20ft fall

A

Arborist1

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United States
I work for a municipality and last week we had a climber take a ~20ft fall onto the street. I have not talked personally with the climber, but through eye witness accounts it appears the climber cut his down line. Without noticing he had cut his line he continued to climb and as he descended the cut downline passed through his hitch and he fell to the ground.

The climber managed to come away with only a bruised tailbone and whiplash!!

Also as a bonus reminder, chainsaws are sharp. I did this to my hand last week while climbing. My 201 was on my saddle and I went to throw a branch to the ground. As I threw the branch down the palm of my hand raked against the chain.

Climb safe.

-chizmin image.webpimage.webp
 
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I know it's one more step while working but I keep a scabbard on the bar whenever the saw is clipped in close to my harness. I started doing it after getting irritated with my lanyard and main rope getting nipped in the same spots from chronic chain contact. I have a mini-bungee/carabiner on the scabbard attached to the chain brake to keep it from getting pulled off while climbing. If the saw is hanging off the end of my saw lanyard in between cuts at the same position, no problem but once the saw comes back up to my harness, scabbard on. Hope your hand gets back to working shape soon!
-AJ
 
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I have a long bungee attached to the back of my harness and to the scabbard. I just pull the scabbard off and let it hang, then replace the scabbard when I'm done with the cut. don't have to fiddle with hooking and unhooking the scabbard that way. Whoever came up with that scabbard was definitely thinking. Hope he is making a royalty on it.
 
oldoakman said:
I have a long bungee attached to the back of my harness and to the scabbard. I just pull the scabbard off and let it hang, then replace the scabbard when I'm done with the cut. don't have to fiddle with hooking and unhooking the scabbard that way. Whoever came up with that scabbard was definitely thinking. Hope he is making a royalty on it.
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Yeah, when a company employee comes up with a great idea or even a patentable idea it's all owned by the company. Fair enough. But the Stihl scabbard definitely has cycles to failure especially with constant use in the tree. There's room here for someone to design a cool say cordura fabric sewn scabbard with a replaceable chain protective plastic insert. #freeidea. ;-)
-AJ
 
moss said:
Yeah, when a company employee comes up with a great idea or even a patentable idea it's all owned by the company. Fair enough. But the Stihl scabbard definitely has cycles to failure especially with constant use in the tree. There's room here for someone to design a cool say cordura fabric sewn scabbard with a replaceable chain protective plastic insert. #freeidea. ;-)
-AJ
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Yeah, I agree with that logic, although I would rather replace an $8 plastic scabbard than a $200 pair of pants. Yoyoman are you listening to this???
 
chizmin said:
I work for a municipality and last week we had a climber take a ~20ft fall onto the street. I have not talked personally with the climber, but through eye witness accounts it appears the climber cut his down line. Without noticing he had cut his line he continued to climb and as he descended the cut downline passed through his hitch and he fell to the ground.

The climber managed to come away with only a bruised tailbone and whiplash!!

Also as a bonus reminder, chainsaws are sharp. I did this to my hand last week while climbing. My 201 was on my saddle and I went to throw a branch to the ground. As I threw the branch down the palm of my hand raked against the chain.

Climb safe.

-chizmin View attachment 43331View attachment 43332
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Thats definitely a tender spot. Cut my hand in the same area on a piece of metal before. You quickly come to realize how useless a hand without a thumb is. Heal well.
 
chizmin said:
I work for a municipality and last week we had a climber take a ~20ft fall onto the street. I have not talked personally with the climber, but through eye witness accounts it appears the climber cut his down line. Without noticing he had cut his line he continued to climb and as he descended the cut downline passed through his hitch and he fell to the ground.

The climber managed to come away with only a bruised tailbone and whiplash!!

Also as a bonus reminder, chainsaws are sharp. I did this to my hand last week while climbing. My 201 was on my saddle and I went to throw a branch to the ground. As I threw the branch down the palm of my hand raked against the chain.

Climb safe.

-chizmin View attachment 43331View attachment 43332
Click to expand...
That sucks I have taken to leaving my saw hanging down not clipped short , I am guessing that's what happened. Most people disagree with it. But for me I feel off balance having it clipped to my harness. Saw does tend to get caught up more and banged around more though. And for those who just clip their saw to their harness with no lanyard and run it without I could list many issues with that. Although I see it all the time. Heal quickly.
 
owScott said:
That sucks I have taken to leaving my saw hanging down not clipped short , I am guessing that's what happened. Most people disagree with it. But for me I feel off balance having it clipped to my harness. Saw does tend to get caught up more and banged around more though. And for those who just clip their saw to their harness with no lanyard and run it without I could list many issues with that. Although I see it all the time. Heal quickly.
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I'm just the opposite, I can't stand a saw hanging below me. I also don't use a lanyard(old school I guess). If I get into trouble I want to dump the saw instead of it going with me. I know of incidents where the saw being attached caused more and serious injury because it was lanyarded to the climber.
 
I've just recently started using a saw lanyard last summer. I still don't like it in a sense. I don't have the same free range of movement that I used to. Sometimes I want to go back to the "ladder" hook that I used to keep on the saddle. It quickly clips to any saw handle. I did just get the full reach pig tail lanyard.
I started using a lanyard after some talking with @swingdude.
 
oldoakman said:
I'm just the opposite, I can't stand a saw hanging below me. I also don't use a lanyard(old school I guess). If I get into trouble I want to dump the saw instead of it going with me. I know of incidents where the saw being attached caused more and serious injury because it was lanyarded to the climber.
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I've got a 200 lb. tearaway on my saw lanyard. I'm much better at avoiding getting my saw yanked than I used to be but it's another bit of peace of mind.
 
oldoakman said:
I'm just the opposite, I can't stand a saw hanging below me. I also don't use a lanyard(old school I guess). If I get into trouble I want to dump the saw instead of it going with me. I know of incidents where the saw being attached caused more and serious injury because it was lanyarded to the climber.
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Yeah I am old school also, 26 years . I expected some response here. My points are this, a proper lanyard should break away at about 50lbs of force and I have had the saw get caught in a cut and had to let go and have been jerked more times than I can count, no big deal better than my saw going to the ground or me getting hurt trying to hold on, never been jerked hard enough to cause the lanyard to break. 2nd point, I have had things not go right in the middle of a cut, examples are top not going right, limb breaking sending me falling or anything that causes me to have to move or react quickly I can just drop the saw. Your point of the saw going with you is a valid point, but has never been a problem even in a big swing except the saw may swing into something and get damaged. But dropping it would do damage also and possibly hit someone. Last point anything being used in the tree not attached to the climber , including pole gear is a safety hazard to the ground crew. Exceptions being handsaws carabiners and other small gear. The only disadvantage is range of movement, you may at times have to clip the lanyard to the other side to reach an awkward cut. Seems to me a small disadvantage as opposed the consequences of dropping the saw. As to letting it hang or clipping it short, that's personal preference. Good discussion I like to hear from other experienced guys because I think we all get really set in our ways and it keeps me thinking.
 
owScott said:
Yeah I am old school also, 26 years . I expected some response here. My points are this, a proper lanyard should break away at about 50lbs of force and I have had the saw get caught in a cut and had to let go and have been jerked more times than I can count, no big deal better than my saw going to the ground or me getting hurt trying to hold on, never been jerked hard enough to cause the lanyard to break. 2nd point, I have had things not go right in the middle of a cut, examples are top not going right, limb breaking sending me falling or anything that causes me to have to move or react quickly I can just drop the saw. Your point of the saw going with you is a valid point, but has never been a problem even in a big swing except the saw may swing into something and get damaged. But dropping it would do damage also and possibly hit someone. Last point anything being used in the tree not attached to the climber , including pole gear is a safety hazard to the ground crew. Exceptions being handsaws carabiners and other small gear. The only disadvantage is range of movement, you may at times have to clip the lanyard to the other side to reach an awkward cut. Seems to me a small disadvantage as opposed the consequences of dropping the saw. As to letting it hang or clipping it short, that's personal preference. Good discussion I like to hear from other experienced guys because I think we all get really set in our ways and it keeps me thinking.
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I dunno bub, seems like good stuff for you and your worksite, but somewhat micromanaging to say not using a lanyard is bad. Tell me a falling handsaw isn't as much of a hazard as a pole extension. In my opinion, that's silliness.
I hear what your saying, I've had my saw fall and my first thought was holy shit that would have killed someone. But it was on a lanyard that I had previously nicked with my handsaw, hadn't noticed until all the sudden saw wasn't there anymore between cutting a notch and letting saw hang while.repositioning.
I juat prefer mine off a lanyard. If there's a chance of something weird happening I'll tie my lanyard tail to it (usually this is when topping something out) or a redirect sling I use. Now I understand you can't predict everything so pumped the brakes on that, but I choose to position myself in a way where I'm not going anywhere almost not matter what. That's bad work positioning if something little might throw you all outta wack while ripping you saw causing you to just let go.
 
CutHighnLetFly said:
I dunno bub, seems like good stuff for you and your worksite, but somewhat micromanaging to say not using a lanyard is bad. Tell me a falling handsaw isn't as much of a hazard as a pole extension. In my opinion, that's silliness.
I hear what your saying, I've had my saw fall and my first thought was holy shit that would have killed someone. But it was on a lanyard that I had previously nicked with my handsaw, hadn't noticed until all the sudden saw wasn't there anymore between cutting a notch and letting saw hang while.repositioning.
I juat prefer mine off a lanyard. If there's a chance of something weird happening I'll tie my lanyard tail to it (usually this is when topping something out) or a redirect sling I use. Now I understand you can't predict everything so pumped the brakes on that, but I choose to position myself in a way where I'm not going anywhere almost not matter what. That's bad work positioning if something little might throw you all outta wack while ripping you saw causing you to just let go.
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I definitely manage my worksite because every micro detail comes back to me. Cutting your saw lanyard with your handsaw is no relevant to this discussion, that's just an accident and dosent make a case for not using a lanyard. I ll tell you, a piece of pole gear falling and hitting anybody , including the climber is, is way worse than a hand saw hitting somebody. Pole gear is bigger and heavier, a pole saw is a hand saw plus a pole enough said. Pole saws falling out of trees is a common accident. For the most part I agree with your point about body position and your right but getting thrown out of whack wasn't my point. What about a limb breaking that you are standing on, wind coming up during a topping cut, spur blowing out, I guess these are a few examples that you pumped your brakes on. My question is one good reason not to use one other than it restricts movement. If you understand unpredictable things can and do happen and that could lead to you dropping your saw on somebody why take the chance. Reasons to not use a proper lanyard: inconvenient , restricts movement. Reasons to use a proper lanyard: for any reason, you never drop a saw on anybody. What am I missing here?
 
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That you have your own valued opinion, and I do too. I respect what your saying man, just can't say I see it the same. Especially what your saying about the pole saw vs hand.
The things you listened like limb braking, gaffin out, wind blown top, if I'm in a scenario where I think theres a chance of that happening, I use a lanyard. We're not too different you and i. I just dont feel the need to have it on every time I climb
 
CutHighnLetFly said:
That you have your own valued opinion, and I do too. I respect what your saying man, just can't say I see it the same. Especially what your saying about the pole saw vs hand.
The things you listened like limb braking, gaffin out, wind blown top, if I'm in a scenario where I think theres a chance of that happening, I use a lanyard. We're not too different you and i. I just dont feel the need to have it on every time I climb
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Fair enough. I don't insist that people agree, just that we have rational conversations. Respect back to you.
 
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