Butt attack.
- Thread starter Drewtree
- Start date
TimBr
Official Well Known Greeter
- Location
- Northern Virginia
I see. One other climber on this forum (@southsoundtree) requires his groundies to repeat his instructions back to him, in an attempt to be certain that they're listening, and have processed and understood the climber's instructions. I don't know if it seems to make a difference in how things go for him, or not. Might be worth a try, though. Call and response, I think he calls it.
Tim
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Steve Connally
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Suffolk, Virginia
i ragged my groundies up and down today about their attention to detail. They suck. It was really quite in the truck afterwards but they actually stepped up their game today.
See, I broke one of my cardinal rules. I was in a rush because my wife had a doctors appointment in the afternoon so I had to get the removal done ASAP to get home and watch the babies.. Rigged some pieces bigger than I would have, and put too much faith in the groundie.
Not blaming him, I clearly take responsibility in my original post.
TimBr
Official Well Known Greeter
- Location
- Northern Virginia
@Drewtree; I, for one, appreciate your openness in sharing this story. It helps us all to remember to try to work safely. Getting in a hurry is one of the classic ways to end up hurting yourself; I'm betting just about everyone has done this in one way or another, to one degree or another.
The key is to try to figure out what kind of thought process can help us to prevent a similar type of incident in the future. Thanks again for raising the issue.
Tim
The key is to try to figure out what kind of thought process can help us to prevent a similar type of incident in the future. Thanks again for raising the issue.
Tim
Yes, on many jobs Monday starts with the boss yelling, "lets get moving we are already behind and losing money".
Unfortunately it seems tree workers often want rules made just for them, whereas safety is about so much more than the specifics of working on rope.
When we look at the current situation we can easily blame two new workers together, incorrect friction handling, incorrect rigging and cutting, etc. but as TimBr points out thought process is important. This is why every job needs a hazard/risk analysis and mitigation thought out and planned out, not just simple formulaic response. The acknowledgement of time constraint may have led to different work techniques.
The acknowledgement of time constraints did happen, and it definitely led to different work techniques! Hah.
Really in this case it was simple..
. I was on a contract climb removing for another company
. I was aware of a need to finish by a certain time, a time not impossible or unreasonable (HAD I been using one of my own experienced grounds men) but much sooner than I would have given the circumstances.
Circumstances : lots of targets, small backyard, comm cables flanking the yard to the house and the neighbours, first time working with this groundsman and although there was a lead up to this moment where I was testing his ability with larger pieces and he was displaying competency, I didn't expect his point of failure to be so low.
I agree though, production work is fraught with time constraints and pressure, it's enough to kill a man.. and it often does just that.
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I have a tailboard meeting at the start of every one of my jobs regardless of if I'm climbing for myself or anyone else. The tailboard is a thorough and complete list of all objective hazards in the work zone as well as risks associated and consequences, as well as what to do if something serious goes wrong.
The reason I work only for myself is simple logic...I call the shots...I am the climber...my babies and wife need a dad and husband...so I make sure I do everything in my power to ensure this....climb safe Andrew...lesson learned....keep climbing...don't let the contract climbing dictate how you do things...know when to go big...know when to hold back....
treehumper
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ridgefield, NJ
There was a book written about this type of thing. It's called The Right Mountain. You have to be on the right mountain in your head and mind or people will get hurt even die. While you were in the right tree your head was elsewhere with your own groundies. This book's lessons really stuck with me. Good read.
Daniel
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Suburban Philadelphia (Wayne)
at least get some radio helmet comm systems ... I find that even a rookie can follow intstructions on them... SO MUCH better than yelling
Daniel
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Suburban Philadelphia (Wayne)
That's the human factor.... a good lesson for all... maybe late starts should be considered a safety factor..
thanks for sharing...
treehumper
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Ridgefield, NJ
Absolutely! A late start can be the first domino to fall leading to a rush to get all the work scheduled done regardless of prevailing conditions. What caused the late start? Does it impact on worker effectiveness? Has it created a preoccupation for anyone or all that isn't job related? Can we reasonably shift the scheduled work into later hours of the day, weather, daylight, traffic, ability of crew to work later, client requirements taken into account? Can we substitute part of the scheduled work for other jobs that will better fit into the time available?
Why create a potential hazard? Would we walk onto a job and say, "This just isn't risky enough, let's park the truck under the tree or move the clients expensive lawn furniture into the drop zone". Time factors are as much of a hazard if not more so. Mitigate it.
Usually when I get a late start do to weather, or a mechanical failure .... whatever the case may be .... I still present myself to the job site and get my feet wet. Even if I just go there to preset equipment. It helps keep my schedule from getting totally fubared and lets the customer know I am committed to take care of their needs.
Not to be over critical, but it sounds like you could have anticipated that, shifted your work position, and released your spike. Could have happened to me in the hurry up offense so I appreciate your reminder. I'll be more alert in the new year. And that's a great looking bruise, you sexy mofo, lol.
boreality
New member
- Location
- boreal forest
That's an important thing to know in all communications but espescially with tag team work. During one of my educations we did a popular exercise and our minds were blown. Take 5 students out of the room. Tell one student still in the class a simple story. For example "Jane gave Sam a blue pen". Then bring in the students in the hall one at a time and have them relay the info to the next. By the third info transfer Janice was giving Bob a yellow pen. The facts deteriated from there. If each had repeated and confirmed to the prior it would of stayed accurate.
