Climber Skills Test?

tockmal

tockmal

Location
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
If you only have 1 day to test a potential new climber's skill level by having them climb a tree and do some work;

What size of tree would you have them climb?

What kind of job - pruning or removal?

What would you be looking out for in their climbing?

Thanks
 
If you already know they can climb and just need to determine their skill level - small pruning job with no chainsaw. Hand saw, pruner, pole saw.

Things to look for and by no means is this exhaustive:

Where is their TIP
Use of lanyard
How do they move through the tree - do they look nervous or comfortable (other than the "I'm being watched by my possible new boss jitters" :)
Are they safe


Before they climb, have them run through some basic knots so you know they know how to tie them.

good luck!

mk
 
Get them to demonstrate knot knowledge - very good. Maybe I'll see if they can tie a bowline behind their back.

I found a tree for them to climb, A 45ft Oak growing over a house, with no area to throw branches or logs into, they'll have to rig everything.
 
If you're not sure of his climbing skills are you going to be comfortable watching him rig oak out over a client's roof? You're one of those X-Games, Adrenaline Junkies aren't you!
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I agree with mk; handsaw, pruner, polesaw. Have him rig something over a vacant lot! And if he passes muster, by all means, stick him in the tree over the roof. You've got yourself a keeper!
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you're not sure of his climbing skills are you going to be comfortable watching him rig oak out over a client's roof? You're one of those X-Games, Adrenaline Junkies aren't you!
wink.gif



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Ha ha,

No, it's just that this guy claims to be an excellent climber and is charging £120 a day, about $250(I think), says he can do any size of tree.

I dont think an awkward rigging removal of a 40ft Oak over a roof is too much to ask as a trial run, I'll be paying him for the days work.

I don't think I'll do the knot test though, I know some great climbers who can only tie 3 knots - running bow, marlinspike and tie-ing a prussik loop!
 
I agree with the vacant lot rigging and the knots. One other thing I do with hew guys is have him go over the acesse route and work method for the tree.
I omly say this cause I had one climber say one thing and then do another throwing off the team below him. In the end the groundies where not happy and so was the window he took out in the processe.
Make sure on the hand signals too with the groundies, they are below us and have to deal with our ooopses on the ropes.
Nate
 
I would say pruning would show you more about his movement in the tree. I would also ask if he knows about call-out and response. Sometimes if you ask about accident history you get a little bit of feedback. Goodluck
 
Having been climbing for only about a year and a half and can look back I would say to climb a tall tree with a large branch spread. My reasons for this would be to see exacution of high tigh in point, proper use of redirects, limb walking out over small branches without breaking them and making the proper pruning cut, absolutly no pole saw allowed in the tree I want to see skills not climb sit and cut. Ask about knowledge of single line use. If a climber can effectivly climb a difficult tree you can bet he has rigging skills. Watch if he has to reset-up tigh in point. Talk to the climber for a couple of hours before your even hire him, I bet you will be able to tell his skills by how he talks about his abilities. If it smells like, sounds like, it probably is.
 
i'm still learning a lot, but i can say that i do all pruning and very little removals, i'm just not comfortable on spikes. So i would make sure you have a little of both for him. See how comfortable he is on the spikes def make sure he does some rigging if its needed or not, this way you can see how he how he works with the groundies, his chainsaw control. And a spready thinning without a pull saw is def good to see how he moves around the tree, and his use of the lanyard. I really don't think you can truely judge a guy in one day, maybe set up two with bunches of different skills required. Last thought i don't think you need to send him up a HUGE tree (40 is a good size not to big not to small), he's going to be nervous regardless don't make things rediculously difficult.
 
He worked out ok, climbed well and took his time to lower the limbs in a controlled manner.

£120.00 about $240.00 is a fair price for his skills, he's a hard worker and is good with clients.
 
If you have to ask, that is your first sign maybe you aren't ready to be in a top position.

I started to ask the same question once as we were paying climbers 200-250 Euro/day. I found it is not a job you can fake. It will be obvious in day one.

Other thing is that contract climber or employee, I would rather have someone with a great attitude and developing skills than great skills and a $hit attitude.

.02
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[ QUOTE ]
If you have to ask, that is your first sign maybe you aren't ready to be in a top position.

[/ QUOTE ]

Even really experienced employers get the climbing test wrong, seen it happen on a couple of occasions, guy climbs tree cuts off 2 or 3 branches, bossman says he looks good, turns out to be a erratic climber with poor client-communication skills.

[ QUOTE ]
I started to ask the same question once as we were paying climbers 200-250 Euro/day. I found it is not a job you can fake. It will be obvious in day one.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not always Nathan, you can sometimes tell a really great climber in one day, but an average climber who is developing his/her skills maybe harder to diagnose. I mean which is it when you see a climber like this? Beginner getting better or semi-pro-climber with no natural ability in treeclimbing Some climbers are phenominal removal specialists but can't prune to save themselves.

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Other thing is that contract climber or employee, I would rather have someone with a great attitude and developing skills than great skills and a $hit attitude.

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Very true.....very true.
 
thats why they have video cameras and cameras in general, i try to take as many vids and photos as i can so that when i do finally leave the guy im working for now ill have more than a lengthy portfolio to base my new pay from

you cant always trust your boss' word, they might try to screw you over just because they are bitter about you leaving, thats why you need to make sure you have actual proof that your the man for the job
 
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