Bucket Truck Boom Failure

[Reach]

Our local news put this article on their website this evening, even though it is nowhere near us. From what I can see in the video, and the photos on the GoFundMe, the boom that failed is an old utility bucket, and based on the lack of any hint of PPE, I would be surprised if the bucket had a current boom inspection.

If nothing else, this should serve as a lesson to all of us and a reminder of how important it is to keep up with recommended maintenance and annual inspections on the machines we use to hold us up in the air.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Tree trimmers survive 45-foot fall after cable snaps during job

‘We heard a snap’: A terrifying video shows two Oklahoma tree trimmers falling 45 feet when a cable snapped on the job.

www.wgal.com

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Our local news put this article on their website this evening, even though it is nowhere near us. From what I can see in the video, and the photos on the GoFundMe, the boom that failed is an old utility bucket, and based on the lack of any hint of PPE, I would be surprised if the bucket had a current boom inspection.

If nothing else, this should serve as a lesson to all of us and a reminder of how important it is to keep up with recommended maintenance and annual inspections on the machines we use to hold us up in the air.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Tree trimmers survive 45-foot fall after cable snaps during job

‘We heard a snap’: A terrifying video shows two Oklahoma tree trimmers falling 45 feet when a cable snapped on the job.

www.wgal.com

Yay, work comp rates increase again. Toothless Timmy did well.

Prayers to the guys involved, sad when it happens. Like you said though, maintenance risk is real.

 

[Reach]

Yay, work comp rates increase again. Toothless Timmy did well.

Prayers to the guys involved, sad when it happens. Like you said though, maintenance risk is real.

I suspect that those guys didn't have work comp, but maybe I will be surprised. Still though, that nonsense makes the whole industry look riskier.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

I suspect that those guys didn't have work comp, but maybe I will be surprised. Still though, that nonsense makes the whole industry look riskier.

Don't all incedents in the industry, regardless of insurance coverage, affect the statistical likelihood of incident and drive up industry averages as a whole? I've never formally asked this question.

 

[Reach]

Don't all incedents in the industry, regardless of insurance coverage, affect the statistical likelihood of incident and drive up industry averages as a whole? I've never formally asked this question.

I suspect they do, I can't say with certainty but it seems likely to me.

 

[Analog]

Of course we can never count on the news getting the minutiae of our job right, so some things stood out.

What was that cable choked around the tree for? Some kind of redneck rigging?
I'm assuming the cable pictured in the tree had nothing to do with the incident.
What kind of work do two guys do in a bucket?
Hopefully, that's not a "trim" job.
Hopefully the guys make a full recovery and learn something from this incident.
Hopefully the homeowner is aware of how this could've gone better...

 

[VenasNursery]

Of course we can never count on the news getting the minutiae of our job right, so some things stood out.

What was that cable choked around the tree for? Some kind of redneck rigging?
I'm assuming the cable pictured in the tree had nothing to do with the incident.
What kind of work do two guys do in a bucket?
Hopefully, that's not a "trim" job.
Hopefully the guys make a full recovery and learn something from this incident.
Hopefully the homeowner is aware of how this could've gone better...

I am sure he was the best price out there and the first to get to it.

 

[ATH]

Of course we can never count on the news getting the minutiae of our job right, so some things stood out.

What was that cable choked around the tree for? Some kind of redneck rigging?
I'm assuming the cable pictured in the tree had nothing to do with the incident.
What kind of work do two guys do in a bucket?
Hopefully, that's not a "trim" job.
Hopefully the guys make a full recovery and learn something from this incident.
Hopefully the homeowner is aware of how this could've gone better...

I wondered that same thing about the cable choked around the tree with 0:25 left.

Also, hoping that isn't a "trim" job! The article said they were about done "trimming down" the tree. I'm guessing (hoping!) for a removal - meaning they were almost done in the bucket and ready to fell the tree.

Curious, anybody use 2-man lift? With 2 separate buckets? I've seen the utility using them to work on poles and equipment, but haven't seen one in tree service. (2-man buckets, yes, but not the 2 separate bucket setup for trees...)

 

[Reach]

I wondered that same thing about the cable choked around the tree with 0:25 left.

Also, hoping that isn't a "trim" job! The article said they were about done "trimming down" the tree. I'm guessing (hoping!) for a removal - meaning they were almost done in the bucket and ready to fell the tree.

Curious, anybody use 2-man lift? With 2 separate buckets? I've seen the utility using them to work on poles and equipment, but haven't seen one in tree service. (2-man buckets, yes, but not the 2 separate bucket setup for trees...)

When we bought our lift, one of the first things we did was take off the two man basket and put on a single man bucket. I would never want to use a bucket like that in a tree. Not enough reach, and too many buckets to fight through the tree all the time.

 

[27RMT0N]

Two man buckets are useful for utility workers in a lot of situations, and you see power companies running them all the time. Basically the only reason a tree service would ever use one is because they bought an old utility bucket truck for cheap cheap. As we can see in this instance.

 

[Reach]

Two man buckets are useful for utility workers in a lot of situations, and you see power companies running them all the time. Basically the only reason a tree service would ever use one is because they bought an old utility bucket truck for cheap cheap. As we can see in this instance.

I agree. For a power company, a two bucket, load handling boom is great! For a tree service, it is really cheap because the power company sells them when they're worn out. And this clearly shows what happens when you trust a worn out, poorly maintained machine with your life. Why were there two men in the air anyway? No need for that in trees either!

 

[Bart_]

A week or so back I saw some guys with a shiny new thru-36"-gate tracked lift that had a 2 man bucket. Can't remember the brand. 72 foot

 

[TCtreeswinger]

First big company i worked for had 2- 2 man buckets. 1 guy cuts 1 guy throws into a neat pile for clam truck or loader to pick up. In the right scenario you could tear through a removal.

 

[Reach]

A week or so back I saw some guys with a shiny new thru-36"-gate tracked lift that had a 2 man bucket. Can't remember the brand. 72 foot

A lot of them come that way, our CMC came with a two man basket, but it also came with a one man fiberglass bucket and had an option for a one man basket. CMC makes a 72, if it was red that's probably what it was.

 

[Reach]

First big company i worked for had 2- 2 man buckets. 1 guy cuts 1 guy throws into a neat pile for clam truck or loader to pick up. In the right scenario you could tear through a removal.

I know companies that do that, but ask OSHA what they think about that technique.

 

[Muggs]

ask OSHA what they think about that technique.

Do tell, please.

 

[Reach]

Do tell, please.

There was a discussion about that on here years ago, I don't remember if someone had a citation from an OSHA guideline, but I remember the two big problems being somebody operating a chainsaw very close to another person, in a very confined space, and of course the risk of injury from all of the pieces the catching person is supposed to be handling in the air.

An excerpt from an OSHA accident report I found says: "ANSI Z133-2017 specifically states that aerial devices shall not be used as cranes or hoists to lift, support, or lower tree parts unless where designed by the manufacturer to do so" and the article says that supporting a tree limb with the bucket violates this standard. Seems reasonable that having someone else in the bucket holding and throwing pieces could be considered a violation.

Also, what about the requirement that no other person besides the cutter is allowed within the cutting area? I know that applies to felling, but I think it also applies any other cutting where something could fall down?

 

[VenasNursery]

First big company i worked for had 2- 2 man buckets. 1 guy cuts 1 guy throws into a neat pile for clam truck or loader to pick up. In the right scenario you could tear through a removal.

I know companies that do that, but ask OSHA what they think about that technique.

It’s a accident waiting to happen wtf

 

[ATH]

....

An excerpt from an OSHA accident report I found says: "ANSI Z133-2017 specifically states that aerial devices shall not be used as cranes or hoists to lift, support, or lower tree parts unless where designed by the manufacturer to do so" and the article says that supporting a tree limb with the bucket violates this standard. Seems reasonable that having someone else in the bucket holding and throwing pieces could be considered a violation.
....

Ignoring, for a moment, the 2 person aspect of this do people not throw pieces down while working in a bucket/lift? I have only used one a handful of times, but I'll throw little branches. Is that a no-no? (obviously bigger branches that add significant weight are a bad plan...or even medium branches adding a dynamic load of you cut/hold them wrong).

 

[Reach]

Ignoring, for a moment, the 2 person aspect of this do people not throw pieces down while working in a bucket/lift? I have only used one a handful of times, but I'll throw little branches. Is that a no-no? (obviously bigger branches that add significant weight are a bad plan...or even medium branches adding a dynamic load of you cut/hold them wrong).

People do it, I have certainly done it myself as well. I think that throwing little branches by yourself is not bad, but holding and throwing bigger branches is a bad idea. If for no other reason, it is very hard on the wrist to catch big branches all day.