I became a statistic

[newb]

I'm posting this thread on this side for discussion, if it needs to be moved so be it. Saturday started out going to be an easy day, Three customers all trim jobs. The first 2 jobs went as planned it was off to the last job, a declining Silver Maple. I have been working on this tree for this customer for three years. The first time I saw it I wanted to take it down, but, he really liked the tree so it was going to be one leader at a time. I really should have brought in a lift, but he was concerned about cost, so I said i'd climb it. Mistake #1, I'll never let a customer compromise my safety again. I got my throw in high to what I felt was a good TIP. Mistake #2, although I could see the branch, it was obstructed. I got my gear on and made the 40 foot climb. When I got to my TIP I could see my rope was about 2' from the union, I knew I needed to reposition it NOW. I didn't want to make any quick moves so I was getting my flip line ready to throw on the leader when I heard the crack. As the branch was breaking I rode it down threw the tree, I guess the last 10'-15' feet were a free fall. I've got bruses and scrapes, I broke my wrist and I broke a vertebra. I also broke my helmet. Heres the discussion, I never climb alone, and I always wear my PPE. I feel that if you do everything right, when things go wrong, you can live. I know I made some mistakes, but thankfully, I will be able to learn from them, and maybe someone else. So, I'm ready to hear from the board on your thoughts. Newb ( Pete)

 

[Tio]

"I guess the last 10'-15' feet were a free fall. I've got bruses and scrapes, I broke my wrist and I broke a vertebra. I also broke my helmet. Heres the discussion, I never climb alone, and I always wear my PPE."

Unlike many, I actually read, understand, and will stick to your discussion.

My first, and most steadfast rule is that I never climb alone. I want somebody to call 911.

As for PPE?

You got really lucky.

Silver maples are a real bear.

Break off without any warning.

My question is:

Would a helmet and hearing protection save you from one of those sharp, splintery stobs from going through your rib-cage on the way down?

Two tie ins?

You can't guarantee that the whole effing thing ain't gonna come down!

Where are your two tie-ins when that happens?

 

[Tio]

Of course it would.

If you wear you brain bucket strapped to your chest!

Treeco, you cracked my a** up on that one. Brain bucket on the chest indeed!

“I feel that if you do everything right, when things go wrong, you can live.”

Yeah Bro. If you do everything right, when things go wrong you CAN live.

But you can also DIE. . .

or worse.

You see. . . there are no guarantees.

So you got your brain bucket on and a limb decides to go all catty-wampus on you and catches you in the throat and you drown in your own blood before you can get to the ground.

Where's your PPE when that happens.

The point is:

Don't EVEREVEREVER let a customer or anyone else over-ride your common-sense or personal safety practices.

I could have 300 little honeys on the ground trying to tell me I was a wuss for not swinging out over a concrete slab on a half inch rope that has supported my weight a hundred times. . . all of them could be promising to do wonderful stuff to me. . . and guess what?

Hell. . . Halle Berry couldn't get me to do that.

 

[frashdog]

Don't feel bad bro. Meds helpin I hope. I've been a broken up more than a few times. Though, I have not yet fallen out of a tree.

Got some thoughts for injuries, usually comes back to mind everytime I get hurt good. Number one:You're not dead. Oh could be worse, right. So life is full of lessons, maybe one big cumulative lesson, some in your face some a bit hidden. My worst injuries seem always to be when I'm not doing something is at my limits or a pushing past my limits, almost always when I'm just doing something that is normal for me. What is normal for me is the problem according to friends and family. You're probably in the same boat if you climb trees with chainsaws.

A year ago I broke a collar bone on a motorcycle high sided it at about 45mph(2nd collar break from a bike) and my girlfriends mother was like,"now are you going to realize how dangerous they are and get rid of it?" I responded (apearantly rude according to my girl friend) "You don't shoot your horse cause you fell off do you?" "No I'm simply just not going to apply so much rear break when laying a sport bike into a carve."

Get well and good luck.

 

[frashdog]

I could have 300 little honeys on the ground trying to tell me I was a wuss for not swinging out over a concrete slab on a half inch rope that has supported my weight a hundred times. . . all of them could be promising to do wonderful stuff to me. . . and guess what?

are you saying you don't climb over concrete?

 

[xtremetrees]

Dan stfu

Its because of self rightous writers like you that we dont see more of this.
Pencil pushing geek wadist bucket rider

 

[xtremetrees]

when in doubt spike it dog

Yes pete keep in mind most of these writers are pencil pushing spikeless pushers.
Perhaps your years of reading this site lead to your demise.
As this is a great medium of tree climbing knowledge.

I dont know the vehimate standards of these so called bar posers but they dont keep it as high as you and I.
Most of these moderators are geeks and dont climb daily.

Lissen Ive recently because of the ethics of this board throwballed and climbed on dead rotten or diseased.

Some here are more book smart than i and I try and hold up to the bar they set. I think its set unrealistic to safe climbing.

This board I feel has caused moderate climbers more difficulty and even injury.

 

[xtremetrees]

I find you guilty www.arboriste.com of compund fraud, an inescapable character flaw.

Edit:

I think there should be exceptions when deadwood tips as far as i get to dead spike it.

Getting your flip line ready to throw on when you heard the crack.....
This dead I spiked up to this week was doing just that. throwballing it from 85 feet below id of never know . I find you guilty of ISA of killing folks thru miseducation of ethical standandards

 

[Treeman67]

I'm posting this thread on this side for discussion, if it needs to be moved so be it. Saturday started out going to be an easy day, Three customers all trim jobs. The first 2 jobs went as planned it was off to the last job, a declining Silver Maple. I have been working on this tree for this customer for three years. The first time I saw it I wanted to take it down, but, he really liked the tree so it was going to be one leader at a time. I really should have brought in a lift, but he was concerned about cost, so I said i'd climb it. Mistake #1, I'll never let a customer compromise my safety again. I got my throw in high to what I felt was a good TIP. Mistake #2, although I could see the branch, it was obstructed. I got my gear on and made the 40 foot climb. When I got to my TIP I could see my rope was about 2' from the union, I knew I needed to reposition it NOW. I didn't want to make any quick moves so I was getting my flip line ready to throw on the leader when I heard the crack. As the branch was breaking I rode it down threw the tree, I guess the last 10'-15' feet were a free fall. I've got bruses and scrapes, I broke my wrist and I broke a vertebra. I also broke my helmet. Heres the discussion, I never climb alone, and I always wear my PPE. I feel that if you do everything right, when things go wrong, you can live. I know I made some mistakes, but thankfully, I will be able to learn from them, and maybe someone else. So, I'm ready to hear from the board on your thoughts. Newb ( Pete)

Thanks for reminders, i know our safety is frist priorty, however sometime i willing to take a risk just build more referrals for my Company, i don't have second guy on ground, so basically i do everything myself. i remember i felled from tree about 30' once about 12 yrs ago, it suck my head for lifetime.Most guys i work with think i am too cautous about safety issues. so i intend to say helled with it and git it done. lately i been push off alot of job away becuz safety issue. i had feared one day something going to happen. who is going to be there called 911 if i got hurt bad, if anyone going to see me downed from tree, or laceration my arm or leg severly
i don't remember if i told anyone in this site, but few year back,foreman went out the job to do stump grinding, he guess , you know he had bad morning becuz him and i got into it buttheads, whatever his plm was.. Anyway,he went the frist job and grinding and he turned off the wheel so he can moved munlch aside but the wheel still moving and got his left leg under the machine, noone was home, neighbor was quiets he got his banged up leg out under from machine and crawl to the truck which is 40 yard from back yard and got his cell phone called 911. then he call my boss.he had double open facture on his lower leg required surgery to put rod and screw in place. it took him 2 month of recovery.
Anyway,come to my mind is, it good idea had another guy work around with ya, never know, he may see something that you don't see and could save your life and serious injuries, it dosen't matter if up the tree but on ground too.anyone can get hurt on ground when stump grinding or running the saws, chipping even hangers drop above your head..
Treeman67

 

[Ekka]

err, dont know what all the arguing is about but Newb, you are lucky mate.

I've bid a lot of jobs for bucket trucks, in some instances explicitly shown the customer the defects and damage etc and have heard in return ... "well, the other company is $300 cheaper and they dont need the bucket".

Let it be on your head Mr Customer if something happens, my life is worth more than the difference discussed here. And the industry is full of incomeptence that cant assess hazards and risk life and property.

Take a rest Newb and get better, the busted vertabrae, what is the long term story there?

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Seen to many risks taken over here,when a bucket is needed get one,don't ever let a customer determine how your going to do the job,I don't and never will.

This proffesion is full of idiots imo,unsessery risk takers and some complete lunatics.

Newb you learnt a lesson the hard way,get well soon ..All otheres read carefully and take notice!!!!!

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Let the extreme war be in the fields against the work and injuries; not kicking folks around here!

If you can't wave to the crew 2 blocks from your job as you pass by, and end up bleeding and aerially compromised; Who Ya Gonna Call???

Q-What did they call the biker after his first wreck???









A- An experienced Rider!

Not sure what the problem is; but once again have had my fill fer awhile.

 

[xtremetrees]

To dan.

I agree with Ekka. I think we should sell on ebay our own videos and call it spikeless ethics. Somewhat of a side show. But I have been moderating hits from various web sites and all we need is a script.
ISA keeps asking me , " Do you think we need this?" Im a lowly tree peasant and imma make million off my mouth. lol

 

[xtremetrees]

Imma bwe frank with you dead reader there are 5 C.A.'s in my zip code and ya know what they are bucket riding bus owners that rip me off thru ISA.
Now the only BCMA on this site disagrees with me and says they dont ride the bucket and their help dont spike trims well let me post ya some pics treeseer.

To newb...
Be frank with us what caused your broken bones bro?
Was it time?
My buds say I'm way over due to get hurt. Does it make me wanna get out trees completley? No does it make me mad ? yes.:deadhorse:

 

[Fireaxman]

I'm not sure how such a vital and informative thread degenerates into trite and superfluous name calling, but Thanks for the Warning, Newb. I'll try to learn from your experience so I dont have to go there myself. You sharing your experience could save my life some day.

Accept my best and highest hopes that you heal up 100%.

 

[Treeman67]

I find you guilty www.arboriste.com of compund fraud, an inescapable character flaw.

Edit:

I think there should be exceptions when deadwood tips as far as i get to dead spike it.

Getting your flip line ready to throw on when you heard the crack.....
This dead I spiked up to this week was doing just that. throwballing it from 85 feet below id of never know . I find you guilty of ISA of killing folks thru miseducation of ethical standandards

i guess we got a ISA Judge on the bench..lol
....................... ...........................................
xtremestrees
Treeman67

 

[xtremetrees]

Tree spyder I disagree some do need it. Where is that guy that said no trim should be spiked ever, that no tree is unclimbable. I agree you can thro ball dead 99 out of 100 times and survive.

According to several AS members while trimming trees it should not be spiked ever. That no tree is unclimbable without spikes ( Iagree). that if you spike a trim your wrong and undeserving of the C,A, status. (I disagree).
I think that this cut and dry approach that Dan so strongly adheads to is wrong further it can lead to injury. In particular Dead TOPS>.

Id further say if your spiking 5-8 trees out of 140 trims its acceptable. If your safety is in ? spike up it bro.
The other 140 trims you do for the year will appreciate it cause youll be alive to treat um well.

Several of the writers on this board dont have the fortitude to say im right but when they read threads like this I hope they sleep well at night.
Alot of my pratice as a C.A. has come from here. I look up to alot of these people you are my peers. This is a peer review that why IT SEEMS SO FEW POST PICS AND VIDEOS of their work.

Pete mactree I'm not slangging I'm correcting deadly wrongs I see.

Pete you got pics of the scars.?

 

[Tio]

It's a shame when someone posts the details of there own missfortune for the benifit of others and all you guy's can do is turn it into a slanging match :bang:

heel well and quick newb and thanks for the heads up. we all need to be reminded of the inherent risks we face every day.

pete

I whole-heartedly agree.

I am Mr. Safety this, I am Mr. Regulation that. . . Blah, Blah, Blah.

Things go wrong and the discussion was:

Heres the discussion, I never climb alone, and I always wear my PPE. I feel that if you do everything right, when things go wrong, you can live. I know I made some mistakes, but thankfully, I will be able to learn from them, and maybe someone else. So, I'm ready to hear from the board on your thoughts. Newb ( Pete)

And I said:

Unlike many, I actually read, understand, and will stick to your discussion.

I stand by that statement.

 

[clearance]

Good that you are ok enough to talk to us, you will get better. If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger Newb, best wishes.

 

[RedlineIt]

Hey newb,

Hope those bones heal up well, and your soon good as new. You were a bit lucky, or unlucky, as it could have been much worse, or falling through the branches with a large lead branch attached to you might have, in some other situation, slowed you down even more.

When your TIP breaks out, it's a toss of the dice.

My rules for TIPs.

1. If I can't see it, it's a "mystery TIP". I don't risk my bones on a mystery. Throw line comes back to my feet, and we try again.

2. Do I need to throw my line out where I have to climb nothing but rope, or can I get myself closer to the trunk?

3. If #2. above is not possible, there comes a point in my climb where it is possible, I sieze the first opportunity to be on the big wood.

4. I Bounce test my TIPs three feet off the ground, I must be able to SEE and HEAR results. No good if the groundie is firing up a saw, or the garbage truck hits the street. I must be able to WATCH and LISTEN.

5. With all that said, I still look up all the while as I ascend, looking and listening for my TIP to let me down.

Again, hope you heal soon.

RedlineIt