WHAT HAVE I DONE? Pros: tell me abot your new guys!

[BC WetCoast]

When I look down at the groundie, NOTHING pisses me off more than seeing him standing there with either his hands in his pockets or looking at his phone and there is stuff to do. So before you stand and watch, make sure all the brush is dragged and chipped (except for the stuff in the drop zone you can't get yet) and the area around the chipped is cleaned up. Pick up a rake if you have time.

Think what you need to do and do it without being asked. In the morning, make sure there is fuel and bar oil. Check or help check lights on the chipper. If you're navigating, figure out the route. When you get to the job, put out signs and cones without being asked (or ask where they should be put).

We hire newbies all the time, and I seem to get most of them within their first couple of days. I don't expect you to know anything, it's my job to teach you (while trying to be productive at the same time).

The other thing is don't whine. I had a guy whining because he had to drag 150', rather than the 15' we had done for the first couple of days.

 

[Wannabe123]

Good calls BC, I HATE people having their damn noses stuck in their phones all the damn time. My phone is just that when I am at work, not some fancy texting Gameboy facespace doo dad.

Most of this stuff comes as no real surprise to me, not that I am looking down my nose at your advice. It's just that I haven't been a rookie in a long time. It's giving me confidence that I can easily outshine the other noobs if I pay attention, work hard and don't complain. The guy I applied to specifically said he called me because my resume indicated I'd be of much more use than some punk kid thinking he'd make a quick buck, and I intend to prove him right. My philosophy is if you pay me a cent I want you to feel like you got a nickel's worth of work (course I'll eventually ask for 3 cents)

 

[mike515]

Lot's of good advice in this thread. As I said this morning...pay attention. Also, I hate training people...really. I do it but I really appreciate a guy who can also see the obvious. I don't have the time or ambition to tell you every single little thing that needs to be done. A good rule of thumb is "What can I be doing to safely promote the completion of this job?" If everyone is busy and you're wondering what to do.....and you see a few logs that need to go on the trailer...jump on that. Nobody is going to tell you not to do it (unless there is something else you should be doing). It has to be done at some point anyway and you're better off looking busy rather than lazy and confused. That being said....you also need to get a feel for how your crew and your foreman operates. Nobody expects a newb to know everything. I've seen guys who were very ambitious but didn't understand the process. I've had times where there was a pile of brush that needed to be moved and a newb that thought it was a good idea to start raking in our drop zone...while there was still half of the brush in the air. His ambition wasn't the problem...his understanding of the process was. Then someone has to tell him to stop wasting his time and get on that brush. It's not a huge deal but the faster you understand how your crew works...the better. You strike me as a fairly smart guy and I think you should be fine. Just remember...the primary goal is the safety of everyone. After that...it's making sure there is no property/equipment damage. Then you worry about production. If those aren't the priorities on your crew...there is a problem on that crew.

 

[TC262]

Pretty good advice so far. From your posts you come across as above average intelligence for a ground guy, as long as you apply yourself you'll do fine.

 

[Wannabe123]

Pretty good advice so far. From your posts you come across as above average intelligence for a ground guy, as long as you apply yourself you'll do fine.

That's the trouble with the internet

 

[lone wolf]

Lot's of good advice in this thread. As I said this morning...pay attention. Also, I hate training people...really. I do it but I really appreciate a guy who can also see the obvious. I don't have the time or ambition to tell you every single little thing that needs to be done. A good rule of thumb is "What can I be doing to safely promote the completion of this job?" If everyone is busy and you're wondering what to do.....and you see a few logs that need to go on the trailer...jump on that. Nobody is going to tell you not to do it (unless there is something else you should be doing). It has to be done at some point anyway and you're better off looking busy rather than lazy and confused. That being said....you also need to get a feel for how your crew and your foreman operates. Nobody expects a newb to know everything. I've seen guys who were very ambitious but didn't understand the process. I've had times where there was a pile of brush that needed to be moved and a newb that thought it was a good idea to start raking in our drop zone...while there was still half of the brush in the air. His ambition wasn't the problem...his understanding of the process was. Then someone has to tell him to stop wasting his time and get on that brush. It's not a huge deal but the faster you understand how your crew works...the better. You strike me as a fairly smart guy and I think you should be fine. Just remember...the primary goal is the safety of everyone. After that...it's making sure there is no property/equipment damage. Then you worry about production. If those aren't the priorities on your crew...there is a problem on that crew.

When the Ground man rakes instead of drags brush or loads logs I see it as an excuse not to do the harder work first raking is one of the last things done. I would have him pegged as a slacker if he did it more then one time after being told do the harder stuff first.

 

[Wannabe123]

When the Ground man rakes instead of drags brush or loads logs I see it as an excuse not to do the harder work first raking is one of the last things done.

This would make sense. I'd think that all the dragging is just going to make more leaves and debris anyway, why work twice? Unless as someone said their was no more brush accessible and there was an opportunity to clean up an area that you won't need to go back into. For the most part I get your drift, I have had plenty of guys who spend three hours cleaning a gun and when I inspect it the feed arm is spotless, but you can knock a pound of copper out of the gas ports and the spare barrel looks like an orange road cone. They failed to impress.

Some work is just designed to make you look busy, and the pro's will see right through it, am I right?

 

[lone wolf]

This would make sense. I'd think that all the dragging is just going to make more leaves and debris anyway, why work twice? Unless as someone said their was no more brush accessible and there was an opportunity to clean up an area that you won't need to go back into. For the most part I get your drift, I have had plenty of guys who spend three hours cleaning a gun and when I inspect it the feed arm is spotless, but you can knock a pound of copper out of the gas ports and the spare barrel looks like an orange road cone. They failed to impress.

Some work is just designed to make you look busy, and the pro's will see right through it, am I right?

They will see it in a second!

 

[capetrees]

Be on time
Do it the way they show you and not your way
Leave the phone in the truck
Dress ready to work in any conditions (multiple layers and BOOTS)
Don't watch the clock all day
Work guilty like the boss is always watching you

 

[no tree to big]

Here something that drives me nutz when u know there is a big ass piece that is getting roped down and will be a pain to get on the ground don't grab that last little bit that needs to go to the chipper 10 seconds before u will be needed to get that thing on the ground get it out of the way get everything situated grab a big Ole piece and one your way by grab the lil pile on your way by. Nothing drives me more nutz then waiting on a guy to get back while 2 guys stand there with there thumb up there butt... and on the raking thing if there's nothing to do that's major even if u will be messing the same area again do a quick rake grab the big stuff will save u later and it's less to trip over. Don't sit there getting it spotless cover ground quick

 

[lone wolf]

Here something that drives me nutz when u know there is a big ass piece that is getting roped down and will be a pain to get on the ground don't grab that last little bit that needs to go to the chipper 10 seconds before u will be needed to get that thing on the ground get it out of the way get everything situated grab a big Ole piece and one your way by grab the lil pile on your way by. Nothing drives me more nutz then waiting on a guy to get back while 2 guys stand there with there thumb up there butt... and on the raking thing if there's nothing to do that's major even if u will be messing the same area again do a quick rake grab the big stuff will save u later and it's less to trip over. Don't sit there getting it spotless cover ground quick

I really feel that if they rake when other stuff is around it is a stupid attempt to get out of harder work. Then you know what you are dealing with a slacker. They dont even know that we know this trick?

 

[no tree to big]

I really feel that if they rake when other stuff is around it is a stupid attempt to get out of harder work. Then you know what you are dealing with a slacker. They dont even know that we know this trick?

I Said If there is nothing major logs are out brush is out climber is not ready u want him to grab a rake and get the big stuff up or just stand there?

 

[treebilly]

Show them that you want to learn. Ask questions when you see something going on. I'm no teacher by any means but I'll try to give a reasonable answer to questions asked. Learn your knots!!! The climber / bucket operator should not be the only guy that can tie them. Ask them to show you how they prefer items to be tied on to send up. Nothing pisses me off more then getting some CF knot when I'm 90 foot up, having to figure out how to untie it. Ask them to show you a knot at lunch or break time and practice while riding in the truck and at home till you can tie it blindfolded behind your back. Learn how to sharpen a saw. At some point you'll get to cut something and you will dull a saw occasionally. You need to be able to sharpen it. More will come to me I'm sure. Gotta put the kids to bed

 

[Jed1124]

I really feel that if they rake when other stuff is around it is a stupid attempt to get out of harder work. Then you know what you are dealing with a slacker. They dont even know that we know this trick?

I don't remember who it was but a guy on here years back coined a term for those types. Pile Pusher. Just keep raking that same pile over and over while every body else is busting hump. I've used it ever since!

 

[mike515]

Show them that you want to learn. Ask questions when you see something going on. I'm no teacher by any means but I'll try to give a reasonable answer to questions asked. Learn your knots!!! The climber / bucket operator should not be the only guy that can tie them. Ask them to show you how they prefer items to be tied on to send up. Nothing pisses me off more then getting some CF knot when I'm 90 foot up, having to figure out how to untie it. Ask them to show you a knot at lunch or break time and practice while riding in the truck and at home till you can tie it blindfolded behind your back. Learn how to sharpen a saw. At some point you'll get to cut something and you will dull a saw occasionally. You need to be able to sharpen it. More will come to me I'm sure. Gotta put the kids to bed

I agree about the knots but there is other stuff to learn a little more quickly. But this reminds me of a guy who used to work for me....good groundman, reliable, always knew what was going on but....he simply could not figure out the simplest knot that I wanted him to use to tie the fiberglass pole to my line. It used to irritate me to no end. When I tell you what kind of knot to use...there is a good reason for it...which I explained plenty of times. When I show you the same simple knot 30 times...that's about 29 times too many. When you've been here for 5 or 6 years, know everything about your job and still can't tie on the pole the way I want you to....there is no excuse for that. How hard is it?! When I need that pole...I usually need it right now! I don't have time to mess around with whatever 2nd grade knot you just invented. Do it the way I told you to do it. When I hired his replacement....one of the things I showed him on his first day was that knot. I showed him twice and asked if he could do it. He said "Yeah...no problem." and did it a few times. I said "Good. Don't ever forget how to do that!" Haven't had to show him since then.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Always keep an eye up on the climber. The jobsite is noisy. I don't know how many times I've been up in a tree, needing something, chipper going, and there are three groundies down there dragging brush, feeding the chipper and noone looks up. I have spent ten minutes shouting and waving, could have bled out before someone looked up.

 

[jefflovstrom]

Carry a hitch pin in your back pocket,,you will be a hero,,
Jeff

 

[lone wolf]

Carry a hitch pin in your back pocket,,you will be a hero,,
Jeff

Lose many Jeff? Put them on a line.

 

[KenJax Tree]

Carry a hitch pin in your back pocket,,you will be a hero,,
Jeff

 

[mike515]

Always keep an eye up on the climber. The jobsite is noisy. I don't know how many times I've been up in a tree, needing something, chipper going, and there are three groundies down there dragging brush, feeding the chipper and noone looks up. I have spent ten minutes shouting and waving, could have bled out before someone looked up.

Speaking just for myself....I have a certain way that I'll rev my saw to get people on the ground to look up. They almost always recognize that signal. From there, I have a set of hand signals to tell them what I want. I have it set up so we can do almost any job just with hand signals if we have to. It's really helpful.