Better warning signs

boreality

boreality

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boreal forest
I had a lame post last winter about how to run off spectators. I work in a resort area where privacy rules are alot more open than in towns. Neighbors come from down the road and have a picnic under the tree your in just for something to do. With the constant how tall is that tree questions.
So I ended up just saying the cameras are distracting and I can't answer questions from a tree top. They all go away grumbling but they go away. I know the best thing for some climbers would be juggling chain saws for a large crowd but not me.
I've achieved the room I wanted but it can't be helping my rep. For the last how you gunna get that tree down guy I clapped my hands finally right in his face and said we had to get to work after he crashed through the bush to lean on my collapsing tree. Maybe a new sign. Like "Tree Workers Rude when Working" or "Move Along There Won't Any Action Worth Youtubing Here". I'd think there could be a nice effective sign other than "Danger Stay Back" which is a lure to some anyway. Maybe "Tree Work takes Concentration and Crew Communication. Please respect and move along." Anyone got something better?
 
Maybe you just need to chill a bit B. You might get more customers
with honey than being a grouch. Just saying.
One time I had a father/son redneck roofing company set up their
lawn chairs across the street from me. They tried to talk my ear off
while I was climbing. I just try to be polite, after a while just focus
on the work and they eventually shut up.
Everyone is a potential client. Keep cool, try not to throw branches at people. ; P
 
Caution tape/cone off your work area. Anyone that tries to pass under... "Excuse me Mr/Mrs, it is a liability to have you in my work area, I have to ask you politely to stay out. Any questions can be answered after we finish, as the job we do is not only physically demanding, but mentally too. It is not only for my safety, but yours too. Thank you"
You don't have to be rude, just direct and authoritative.
 
Well Bo I think you need to check yourself before you start talking.
A retired farmer wanders into your work zone because he's bored or lonely or both. Look at the person and see them for who/what they are. They've wandered over because they are curious about what you do.
I suggest you recognize how different and unique your work and methods are. Smile and agree that this scene is not something they see every day and still smiling let them know that you need to get to work and they need to keep a safe distance if they want to watch. Recognize that your anger comes from your fear that they could get seriously hurt. Express your concern for their safety in a honest way and they will hear you. This takes very little time usually less than two minutes. Any subsequent people will follow the behaviour of the first and keep back.
 
Interesting thread.

There are times when all the signage in the world just doesn't cut the mustard, and actual physical intervention by your groundies is a must to keep pedestrians who lift your tapes and try to walk underneath your tree, from being killed or injured.

There have been two such occasions on my crew while working in San Diego's Balboa Park down town, where I made it quite clear to my ground crew that should any pedestrian ignore our signage and lift our caution tapes, they must physically stop them at all costs. On two separate occasions it was actual physical intervention that saved a stubborn old lady and a drugged out young punk from death or crippling injury. The young punk had to be tackled and subdued, then physically carried out of the work area by my crew.

Working in high pedestrian trafficked areas like parks and airports is a nightmare at times, and signage and tape are woefully inadequate to keep pedestrians safe from their stupidity. Indeed it is wise to add a couple of groundies whose only job is to keep pedestrians out of your work area, even if they have to tackle them and haul them out screaming and kicking.

Both the occasions I've mentioned would have gone very badly had my groundmen not been on their toes and followed my instructions to them to the letter.

Yu gotta do what yu gotta do sometimes to prevent pedestrians from getting killed ot injured on YOUR job folks....seriously.

jomoco
 
They are more trouble to transport than a roll of caution tape, but traffic barriers get much more respect from the public. http://www.chdist.com/browse/popular/traffic-barrier

But the best public repulsion strategy I've experienced was by accident.

We were chipping up a London Plane, so we donned our dust masks. All of a sudden, pedestrian traffic was voluntarily detouring across the street, no one wanted to be near the perceived "health hazard".

Northwind
 
It's been a busy season and I need to get as many cheques as I can before the snow flys. Free onsite seminars for retired farmers offered again in spring.
 
Maybe start charging for those onsite seminars Bo?
wink.gif
 
We had a job site in in a city enviro office area.
We had to park our truck and chipper not very close to the trees becuase it was not good for the site.
These office people would come out at lunch and have lunch in a nice tree area.
While we worked on their trees we shut down that tree'd area, no worries,the office folk just had to find somewhere else to sit an enjoy there outdoor enviro lunch.
It was much to our surprise that a group of office workers found a nice enviro place to sit that consisted of stacked logs 5 meters behind our chipper and surrounded in foliage.
There were that many signs and cones and prior warning at affect that it was hard to believe...
THESE OFFICE PEOPLE WERE SITTING ON OUR CHIP PILE NONCHALONTLEY THINKING IT WAS AN ENVIRO SETTING......
 
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Well Bo I think you need to check yourself before you start talking.
A retired farmer wanders into your work zone because he's bored or lonely or both. Look at the person and see them for who/what they are. They've wandered over because they are curious about what you do.
I suggest you recognize how different and unique your work and methods are. Smile and agree that this scene is not something they see every day and still smiling let them know that you need to get to work and they need to keep a safe distance if they want to watch. Recognize that your anger comes from your fear that they could get seriously hurt. Express your concern for their safety in a honest way and they will hear you. This takes very little time usually less than two minutes. Any subsequent people will follow the behaviour of the first and keep back.

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Very well put.
The only thing I have done differently on job sites where public safety was at premium, is hire local police to assist with vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Sometimes it's the only alternative and it could be mandatory, depending on borough ordinances and so on. Anyway these are the jobs, at the time of the estimate you know will be a pain in turms of your potential audience. So plan well and factor in for your estimate accordingly.
At the end of the day though fellas, your businesses professionalism and respect towards everyone you come in contact with will earn you well deserved respect, and even better, new clients who know and appreciate quality work.
Above all, safety first guys and God Bless All!
 
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Yep pretty much Bo... leaving the saw idle at hip with ear plugs in and dark glasses on can help too.
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]Yes
I will just ignore/ pretend I do not hear the anoying folks. Like the lady in the trailer park last week when a piece bounced And whacked the side of my bucket truck. She screamed something dumb cause she just could not contain herself. I pretended nothing happened and I did not hear her.

I'm a performer and I feed off an audience. I feel more productive and safe knowing people are being criticle of my actions. "Wow that guy is good" just makes my day.
The guys I know that do not like spectators are actually insecure about performing and Are scared of having a YouTube moment.
Fear leads to anger, anger leads to the dark side! Ummm!
Maybe you are actually angry you can not control your work zone and you project your self chosen anger onto the innocent bystander?
Just saying, anger is chosen from within.
 
Firm and fair, an angry guy in a tree would be a better show. I can tell what people want from the way they approach and their first comments. I still like the could you take a look at my tree walkups. Or I'll leave my number with your helper types.

Maybe I need to clarify. I'm in the tree, every movement leads to the next efficiently, my ground worker needs little instruction and the tree is coming down smoothly. The goal, to get to the raking sawdust part and get paid with a customer who just recieved better quality work and better results than from any other source around here. Then some let's say retired farmer walks up and yells "don't fall yuck yuck yuck". You can't tell me getting rid of that guy and his stupid comments asap isn't a valuable and productive skill.

I focus in on the task and to complete it with no one hurt and no property damage. If they were genuinely curious or taking photos for a keepsake, great. Is that what they are up to.?
 
It doesn't matter what they are up to. What really matters is what you are up to. It's your job site and how you control it is your choice.
 
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