Almost Terrible Mishap

[Steve Connally]

Was having lots of fun today. A broad canopy oak. Lots of tip die back and some rotten nasty leads. About 40 or so inch dbh. The boss wasn't there and another small job after. All bucket work today. Multiple redirects. Lots of rig n wrench and omni block action. Got to use he shizzle some too (frank). So taking 6' 32" diameter blocks or logs used my new 14mm Sirius rope with beast ring set up and then the block and whoopie when it got too fat. New stein lowering device too. Everything was pretty shiny and new but initially blocking down had the company porty at the base. Didn't want to use it cause it's slung with some
Old thick bill rope maybe 1" or just under. It was white but used to be red maybe. Dropped a log and heard a gun shot then heard metal clang. Sounded like my pulley exploded but it didn't. After I looked to make sure everyone was still standing and the damage to the landscape timbers (no damage job spec and underbid at $1000 total). I observed the porty and my pulley being very intimate. I don't condone that type of contact ever. Luckily my block wasn't damaged. Texted the boss that the shit gear he expects us to use failed and there was damage. Made sure to tell him all my gear was perfectly fine. He didn't bother to respond nor will I assume financial responsibility for the damage. I'm sure next day we will have another crap piece of rope tied to the porty. That's why I bring all my own gear and will me more insistent on using it. Glad that porty didn't hit me in the face. I'd be dead or less pretty!

Monday the other climber made a shit notch and took down wires, crushed the driveway, punched a hole in the city street and the wires fell on a Mercedes. New paint job required on the car. Near fistfight with the neighbors. Fire department police power and cable all there. Luckily I was at the fire station. Notice his felling cut. He's the I will climb anything cause I'm a bad ass guy. Bad day for him. I had to come in and clean up the day after. He was late that day too. Foreman had to go wake him up

 

[Steve Connally]

Notice the wires. Those were all down

 

[treegongfu]

Wow! Sure went to shite!


There is no way you shld be providing rudimentary equipment for the company you work for.

I can see you providing things that may bring finess or are innovative but blocks, rope, slings, and other staples of the job is absurd.

Mayhe after this accident the boss will be open to buying these things.

A self spliced sling doesnt cost very much.

 

[BzRman]

Yikes! Hopefully a wake up call for your boss. I don't know your situation but maybe a wake up call for you too. Time to move along? At least nobody was hurt.

 

[rockettree]

Take control of your situation man, you know better. You've got to accept some responsibility for that accident, you can't allow shitty old gear to be used on your takedown and then act all incensed when it breaks.

Are you an employee or a sub? I feel it should be all or nothing, the companies equipment if you're an employee, yours if you're subbing.

Rigging equipment is safety equipment, know it, inspect it, destroy it if need be.

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

damn Steve either things are getting worse or your sharing more war stories! did homeboy bring down the phase lines too or just the communication?
don't let these guys ever get YOU damaged! stay safe man, your a real trooper dealing with these guys to make it work for your situation.

 

[oldoakman]

Wonder how many computers he fried? Knew of a guy once that swept a 60kv transmission line that fed to distribution lines lower on the pole. Fried every microwave, TV, and computer in a trailer park that was nearby. No insurance either. Be careful Steve, this guy could get you hurt.

 

[Steve Connally]

I hear you guys. I guess I'm an employee. The taxation lines are blurry and let's leave it at that. You're rite his gear shouldn't be used. It's crap. All but one rope are hand me downs from me when I buy something new to try and my old ropes are still serviceable so I put them in the truck so the guys have something. Boss will not spring for new anything. Slings like new I sold him for blocks sit in the shop and never make it on the truck. Blocks are scary looking and I could go on and on. I bring all my own stuff because when no if a rope fails he's gonna tell me I took to big a piece because he's in denial. I almost killed a brand new vinal fence when a line failed and from that point on I bring my own stuff. He taxes the employees for damage. I'm not getting taxed. Rocket, you're rite. I shoulda used my own stuff. That's about it. I shoulda because I knew it was shit but I didn't think it would blow. Lapse in my own judgment. Point taken.

As so far as the lines, didn't take out the primaries. Just fiber optic and cable. It did rock the poles enough the power company had to inspect them.

So "move on". Not that simple and it's an old discussion. Would if I could but nobody is busy 12 months around here but my boss. Nor is this a professional market. Only a couple legit outfits really. A few I'd work for but would have to take a huge pay cut. Plus the lack of year around work doesn't have me interested. I'm always looking for the rite opportunity to surface. Always putting out feelers. When it comes, believe me I'll be gone. It's really not that bad when I use my own gear. I'm the master of my own environment and have at least 1 decent go to guy on the crew. The rest are useless. Equipment is shit but he's making improvements on loader, stumper, wood truck.
So I guess the moral of the story is everything would be same old same old had I used my porty. It's a known evil that I know and am used to. Honestly stuff like this happens a lot. Some days we even have a whole day with nothing breaking or getting damaged. Usually and thankfully it's not often under my tree. Except today and as rocket pointed out it shouldn't have happened and I let it. Glad nothing more got damaged. But I'm a zero margin for error guy so even though today was a success it was still a failure in my eyes because I pride myself on being safe. I failed today. The company fails daily but I can only control my world and my tree.

Everyone has a valid point and I appreciate them all.

 

[treehumper]

Steve, glad you're ok. A near miss is the warning shot across the bow. You know where the good stuff is just use it. Forget the boss not putting in on the truck or any other such nonsense. This isn't work where we often get off lightly when things go awry. You do go work, you make shitload of money for him doing things your way so, just draw the line with him. From here on in, it's all your gear if you feel anything he supplies is subpar. Take a stand with him and he'll respect you, even if he gripes. If he sees that you're jobs get done with zero damage and subsequent expense then he'll be a whole lot happier with you than the other guys.

Climb safe and be home for those kids!

 

[Magnum783]

Man I work for a similar boss and I do just as rocket said. I use all my own stuff cause I trust none of his stuff. He just pushes all of his stuff to the extreme or beyond the limits. Plus he doesn't have a clue about rigging dynamics and forces. Glad you are still in the land of the living. I know I am prob singing to the choir. My thought on this matter is me using one my ropes may it be a cheap 1/2" or 1" high dollar rope my life is worth more than anything. Or if money is what makes you tick a trip to the hospital for something minor will cost you at a min ~$400 a lot of tree gear can be bought with that. That's one of those once of prevention pound of cure things.

 

[Jeff]

He taxes the employees for damage.

I don't know about VA but I've been told that's illegal here in CT. Doesn't sound like he has too many employees willing to take a stand against him though, lest they find themselves out of a job.

I was going to jump on you too, because I enjoy your posts and I'm concerned about your safety just like the other guys here, but you've probably heard it enough already, and 1 more guy harping on you isn't going to help you. Just remember why you're doing this (Jack), and the fact that no amount of $ is worth you getting hurt for. I'm sure the pay from the fire dept. isn't that lousy, so if your safety requires you leave this shit-show, then so be it.

 

[BRT]

Glad you're okay Steve.

Like you said, that is a strange "notch" cut on that trunk the other climber felled. It looks like some sort of control was attempted, but little, if any, was achieved. No hinge wood. I'd say that trunk had the potential to kill someone when it came down. Sort of thing we see on YouTube.

 

[Steve Connally]

Thanks for the genuine concern fellas. I hear ya. Taxing the employee is illegal, so is not taxing payroll, so is paying guys by the day and paying them a half day when they get off at 3 and start at 730, I suppose having checks made out to you instead of the company is illegal too. Don't get me started on the last 2 days doing illegal wetlands work after numerous warnings from the site manager. It is a shit show! I have no idea how the hell he has such a massive client base. I'm at a loss there. Sometimes I go 3 to 4 weeks without getting paid, I suppose because I have a regular job and I probably don't need it as bad. But hey it's like a bank I just don't get interest and then I get a mad stack of $100 bills. It's such a joke it doesn't even bother me anymore. I just love the actual work and the pay is good. Everything else just rolls off my back most of the time.

Its a circular problem. I use my stuff because his is shit and he doesn't buy anything because I use my stuff. I get the worst of the climbs because I have the safe gear and reliable stuff. Sorta unfair but I suppose that's why I get paid tops. Our saw situation is awful. His response, "Just use one of Steve's." Well the issue is nobody, nobody is allowed to use steve's saws, ever! I also will not make stump cuts with my saws because he won't replace my trashed chains. I consider myself a sub and provide everything but saw gas and oil. I'd do that but I have no place to store it. The fuel rides in the chip box and some times doesn't even come out while chipping so I can never take the last few fills due to debris. The chains and maintenance of my gear I consider to be a cost of doing business. It's fine.

When I retire from the FD or win the lotto Saturday, whichever comes first, I have a tough decision to make. Run my own show again or find a good full time tree gig. There is no way I could work at my current spot 5 days a week and not loose my shit.

This stuff makes for some good war stories over a beer or a coffee. TCIA tree boss bitch session in Baltimore anybody? I'm sure we could have some great laughs.

 

[Steve Connally]

A guy at work is busting my chops. Have no idea when he took a pic of me eating a banana.

 

[Daniel]

surprised no one commented on the falling cut...
there's a case of breaking the most basic rules of falling.. bypass the notch then over cut the back cut taking out the hinge completely..

I've known a lot of seasoned pros around here that don't have clue about proper falling technique. Its extremely common and its one of the best indications that training in this country is terrible and the institutions that are supposed to be providing it have failed miserably. Its not that complicated...

Proper falling technique is a HUGE safety issue... All this attitude about one handing from the bucket etc. How about teaching people how to cut a tree....
Preventing damage is a whole lot easier and less expensive than fixing it..

 

[Steve Connally]

Agreed completely Daniel. When I got to the site to finish the job the felling cut was the first thing I went to look at. The complaint was the saw got pinched and that was the cutters excuse. You can see evidence of it on the stump. No wonder it pinched. The spar mush have sat rite down on the bar.

 

[Daniel]

exactly.. the fact that he didn't know what caused the saw to get pinched shows that he simply does not understand the most fundamental principles of falling technique... what were they pulling with.. did he use wedges?? I'd guess he was pulling by hand.... big mistake, especially of t had any back lean. You can often overcome sloppy falling technique with more pull. looks like a fairly straight stick.. he just kept cutting till gravity took over... if he had dominoed those utility poles he could have killed someone across the street

 

[Steve Connally]

No wedges and a pull line redirected around another tree. The redirect was against the bark so it increased friction against the men pulling. Luckily they let go and didn't ride the rope around the redirect tree. It looked fairly straight to me also but they insist it wasn't. I doubt it because I made round rollable chunks for the loader to move. I've brought in books and literature on the subject because all the fellers do crazy cuts even the boss. Nobody wants to hear it. They are all certain of their skill. It's a perpetual circle of misinformation passed down to the next guy. So I stay away during felling or fell my own. Then I grab the one guy who wants to learn and do my best to make a teaching moment out of it. It's really frustrating to spend extra effort and hours to make sure various targets are Un damaged while dismantling the tree only to have it obliterated by the feller or the loader operator.

 

[Jeff]

The complaint was the saw got pinched and that was the cutters excuse.

This is my favorite part. Don't take the time to say "Something clearly went wrong here. What was it? Why did it happen? How can we prevent it from happening again?" Nope, don't learn from your mistakes, just find some excuse as to why it's not your fault and then keep going the way you're going.

Whenever I screw up I at least try to learn something from it! Wait, did I say "When"?

I meant "If". "If I ever screw up..."

 

[Magnum783]

This is my favorite part. Don't take the time to say "Something clearly went wrong here. What was it? Why did it happen? How can we prevent it from happening again?" Nope, don't learn from your mistakes, just find some excuse as to why it's not your fault and then keep going the way you're going.

Whenever I screw up I at least try to learn something from it! Wait, did I say "When"?

I meant "If". "If I ever screw up..."

How true that is the whole paragraph. I had a bad deal happen this week and it wasn't so much that is happens except I had no idea why it did. I couldn't even figure it out when I tore everything apart. Still bothers me.