old man always said he'd never make it. Its real hard helping him sometimes. Ask Slayer how this guy is, PM of course. I get a sweet deal out of it, just gotta deal with a lotta BS. All of my minions are booking up, so I can call where I wanna go, but this guys like the big bro I never had, and we dont even have to talk on a TD, its almost telepathic. Dan , you'd be suprised with what I get away with here. As far as tree work goes, Im kinda a local God. The ones that I havent pissed off want me, the ones I cant stand beg me. I just sit pullin #### waitin for sumthin fun to do. and rite now theres no waiting, THANK GOD!!!! 3 week backlog, havent had that since 07'. and I mean 21 days, not 15, I go all day all night, 24-7. You know what Im doin when there isnt enuff work, so, rather be cuttin, you dig?

 

[treeslayer]

Well, I'm back now.:msp_wink: 1st day, and I got 6 removals lined up, and a LOT of stumps to grind.:msp_w00t:

would love to have have seen beerless biel flip out....

 

[ozzy42]

Had way too much on my plate today. Had a Vermeer SC60 track on loan from another CO. Got a lil late, got sic of being the only one with a brain. Set up the unit myself, BIG BURR OAK stump in a tight corner and handed it to a first day $10-hr grunt. I had to load with the mini. Wanted to go home. Guy I subbed for asked how I got dun so fast. I dont lie so I told him. He flipped. Any way, answer the ?. I'd love to know your OP. P.S., jr rocked the #### outta the stump, didnt hurt a thing. Those newer ## are idiot proof my op.

There are probably 2 people that I trust enough to LOAN my grinder to.
Letting a 10$hr groundie run an expensive machine with only a brief run thru is a risky deal,but OK if you think he's competent with YOUR machine,not OK to do with somebody elses. I'd be pizzed too.
Your friend trusted YOU,not your groundie.