Chipper grabbed my climbing rope

That was one of the first thing I learned when I started tree work always be careful of the climbers rope so he dont get pulled out of the tree so when there is a new person doing tree work with us that is one of the first things I tell them I am always watching their ropes. One of our climbers uses his bag to keep the rope in but the other two dont. If someone new starts my boss most of the time puts that person with me for the first day cause he knows that I am the one that goes over everything that could go wrong. I feel like alot of people dont know how dangerous tree work is and it is important for me to explain all the wrongs that could happen so hopefully it sticks and they are not standing there not knowing what to do
 
K.S.,
Good to hear no one got hurt, just your wallets.

Be careful with that winch, its definately a back saver, but when that hook and cable get sucked in its a really bad thing.
 
Been months since I viewed the forums, logged on and check the posts, this one caught my eye. Most certainly because I have seen my rope get caught in the ground operations and headed for the chipper too. Sick feeling thinking about it. I do carry a knife in a pouch with me all the time. And I have pulled it out and been ready to use it.

Seldom anymore do I even let my rope hang below me. I keep it coiled up, and close, and well above anything I cut lose that could snag it, let alone the ground operations being the factor.

Even at that the ground operations still have strong influence on my feelings of well being, at times: Like once when I was about to traverse into a large tree from a smaller one. The Cat skinner working below me was digging in the immediate area (within feet) and one bump of that machine could have snapped the tree I was in. Sick feeling,,, again.

Climbing trees adjacent to falling operations with tops whizing by has always been another work situation that leaves me uncomfortable with the ground operations.

No matter to them, they tell me, "You're OK, Jer. Don't worry, we're not going to bump into your tree or hit you with a top. Even with their reassurance I've never been totally comfortable with any of that.

I recall during my line clearance days doing a side trim, 12 KV about 5 feet away, bucket operater down the line cutting tops. Next time I looked the wire was just inches from my face and the bucket operator was moving away from a top he cut astray, and it was on fire. That was a close one.

Yeah, even beng well down the line and above everything happening below those guys can still have a strong effect on your well being.

It's enough you have to think about what you're doing, let alone those below you, or down the line, but you must!!!

Jerry B
 
Good to see you Jer!

It is always a bit nerve racking to see other work going around you and trust that it doesn't effect you. It can be quite scary at times. Without wondering, you might not be prepared for the one timne that could impact you, so keep wondering I say.
 
Is that a Birthday cake I see?
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Another "lap" around the track of life.
 
I know how you guys feel about your lines getting tangled up in the ground operations. One thing that I have done in the past when I've had alot of limbs to cut out of the tree and I knew the ground help would have a hard time keeping up and that there would be brush all over my climbing line bag was to tie it with a dead-eye sling about chest high in the tree that I was climbing. Keeps all the brush off it.

Hey Jer glad to see you back on the Buzz. As always your stories and insight are helpful to us all. Love hearing them. Keep posting.

Chris
 
[ QUOTE ]
Trust me, the chipper didn't grab your rope.

[/ QUOTE ]

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i guess the rope just magically morphed into the chipper and shredded itself then???????????

sorry but when a rope enters the chipper chute (ie after being snagged on a treelimb, the chipper DOES ACTUALLY GRAB THE ROPE and pulls it in, JUST LIKE branches, logs, human limbs.

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Chippers will chip anything that is placed in contact with the infeed wheels and/or cutting knives; branches, ropes, flesh, etc.
 
In the first month of my career in '91 I was running a quickfeed chipper with almost no training. I was taught to chip as fast as I could...so I did. Russell was working a lowering line on the ground for a bucket truck operator and set the coiled portion of his line into my pile of brush...then unknowingly stepped into the whole coil. I fed a portion of the line through and it grabbed Russell. It tore into his legs and spun him so violently his clothes were flying off. He landed with his feet on the infeed chute right when the knives cut the rope and stopped feeding it in. I've been a freak about line safety ever since. I think I've shared that story here before but anyway Russell recovered and I still have a career. Whiz
 
We got the chipper back from the mechanic a week or two ago. Both bearings were destroyed and the housing around the wheel was pretty out of whack. All it took was $350 for bearings and about $550 to the mechanic to get the 1230 back in the game. Oh well. Its only money, and on the bright side, I didn't die!
 
this is why i carry a very sharp serrated blade in case of this ever happening, to cut the rope. Did a day job with a guy and he kept a razor sharp axe, spraypainted blaze orange by the infeed chute. not a bad idea!
 
I would disengage the roller feeds before I grabbed an axe. Good for chuck and ducks, I guess.
 
If the rope has aready made it past the rollers, stopping them won't help. The rope will still be winding around inside the housing. I'd want an axe or a knife.

Hey Cory, I'm glad it didn't cost as much as you thought it was going to. Let's not do it again,LOL.

Whiz, you never told me that story before, and you make fun of my groundies. We were all green at one time.
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