Traits and practices of a good groundman suggestions
- Thread starter Arclight
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Don't start chipping until you are told to do so. Always look up. Show up on time. Shower on a daily basis. Keep your hard hat and safety glasses on your head. If the crew leader asks for your opinion, give it. All other times keep your opinion to yourself.
Yea.. I disagree with that whole heartedly. If you're spouting off about things that youre not familiar with, then by all means keep it zipped.
If you have a legitimate concern or idea.. Don't feel like you need to clamp your yap up about it. Fostering understanding and trying new things or taking on ideas is what makes a crew a great crew. Mutual respect is what should be the norm.. If you wind up working with an "opinions to yourself" type of jagoff... You won't enjoy it much.
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
I buy cases of water but yes admit your screw ups mine too
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
Some actually have commonsense and others yap. Yappers get the **** treatment put on a 20 acre brush pile lol. Commonsense groundies i'll hear out but many times their ideas I have already ruled out, as the easy way is not always the safest!
Finished my first job as a groundman -- we felled a podocarpus gracillior and we'll be working on the other later, and it nearly wiped my body out 
, but tbh I feel like a milestone has been reached from not quitting and seeing the job through.
Kept my head on the swivel and ears open, made myself useful, asked questions, tried to anticipate the crew's needs and tasks, kept hydrated, and learned a lot from the crew.
Yeah today I saw what you mean. There were a lot of members of the public who failed to either read or understand the 'sidewalk closed: tree work in progress', and 'no parking' signs One 'genius' decided to park his Harley in the coned off area.
Some people I tell ya... Still I have to say that these people are braver than I am -- the risk of being struck by a heavy object gives me a healthy amount of pause.
, but tbh I feel like a milestone has been reached from not quitting and seeing the job through.Kept my head on the swivel and ears open, made myself useful, asked questions, tried to anticipate the crew's needs and tasks, kept hydrated, and learned a lot from the crew.
Yeah today I saw what you mean. There were a lot of members of the public who failed to either read or understand the 'sidewalk closed: tree work in progress', and 'no parking' signs One 'genius' decided to park his Harley in the coned off area.
Some people I tell ya... Still I have to say that these people are braver than I am -- the risk of being struck by a heavy object gives me a healthy amount of pause.
ropensaddle
Feel Lucky
Thats how you make it; keep it up, we'll make a climber out of you soonFinished my first job as a groundman -- we felled a podocarpus gracillior and we'll be working on the other later, and it nearly wiped my body out
Kept my head on the swivel and ears open, made myself useful, asked questions, tried to anticipate the crew's needs and tasks, kept hydrated, and learned a lot from the crew.
Yeah today I saw what you mean. There were a lot of members of the public who failed to either read or understand the 'sidewalk closed: tree work in progress', and 'no parking' signs One 'genius' decided to park his Harley in the coned off area.
Some people I tell ya... Still I have to say that these people are braver than I am -- the risk of being struck by a heavy object gives me a healthy amount of pause.
Remember it's called work for a reason, not holiday time. It's not always fun or enjoyable, sometimes it's just a miserable way to spend the day.
" Fostering understanding......" , You and I were taught two different ways. I learned by watching and asking questions. There is a difference.
Our groundsmen are obviously far more involved in our day to day than yours.. If your groundsmen feel like they're slaves that have to keep their mouths shut.. Maybe someday a piece won't run and you wobble off your gaffs. Maybe you're doing something back breaking.. And one of your gm is on the ground thinking "what a putz. It would be much smoother if.. " I'm always open to suggestions, and its served our crew beyond well. Perhaps that missing in your operation?
I think the way I was treated and learned as a groundsman was responsible for my passion for tree work. It was "fostered". Pay it forward
Pelorus
Uva uvam vivendo varia fit
Some ground critters are dumb brutes who really aren't interested in learning anything.
Their sheer brutishness makes them useful; a pack mule.
After 4 years, one guy still could not tie a bowline or tell a balsalm fir from a hemlock.
It was like trying to teach a pig to sing.
We parted ways, and life moved on.
Their sheer brutishness makes them useful; a pack mule.
After 4 years, one guy still could not tie a bowline or tell a balsalm fir from a hemlock.
It was like trying to teach a pig to sing.
We parted ways, and life moved on.
You're still missing my point. I will teach the gm everything I know and they are free to ask all the questions they want. What I will not tolerate is a new gm without any knowledge of the industry telling me his opinion on how things should be done. Also, you don't know me or my operation but assume my groundsmen hate me. My current gm must be a masochist, he's been with me six years.
I'm sorry. It was rhetorical, I never meant to imply that. I simply reacted to what you said. "Unless asked, keep your opinions to yourself". I don't agree with that mantra. I did however agree with not shooting off at the mouth when you don't know what you're talking about.
We had a groundman that came from working the boats. He had lots of opinions. Changed the way we rigged. I'm some glad he didn't keep it to himself.
We had a groundman that came from working the boats. He had lots of opinions. Changed the way we rigged. I'm some glad he didn't keep it to himself.
How do you guys view reliability or attendance? Can improvement ever be "fostered"? Case by case basis obviously depending on the particular groundies skills and worth whilst actually onsite. I currently have a skilled and experienced (ex climber) groundy who doesn't show up on average 1 day per month- hes currently my first choice but I'm thinking making a change. We've started socialising (drinking beer) so this has made matters a slight bit awkward...
If it's a no show no call, then not a lot of tolerance.
If he calls in sick once a month, and busts it the rest of the time, it may be worth it.
You have to understand your guys. Some guys just don't have the body to be able to bust it everyday (age, old injuries, illness such as migraines etc) so may need a 'maintenance' day.
If he calls in sick once a month, and busts it the rest of the time, it may be worth it.
You have to understand your guys. Some guys just don't have the body to be able to bust it everyday (age, old injuries, illness such as migraines etc) so may need a 'maintenance' day.
Our guys get 3 sick days a year by law, use them or lose them.
Interesting thing is that of the 15 guys I have, their attendance is perfect,,a few exception's for family matters, and they plan their paid vacation and add the sick days they did not use.
If I see a pattern of frequent Monday sick calls from an employee,,I would be talking to him.
Jeff
That's sound advice, cheers. Unfortunately being a 2 man crew for at least half the time the no show can be a mini disaster- much of the fallout will depend on how easygoing the clients are when they get the call and are told the job will need to be delayed.... some are going to use this "unreliability" as leverage.
Another trait of a good ground worker is trying to preserve property, putting some genuine effort into minimizing the impact of dragging out a tree etc. To me that shows respect for their employer... and a thorough cleanup unsupervised if that's part of the brand.
Another trait of a good ground worker is trying to preserve property, putting some genuine effort into minimizing the impact of dragging out a tree etc. To me that shows respect for their employer... and a thorough cleanup unsupervised if that's part of the brand.
groundguyscaredtoclimb
ArboristSite Operative
how to make your day really fun;
put all chains on backwards,
dont check the gas before you send up a saw,
tell the climber you could do it better if he wasnt already up there,
exessively wrap the tree (or portawrap),
scream "WAAAAAIIIITTT" during every climbers backcut, when they shut the saw off to see whats going on say "nevermind keep going"
these simple steps will make your day on the ground more fun and exciting because face it climbers......................................................., you're not going to climb all the way down to do anything about it.
put all chains on backwards,
dont check the gas before you send up a saw,
tell the climber you could do it better if he wasnt already up there,
exessively wrap the tree (or portawrap),
scream "WAAAAAIIIITTT" during every climbers backcut, when they shut the saw off to see whats going on say "nevermind keep going"
these simple steps will make your day on the ground more fun and exciting because face it climbers......................................................., you're not going to climb all the way down to do anything about it.
That is a good plan for your last day on the job.
