Opps with a crane....

[Matt Follett]

Story goes something like this.... trying to forget parts, but thought I should share...

Big multi-stemmed Red oak Quercus rubra, back yard, 100+ feet from the turret, leanning significantly over house... Cabled far to many times... Another Co.'s job, called me in to help (stoopid buggars)

Fired first crane company when no show, and strung us along for hours telling us they were "on the way",. Called in new Co. (never worked with them before, but recommended)

Next day crane shows up early! ( I think they knew how pissed we were with the other guys!) Operator gets out of crane " I hate Tree jobs" me thinks to myself 'cool this guy doesn't think this is easy... I like that in a crane operator!'

No ridding the hook, fine with me... we've got two guys in the tree, should be able to have naps between respective picks...

First two picks okay, but crane operator a little hesitant to "lift to vertical" doesn't seem to understand why I want to notch on the top and have him lift the tip... no problem we work some sort of centered stuff... going medium sized... about 1500-2500 lb brush ends

I take a brush top from the mid of the tree, sling on about 6 inches of wood... cutting about 12-14 inches at the bottom... crane takes the pick... over half the piece splits out away from the slung piece... and drops 20 odd feet to the roof below! "SH#######T" is heard two counties over as I scream in horror as 2600 lbs (got that when he picked the piece off the roof!) lands tips down (thank god) on the roof... no structural damage... just a few puntures from breaking stubs... client is re-roofing... says "ahh shucks, as long as there's no structural... buy me a case of beer and we're even." THANK YOU!, premium it is!

 

[Matt Follett]

Okay I'm trying hard to post pics... but I'm screaming at this machine... man I hate computers!

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hahahaaa.

 

[treeman82]

These are my priorities when it comes to getting the job done.

1) Everybody walks away with all the body parts they came there with in the morning, and no additional holes in their bodies.

2) No damage to anything.

3) Make money.

Looks like you got #1 accomplished in my book. How did you make out on #'s 2 & 3? Less of course the holes in the roof.

 

[Treeman14]

You need to figure out EXACTLY what happened. And why. So it doesn't happen again. We can all learn from this. Tell us more.

 

[NeTree]

Ditto.

 

[Matt Follett]

Okay first pic. is of whole tree, early on... indicating piece, where slung, and where cut

 

[Matt Follett]

here is forlorn Matt... surveying the damage... making mental note to take up less stressfull job, perhaps making arts and crafts....

the rest are for viewing pleasure... the day got better once I shook off the drama!

You might say from the labled pic that I slung the wrong lead... and I believe that, but while in the tree, it seemed the most vertical and quite strong... what ammazed me was a) that it happended, and b) how fast it happened.... It is quite lucky that it tore away the way it did... as it did land tips down, and I'm sure that the only reason there was not more significant damage...

In the future... I think I'm going to use multiple attachments on the brush. try to balance the load between to pieces.. both presumabley strong enough to take entire load...

anway fire away on thoughts... I hope this is uncommon occurance, and perhaps my incident can being warning for others!

 

[TheSurgeon]

So it was top heavy? Or did the crane op not move quick enough? Both?

 

[TheSurgeon]

I got it, read first post too quickly.

 

[Matt Follett]

TM82...

Well #2 was no significant damage... eve trough roughed up a bit pulling the piece off... two hole in the roof needing plywood patch work... #3... I gave the client (other tree company) a break since it was my opps... Just charged him straight labour rate for the two of us (me and one ground member)... He made out okay for our region... where this was pricey job at 4k including stump. Tough competition, and lots of low ballers around...

 

[Matt Follett]

Mike

Thing is the piece went free... started to move away from the tree... then rip... At first I was thinking that and trying to recall how much force was seemingly being applied by the crane... But the saw did not bind... and it came away fairly smooth... (no bounching into the air) I'm pretty sure the small amout of included bark... weak attachment point and side loading it experienced were to blame. the piece kind of tilted over on its side as it came off...

My thoughts to date on the issure is to ensure that these veritical.. tip tied pieces be supported by more then one point, when "going fairly big" or be vary wary of attachment points below the sling....

 

[fmueller]

I woulda needed a change of pants. I'd still be in the hack business if I could use beer as insurance.

 

[Matt Follett]

Change of Pants!... I was thinking change in careers!....
I guess if we had needed to claim it... it would have fallen under other Co. as was their job... both of us glad that wasn't needed... I figure insurance to be a one time use... use it, pay the bill, pack up and get out of Dodge... cause I'm sure the rate would be gross following a claim! our deductable is 1000 bucks anyway so....

 

[lawmart]

hey matt
that really sucks what happened, but it happens to the best of us.
as some one one said if you can walk out of there with no rally damage done to persons (just ego) job well done.
who is that in the tree with you is it 'Jhonney tree cop'
anyway we all learn from each/others mistakes.
thanks for sharing.

play safe

 

[MasterBlaster]

An expert is someone who's made all the mistakes...

 

[Matt Follett]

Lawmart

Na that's not Johnny... friend of my from the Company down here... working with two climbers in the tree made it a cake walk for us.. we were sitting around waiting for the crane between respective picks...

MB...

Like it... hope all the mistakes along the road aren't so painfull!

 

[Matt Follett]

after several crashes.... hey sounds familiar to this thread.. I finally got a few of the more fun pics down-sized

 

[Rob Murphy]

Red Oak classic weak attached fork/included limbs....hence all the cabling? Tree was telling you to take care!
Praise God the lesson wasnt too painfull.....I too have had similar lessons. Some times its these ones that teach us the most.

 

[Matt Follett]

Dan...nice idea! that's what I want to see out of this