Another young victim

[Mark Chisholm]

Sorry to say, but I received this email the other day from Murphy:

[ QUOTE ]
Brothers,
My log loader told me this story on Thursday.

A 23 year old bucket operator was looking below to make sure no one was underneath the bucket when he slipped and fell 15 feet landing on his head. He was conscious and talking after the fall. Shortly thereafter his head swelled up and he died on site, leaving two young children to grow up without a father....

Though it wasn't said, obviously there was no lanyard in use and of course that would have prevented even a minor injury... Just think of it... had that operator clipped in with a $40 lanyard... Can you hear the rest of the crew making fun of him over lunch, imitating his wild obscenities as he slipped out of the bucket and was dangling in the air... And how he would have told the story to his wife over dinner or in bed after making love... And how he would have remembered how much he loved his kids when he came home and gave them a big hug that night...

BUT NO... all for the lack of that 5' piece of rope and two clips... instead the crew got to watch him die, his wife got to make the funeral arrangements and bury him and his kids get to grow up without a father.... All that love lost for lack of a lanyard... All that pain and sadness and deep wounds to the soul, that will probably last for generations... ALL that for lack of a lanyard...

DON'T DO IT and don't let anyone you work with do it.... Don't get into that bucket without a lanyard... Get it in place, and use it every time...

And feel free to forward this to anyone you think could use it. Maybe if you do, this one death could serve some good in saving lives in the future.

Your tree brother,
Daniel Murphy

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[SirTreeRat]

Very sad indeed, thanks for posting it Mark.

 

[Colin]

I was in a bucket today, WITH MY LANYARD.

 

[SKNAPP]

Man that really hurts to hear news like that. Its so simple to wear safety gear. it's hard to have this happen to people you care about.

 

[Tree_Frog]

That is a waste of a life.

 

[AxeKnot]

[ QUOTE ]

A 23 year old bucket operator was looking below to make sure no one was underneath the bucket when he slipped and fell 15 feet landing on his head.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does anyone have any proper detailed information on this accident.

Cause it seems to me we are all pre judging this guy.

How do you know for sure there was no lanyard?

If he was fifteen feet up why did he need to put the whole of his upper torso over the edge of the bucket to see if anyone was there?

I think there is a lot more to this story that first meets the eye.

Dont be too quick to judge people!

Try and be a bit more responsible please.

 

[Tree_Frog]

Not sure if anyone is judging this person or accident. I believe that the concept of "failure to lanyard" is the issue. Details or not, a fall to your melon can be very damaging. The problem here is whatever the height, a $40 dollar piece of gear is worth every penny and a good laugh when you are dangling in the air.

 

[AxeKnot]

[ QUOTE ]
The problem here is whatever the height, a $40 dollar piece of gear is worth every penny and a good laugh when you are dangling in the air.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok Treefrog, I believe you.

 

[skew]

I saw a municipal worker today messing with some christmas lights with no harness. He was not a particularly smooth operator. You got to wonder what is going through that man's head: I am sure they get that [censored] drilled inti thier heads.

 

[allmark]

I recieved my TREE SERVICES magazine today. Guy on cover is cutting in the tree with only a safety lanyard. Then inside a story of a university with the prof. pulling limbs from the tree with no ppe and workers the same. I dont think I have received an issue yet without safety problems blatent.

 

[SirTreeRat]

Allmark,
Can you show the photos please? I don't get that mag.

 

[Nathan]

In Germany it is SOP to work from a bucket or lift sans fall protection. I hated that but always wore mine. Something so simple can prevent so much.

Yeah, there is only a 0.001% chance of it happening but if it happens to you, it happens 100%.

 

[Treespotter]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, there is only a 0.001% chance of it happening but if it happens to you, it happens 100%.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Daniel, Mark and Nathan. There are times that I work in a 30 foot lift and think 'nah, what can possibly go wrong'

I'll wear mine from now on every time. With the flying kiwiman as my witness. May he kick me hard in the .... if I don't do so.

 

[Mahk_Adams]

[ QUOTE ]
I recieved my TREE SERVICES magazine today. Guy on cover is cutting in the tree with only a safety lanyard. Then inside a story of a university with the prof. pulling limbs from the tree with no ppe and workers the same. I dont think I have received an issue yet without safety problems blatent.

[/ QUOTE ]

I noted those as well. Tree Services magazine has been very disappointing regarding PPE and the editor is unwilling to even consider trying to use photos that show workers who are compliant with ANSI Z133.1

The editor seems to have a very unprofessional attitude, both as an editor and as an arborist.

 

[allmark]

Ill try to scan the recent one in if I can. I have also emailed the magazine with no response.

 

[Silverback]

Mahk,
I find it hard to believe he is an arborist. Seems to me he only wants to spew forth his political views in the editors messege each issue. And you are correct in your cooments that each issue has some disconcerting photo in it someplace.
Be safe,
Bruce

 

[allmark]

Here is the requirements to be a cover photo directly from their web page. Notice requirement 6.


" All you need is the right photo, and you can be featured on the cover of Tree Services — and it's FREE!

The Right Photo

1. Most important: This is a photo of a professional end-user or users doing a job. It just so happens to have your product in use. If the photo is stagnant with your product out front & center, it won’t work.

2. Whatever the equipment is we want action, action, action!

3. Don’t use people who look like models. Use people who look like our readers.

4. The magazine is tall. Make the photo vertical, so it fits our format.

5. Try to leave the top of the shot uncluttered, so we can fit in the logo.

6. Be sure operators are using proper safety gear.




Digital Images

1. A “jpeg” won’t work. It will work for us to review the photo via e-mail. That’s great. But a workable digital image should be 300 d.p.i. resolution and as large as possible (approximately 2500 pixels wide x 3000 pixels tall). If your digital camera can’t save a photo at high resolution, use a standard camera and a couple of rolls of slide film.

Questions?

Call or e-mail Jim Kendrick, David Cassidy or Bob Montgomery.We can all be reached at 800-422-7147."

 

[allmark]

heres a pic of this months cover. It could be a full length rope hanging out of the micro cender but it is hard to tell

 

[chris_girard]

I agree. I think he does have 2 tie in points, but it is hard to see.

 

[Toparboring]

That is sad news indeed, up on the campus we have a srtict code that any and all work done to a tree you have to be tied in and with buckets all laynards hooked up. If we do not fallow this we and othe rcomp. are fined like you would not believe. As was said earlier it costs so little to make sure we do not die and some jusy do not get it. For some guys i over heard it is easy money y wory about it. After my eyes came back into my sockets i wondered what part of tree work is easy, is that not why we are called proffesionals..