r.o.w. workers

[clearance]

This is written in response to comments made on this site about r.o.w. treework and the workers who do this thankless but vital work. I do r.o.w. work as a certified utility arborist and while I am used to dirty looks, negative comments and the like from the public, it saddens me to see such hostility and disrepect on this site from others who are involved with treework. The constant labelling of all utility guys as "hacks" and the presumption that removals are easy is simply untrue. You might call me a hack, but removing big trees that overhang a three-phase powerline beside a busy road and buildings isn't usually very easy. I can only speak for utility work in southwest B.C., we prune trees to proper standards, no stubs, no flush cuts, our work is inspected and critiqued by non-treeworking I.S.A. arborists who work for the utility. Unlike residential climbers, we are constantly exposed to electrical and traffic hazards and rude people. Utility work is pretty hard, dangerous work and keeps the power on. The powerline always comes first when decisions are made about trees, it has to. Maybe some of you could think about that instead of looking down on us and taking your electricity for granted.

 

[MasterBlaster]

You ain't heard nothing bad from me, bro. Maintaining ROW's was what I did for years. It's gotta get done, and I'm glad yur out there doing it!

 

[begleytree]

I too did ROW work before going residential/commercial.
Many of the skills used during ROW easily translate to tree care. There are differences, of course, but both play vital roles dealing with trees. that goes for both sides.
Folks look down on ROW crews, but they're also loved on sight after storms interrupting elec service.
Thanks for working to keep it on.

 

[Stumper]

Clearance, Most of us will acknowledge the vital nature of line clearance work. In the area where I live, most of the work is performed by people who are totally clueless about tree care. -This means that they make bad cuts and do not do reasonable directional pruning-Instead they simply cut everything to the ROW line.However that doesn't mean that all ROW workers are incompetent. In your case a large part of the disrespect you have felt directed in your direction is a response to your lack of respect for people who perform tree care. You came on site with a rather large chip on your shoulder or put it up there shortly after arrival. Because you have posted with an arrogant tone to your posts deprecating the "tree-hugger arborists" and stating that you are right about all techniques, gaffing trees being just dandy etc. etc. most have decided that you are either an idiot or a troll. Perhaps just an idiot troll? Would you care to start over and try for some mutual respect all around? :angel:

 

[treeseer]

Clearance, I have no doubt that the ROW work you do in BC is a vital service and done to high standards. I did ROW work a long time ago and know that it is not easy. I am not an expert on it, so I hesitate to critique it.

However, I am experienced in tree care. I offer tree owners a range of options to manage their assets, and acquaint them with the liabilities that trees can pose. Let's make a deal: I won't put down the vegetation management that keeps the power on, and you won't critique strategies offered by tree care pro's to make trees safer and stronger and more valuable. We'll both just stick with what we know best. Deal?

 

[clearance]

Never said I was right or knew it all about everthing, when I came to this site I was suprised to see such opposition to cutting trees down. When I say to cut something down, some people here respond like I'm advocating feeding kittens to lions at the zoo. We cut down trees here constantly, must be because we live in a rainforest and have lots of them. I guess the less trees you have, the more you value them. Just because I wear spurs all the time doesn't mean I think it is o.k. to climb beautifull trees with spurs, it is o.k. to spur already or soon to be disfigured trees beside the line. As far as me calling people treehuggers as an insult, you are right, it is no way to make friends. And I guess I do have a beef, maybe misdirected that comes from I.S.A. arborists who couldn't even start a saw, asking me to do just stupid things (climb dead trees, make snags beside trails etc.) You people are not those people and I shouldn't have tarred you all with the same brush. So I'll stop calling people tree huggers and tone down my "just log it" ideas.

 

[MasterBlaster]

It's all good, my brother!

 

[a_lopa]

i met and grew up with r.o.w learning offroad driving,using all sorts of buckets,chippers etc.nothing like being screamed at and abused while your trimming something as best you can.ive seen residentual climbing crews come and go just as quick when they dabble in r.o.w there used of the pats on the back and who climbed the big tree crap, doing r.o.w is thankless

 

[Mike Cantolina]

I do line clearance. I come here to learn as much as possible. Occasionally I might be able to help someone else out.

Mike

 

[ozy365]

Without guys clearing and protecting lines, none of us would be online. I am new to this place, but I have enjoyed the various opinions and the lively discussion.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Without guys clearing and protecting lines, none of us would be online. I am new to this place, but I have enjoyed the various opinions and the lively discussion.

A most excellent post!

 

[spacemule]

i met and grew up with r.o.w learning offroad driving,using all sorts of buckets,chippers etc.nothing like being screamed at and abused while your trimming something as best you can.ive seen residentual climbing crews come and go just as quick when they dabble in r.o.w there used of the pats on the back and who climbed the big tree crap, doing r.o.w is thankless

I view the situation as line clearance are the house painters of tree work, while arborists are the artists (I'm speaking in general terms, you've always got "high-phaluten" interior decorators <i>and</i> people who think they're artists but are actually paint-by-number specialists ). Both are vital, both have similarities, both are different. No?

 

[clearance]

Spacemule-I have worked a lot of construction and I disagree. R.o.w. workers are the framers who build the structure concrete to roof. Arborists are the finishing carpenters who make it look good.

 

[Jim1NZ]

Can i ask Clearance, did you learn to climb on spikes? In NZ the line work around towns and suburbs is excellent, but it seems the further out you go the worse it gets. You cant expect perfect work out in the sticks can ya, line work involves obvious extra hazards so i respect your work. I never use spikes unless the tree is being taken out, what every one else do?

 

[clearance]

hi Jim, my name too-don't want to set off a sh%tstorm here again, please lets not go there men. But yes to answer the question, I learned to climb in spurs, I always climb with spurs no matter what and so does every other guy working around power in this province. I know we are going to hell for it.

 

[Old Monkey]

I have said a bunch of times, line clearing work is very important work. I still cringe when I see it but I know it has to be done. I agree with Stumper, you've been running around this site with a big chip on your shoulder. You've labeled folks "tree huggers," referred to what a lot of us do as "******* out" trees. Your responses to homeowners queries are mostly the same, "don't listen to the tree huggers, cut it down." Sometimes I think you have some sort of auto-reply button that says the same thing every time. All that said, I am not out to get you. I neither hate you nor disrespect you. I think you just need to mellow out a bit. Not as much as Butch though.

Be safe and keep those lines clear. I know I for one could not do your job.

 

[a_lopa]

I view the situation as line clearance are the house painters of tree work, while arborists are the artists (I'm speaking in general terms, you've always got "high-phaluten" interior decorators <i>and</i> people who think they're artists but are actually paint-by-number specialists ). Both are vital, both have similarities, both are different. No?

not really mule,being production work r.o.w more like an assembly line,arborist covers a big field these days and someone cant be recognised as being any good just for being qualified,a good arborist is rembrant and di vinci ,most arnt even a cheap comic drawer

 

[Jim1NZ]

The thing is you will be surprised how fast you can climb with out spur's. If you ditch the spikes, just for a change at least, you'll find branch walks and generally moving through the crown heaps easier, you'll be able to feel whats under your feet and you wont have the chance to spike yourself, one less hazard bro. Dont suppose you have ever tried foot-locking then?

 

[clearance]

Jim-had this arguement here before a few times, don't want to cover the same ground again. Long story short-you cannot use a throwline because it might get on or near the powerline.

 

[Jim1NZ]

true that, sweet as bro