contracter dropped tree on a house.

theXman

theXman

Branched out member
Location
MD, USA
This week, in my working area, a contractor (an excavating company I believe) attempted to cut down a large oak tree.

tree fell across the house instead.

grandmother and two or three kids inside.

hit by flying debris.

even from the arial video, it looks to me that I can see the hingewood/holding wood was cut off opposite side from the house, leading to the hinge failure.

House was condemed by the county later that same day.

On the subject of this tree;

A friend of ours owns/runs a sawmill. This property owner had him come out and hoped he would cut it down just for the logs in the tree. He said no way, it can't be just cut down. He said, but you can have my son give you a price on it, he can put a rope in it and fell it safely. I think the son gave them a price.

I think they decided to go with "super cheap" instead.

A contracter already working on the propery must have said, sure, I'll drop that big ol' thing.

If this link just takes you to the news website, look for the top stories this week. then, there's another version of a tree expert talking too.

link to see video
 
yup, the link works, just wait for the short advertisement to stop and the tree on house video will start.
 
I love the neighbors attitude. "That's part of the risk you take living with trees that close to the house." As if it wasn't preventable. An "Act of God" or something.
 
yeah, another news station that I saw said, "a contractor was cutting a tree when all of a sudden it fell and crushed a house".

-again, like an act of God, or it just had a mind of it's own and decided to fall on the house, there was nothing you could do!
 
I love the newcaster's dramatic flare.... "the tree is so large you can hardly see the house!"... "when the 80' giant fell".

The hinge appears to be 90 degrees from the actual fall... definitely gives it the taste of a cut through hinge.

That's too bad about the kids, they'll be freaked out by big trees for a long time.

The more I read this forum, the more I think homeowners need real education about tree care.

I wish we had licensing for tree removal in NC.
 
People should never be within the possible drop zone....even if they are in a house!

I've never dropped a tree on a house but I have asked people to come outside and stand outside of the drop zone and watch the tree felling. Boy does that request get a response!....mostly one of doubting skills! I explain that in the one in a thousand chance of the tree going the wrong way......that having a person in that danger zone is a chance not worth taking.

I bet the treatment of those victims will cost more than the house is worth and that is not counting the law suits that are sure to come.
 
yeah.

that guys self employment life is over,I would think.

i heard that lots of tree companies flocked to the site that day to see what happened and who did it.

someone asked me if i wanted to go, i said that i had a busy day of removals myself and didn't have time, plus, i wouldn't want to risk our business name having any connection to that job. you never know, they might show the story on the news, then their is your company name in the background on a truck.

most of them tried to get their face in front of the news cameras. looks like they picked that one tree expert to be shown on that other video.

i think it was poor taste to run to the accident site.

like vultures coming to a recent kill, all smiling and grinnin'.
 
A few months ago a climber had an accident where the top of the tree went through the roof , into the second floor . I wasn't there but heard about the close call for the people in the house . I've done so many big jobs and there is usually a set of eyeballs looking out some window . Does anyone ever ask people to leave the house while they drop the tree or craning logs over the house ?
On another note , if your running to an accident site for any other reason but to help , you got serious issues.
 
"The more I read this forum, the more I think homeowners need real education about tree care.

I wish we had licensing for tree removal in NC."


Ditto, ditto, ditto... Let's start doing it, not just saying it.

Riggs, yes I routinely evac all structures whenever heavy rigging or felling is going on. Even the neighbors. Like TreeCo said, they usually doubt your skill or confidence, but then after you did a great job with no damage they really seem to appreciate the added safety measure.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Like TreeCo said, they usually doubt your skill or confidence,

[/ QUOTE ]

That's my problem with it.

Hmmm. if there was an osha law or something that said no person can be under a load, or ..... Heck, we are at the moment; considered loggers again right? any person has to be like 2 and 1/2 tree lengths from the felling tree or parts over like 10 feet long or something?

What I'm saying is, it would be nice to "blame" the reason on some law or say that our insurance requires that no one be under a load or near an operation and that even means in the house. That way they don't think you are doubting yourself.
 
Another story to add to the many for "Why hire an Arborist" discussion with clients. Just plain dumb.


Tom, do you know which reg that is? If you're quoting from OSHA it looks like your adhering to the law not worried about your ability to do your job. Just make sure your adhering to the others as well!
 
I'm not that familiar with chapter and verse in OSHA. I read the reg at one time with another arbo. We had a long talk about how difficult that would be for arbos to adhere to.

Getting people to abide by this when common practice is to not be concerned is another of a long list of issues that could be addressed. Like:

helmets and safety glasses
traffic control
stay out of drop zone
one handed chainsaw use
two tie in points
routine training

You get it...

Have I stood under a load? Of course, but when I can I stay away or use tag lines to pull limbs/logs away while they're being lowered.
 
here is one rule that might cover it.

ANSI Z133.1
"8.4.13 Only qualified arborists or qualified arborist trainees directly involved in the operation shall be permitted in the work zone when a load is being suspended by the rigging system."

This is in the section on rigging, but I believe it would apply. I also believe that the entire radius of the cranes boom can be considered the "work zone".
 
[ QUOTE ]


ANSI Z133.1
"8.4.13 Only qualified arborists or qualified arborist trainees directly involved in the operation shall be permitted in the work zone when a load is being suspended by the rigging system."



[/ QUOTE ]

that's cool though, i will use that. thanks.

customers don't know what ansi is, I think i'll use it.
 
My bad , i didn't read your post . People in the house who are in the drop zone should be let known the dangers involved . In the case I was referring to , the client was at his computer desk on the second floor and stood up and touched the limb that went threw his house . He came out with a bottle of scotch and said it was the closest to death he ever faced . If you are taking a 130 ft. poplar over a house down with ropes and it is right next to the house , go away for the day . I 've done alot of huge removals , but one hand chain saw and tie in twice are personal safety issues , a house and a life are a step above . Taking a hundred plus tree down over your house , get out for the day . Right ? We don't have insurance because we are perfect , do we ?
 
Your right Riggs however, I find it ironic that you refer to insurance and one-handing and 2 tips in the same post without seeing the connection. We have insurance to cover the homeowner and ourselves. If we wish to keep that rate at a reasonable amount considering the inherent risks involved in our work then nothing we do on the job is a "personal safety issue". All the accidents and fatalities we read about in "Awakenings" impact directly on this matter. Had they taken into account this concept then many of them would be here and still working AND our insurance rates would be less affected. No different than this contractor doing the same and leaving this work to the "professionals".

I'll get off my soapbox now.....
 
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