What the landscapers left!

[Bermie]

Yikes I dodged a bullet yesterday!!!

I am subbing for a landscape company that has a contract to clear trees near the power lines, they had a couple of close calls so they called me to climb and piece down the trees that they can't handle.

I go to the site yesterday, the base of the tree is about 15' lower than the ROW and buried in vines and cane, with a path cut to it.
I set a line from the bank and went down to tie in....:jawdrop:

They had started to fell this tree, got most of a wedge cut about half way through the tree then obviously gave up!!!! I refused to climb and piece it, no bloody way!!! We got a pull rope in it, but the way it needs to go, there is nothing to tie to, their truck isn't hevy enough for traction, the wind was blowing the wrong way........
I told them the only way I would do it is with a high lift, sorry, no negotiation. Difficult when they speak Portuguese and all I can say is good morning and please and thank you!

They have totally messed up chances of felling it from the ground by putting in the wedge that they did, its going to require a mile of rope to pull it in the direction they set.

But I still have six more to do, they've left those alone thank goodness! got two done after the other debacle, I must say it's nice to have an unrestricted drop zone, crash and smash and leave it where it falls, nothing pretty, just get it down, yay!

 

[joesawer]

Cleaning up someone else's mess is always fun. The last two trees that I climbed had been started by someone else who had quit when they realized they where in over their head. Actually the neighbors made one guy quit after he damaged their car and the home owner made the other one stop after he damaged the home. It always makes things more interesting and the price reflects that fact.
Be careful out there and have fun. Live to do it again another day.

 

[BC_Logger]

been there, Ive had it where they bore cut it and just left the strap hold it up :jawdrop:

 

[clearance]

All I can ask is wtf was the utility company thinking, giving the contract to landscapers, and have they been advised of this debacle?

 

[Canyonbc]

No kidding

seems as if the power company should be obligated to bring in licensed, certified , and ligit companies to there work...espically in the situation of dealing with power lines

its one thing to go down an drop a 20 foot cotton wood tree on a hillside...and and a different page and day to deal with trees in the power lines..

seems as if someone at the power company should take some responsibilty or a ridding for all this

 

[Bermie]

I thought you might chime in here Clearance! You and Canyon have raised THE pertinent point!

We have NO regulations here as to who can perform what services when it comes to trees, landscaping etc... It has fallen to a handful of us to take tree work on as a career and become properly qualified.

In so saying though I do not have certifications for power line clearance, I'll only take on a job where the trees are well away from the lines, giving me plenty of options for safe removal, or they have turned off the power. I do as much reading as I can and before each line job I refresh by reading that TCIA booklet about three times. In the end, if it's too dangerous, I don't do it. There are no opportunities here for attaining further qualifications, if I want to get line certified I'd have to go overseas. Unless there is something available on line?

I have read many of your posts Clearance and though I may disagree with some of what you post, I take seriously what you have to say about working near power, and it has helped me stay safe out here, thank you!
At least this landscape company has realized that they can't handle these trees, I must give them credit for that and for taking me on to help, they were bashing them down in 15' lengths from a high lift, then it got too technical and I believe the power company gave them an earfull when they bounced one line.

That said, this is a small community and word will get back to the powers that be that there is a better way of cutting trees!

 

[Industry]

http://www.treecareindustry.org/Public/product_ehap.htm

We use the EHAP program where I work. At least you will know how to ID lines and voltage potential.