Do you always wear your helmet?

macrocarpa

macrocarpa

Branched out member
Location
Midwest
I’ve always taken pride in wearing PPE. I think most of us do it, as we drive by a tree service thats not wearing helmets it’s easy to label them as hacks/unprofessional. And for the most part, we’re probably right. But at age 45 and currently doing municipal Street tree contracts pruning endless 10”-12 dbh trees from the ground removing small branches, I think about that added helmet weight on the neck vertebrae looking up all day. My wife being a physical therapist talks all the time about how damaging “lever arm” weight is. If there’s one thing I would say to younger arborists it would be to learn how to take care of your spine at an early age!

That said, at what point do you not wear your helmet or do you always based on safety culture principles?

My dad coming from a construction background and who works with me from time to time says “just use common sense”.
 
I have all three of those helmets and with the ear muffs and visor, the Strato is the lightest. I’ll have to double check that though.
 
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Nearly always wear mine. Only times I don't are when I'm doing more landscaping type things (raking/clean up, hedges, planting).

I try to avoid looking up as much as possible and loathe pole saws.

Doing what your describing where it's mostly twigs I likely normally would wear one, but being a municipal contract and in constant view of the public I absolutely would.
 
I like your dad’s philosophy. Common sense just makes sense. I wear a helmet quite a bit but I look forward to taking it off, especially with these hot summer days. Can’t wait “hat time.” I almost never wear a helmet went tossing a throwball and setting lines. Although I did the other day and took a decent stick right on top on the ole brain bucket. Would have hurt with a hat on. Whenever that happens, I’ll turn to whoever I’m working with and say, “and that’s why we wear helmets!” I’ll throw on the helmet for the muffs when I have to chip, even if just for moment. I’ve figured I’ll try to save all the hearing I’ve managed not to lose.
 
I am always looking for opportunities to get a little break from the helmet, but if I am streetside, working over head, then it's just what it is. This too shall pass. You probably dont have to wear saw protection, right? At least there's that. Look down and move your head into different positions as much as possible. Motion is Lotion!
 
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I come from a background of large multinational process/ chemical industry. Big, Big Boo-boo's. HH, eye pro and boots all the time. Period. I wear a Strato vent in hot weather with tinted visor - 415 grams so pretty light and CSA/ANSI/whatever ticketed for the PPE police. But there are lighter, maybe just without certs - say something like the Grivel Duetto - these are mountaineering helmets coming in at 215 grams - there are others, suitable for rockfall from above which even if they don't have the right approvals/ certifications - it's a matter of what the guy'll wear. Some of the mountaineering type helmets are insanely light now. Sorta like respirators - if they absolutely won't wear a full face mask respirator then a half mask may be a compromise - as long as there's a good reason given to the say, refinery manager, that's more than just "I don't wanna . . " Look down, shuffle, shuffle - sorry guy. Lump it. My two cents.

Addenda: Wanted to say this maybe too - couple of years ago watched, on a hot summer day, a couple of guys take down a tree in one of our neighbour's yards - Oh yeah, they had all the Partnerships in Safety stickers on their trucks, Walk around your truck stickers etc. but were out there falling/ chain sawing away in the afternoon in shorts, runners no HH or eye/ear pro or chainsaw pants. This is what we used to call faux safety - just auditing BS to get on the contractors list somewhere and then whatever yaaahooo until they get caught. We woulda thrown them offsite pronto. Still is a bush/ cowboy industry out there I guess. Sigh
 
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I wear one all the time when there is any potential of hazards from above. I wore a sun hat the other day because it was just raking and moving raking piles with the mini in full sun 100% humidity and 88*, but no overhead hazards.
 
Before I start working, the helmet is on, and stays on other than lunch and raking/blowing at the very end of the day. Honestly I feel kind of naked without it and have had multiple customers mention they were glad to see I was good with PPE, which always helps the reputation.
 
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