Do you always wear your helmet?

[ATH]

Asking the Z committee for a definition would be a good idea.

I had a rather nebulous definition that I used. Not worthtyping out

Got a reply from the Z Committee.

The answer:
When you read 3.3.1 it says (underline added for focus) “Personal protective equipment (PPE), as outlined in this section, shall be required when there is a reasonable probability of injury or illness that can be prevented by such protection.” So there needs to be a hazard (or a risk) along with the ability of the PPE to provide protection.

 

[evo]

Got a reply from the Z Committee.

The answer:
When you read 3.3.1 it says (underline added for focus) “Personal protective equipment (PPE), as outlined in this section, shall be required when there is a reasonable probability of injury or illness that can be prevented by such protection.” So there needs to be a hazard (or a risk) along with the ability of the PPE to provide protection.

So if you get clocked in the head by something without a hat, you must prove that there was no reasonable risk.
Sounds like it’s written by a lawyer.
I’m just being a pita

 

[Matias]

Sounds just like the one handed saw operation rule.

 

[Daniel]

I didn't wear one for 20 years.. then I did and ever since, feel naked without it. It only saved my life once.

Most people don't realize how small of a branch it takes, falling some distance, to change your life forever. Especially when it has time to catch air and come raining down like a spear. It doesn't take much. I dropped a small light tulip limb on the cab protector of the bucket truck from 75' that left a 3" dent in the steel mesh cage. You could have easily picked that limb up with your thumb and index finger. And given the deformation in that steel, the chances of surviving a direct hit would be slim, even with wearing a hard hat.

Without one, even little sticks can come down and rip your head up like paper. If you're in this business long enough, the odds are that you'll take a hit to the head... That hat is cheap insurance...

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Sounds like it’s written by a lawyer.
I’m just being a pita

Countering your pita LOL

In all my years on the Z133 Committee I never met anyone at a meeting who was a lawyer unless they were speaking on some issue.

There is a built-in flexibility in the Z. It is descriptive not prescriptive. A problem is recognized and a solution is created. There are many ways to solve problems. Use the best one for your situation.

 

[Daniel]

I always say that you don't wear a helmet for the hazards that you know about or see coming. If I see a branch flying towards my head, I don't just stand there and take the blow because I'm wearing a helmet. No, I move out of the way. I have the exact same response to something that I see coming at me whether I'm wearing a helmet or not: I move so I don't get hit, when possible. The reason to wear a helmet is to protect yourself from the stuff that you don't see coming, the stuff that catches you off guard. Absolutely nobody wants to get hit in the head with anything, helmet or no helmet. But when something comes at your head unawares, you'll be wishing the helmet was on there.

I have taken only one serious hit to the head from the trees, and it was in the never saw it coming catagory. So I agree with that assesment.

On the other hand, over estimating your ability to get out of harms way is akin to complacency. A little PTSD helps, but not something you should be counting on. This was a bad call IMO...

 

[Chris Schultz]

I took a pine cone square on the top of my logger type tin hart hat once. Knocked me to my knees, left a large dent in the metal, pretty sure I saw stars, and had ringing ears for the afternoon. Couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened without the lid.

 

[Matias]

I have always been afraid of the cones in the sugar pines, and especially the grey pines

 

[Daniel]

I took a pine cone square on the top of my logger type tin hart hat once. Knocked me to my knees, left a large dent in the metal, pretty sure I saw stars, and had ringing ears for the afternoon. Couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened without the lid.

I had a small branch from a dead fir hit in the back of the hard hat as I was looking down. WOuld have got me squarely right where the spine and brain stem connect. Helmet took full impact. I was dazed, temporarily blinded, watery eyes. Took 10 minuted to get right again, That little limb again could have been picked up with two fingers, and it didn;t fall that far.. maybe 25 feet... I think it might have killed or crippled me without the helmet.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Helmets always

We had dropped the tailgate of the chip truck to haul logs on the bottom. Truck is backed in for chipper reconnect

I duck under to pin/llights/chain

My muscle memory was tripped so I stood up from a squat and did an upside down pile driver right into the horizontal tailgate. I heard a hellacious crunch between my ears and tipped over on the ground. I was sore!

Turned out I compressed the vertibra in my neck. Hot/cold and a few chiro visits and I was OK.

Having the helmet on...with chin strap...saved me a worse injury

 

[Matias]

Helmets always

We had dropped the tailgate of the chip truck to haul logs on the bottom. Truck is backed in for chipper reconnect

I duck under to pin/llights/chain

My muscle memory was tripped so I stood up from a squat and did an upside down pile driver right into the horizontal tailgate. I heard a hellacious crunch between my ears and tipped over on the ground. I was sore!

Turned out I compressed the vertibra in my neck. Hot/cold and a few chiro visits and I was OK.

Having the helmet on...with chin strap...saved me a worse injury

I have seen it put forth that chin strap off during heavy overhead rigging ops is best, because the helmet getting knocked off deflects even more energy than if it's strapped on, but that second hit from falling is an interesting point. In your story, it would definitely be advantageous to be strapped, as that second impact seems inevitable. In the case of a falling load, what do you think of the logic of further force dissipation via the helmet being looser and not strapped?

 

[Tom Dunlap]

My safety cascade

1 Don't be where its needed
2 Have the best PPE practical
3 There is no 3! If a helmet gets dusted off in the first impact then there is NO second chance

 

[ClimbingTN]

I got popped today from a small 1-1/2inch by 4ft long maple branch that a vine in the falling tree pulled out. Glad I had it on but, I always wear mine climbing or felling.

 

[Willber]

I can see wearing a helmet in a very tall evergreen type tree that one cannot see all higher branches and working under a climber or lift. One thing people should advocate is the use of glasses when chipping, eye injury is highly likely.
I never wear a helmet when pruning, or chipping. I can't imagine having the extra heat, weight and loss of periphery sight, when trying to get throughout the canopy.
I cannot imagine wearing boots when pruning, either.

 

[evo]

I can see wearing a helmet in a very tall evergreen type tree that one cannot see all higher branches and working under a climber or lift. One thing people should advocate is the use of glasses when chipping, eye injury is highly likely.
I never wear a helmet when pruning, or chipping. I can't imagine having the extra heat, weight and loss of periphery sight, when trying to get throughout the canopy.
I cannot imagine wearing boots when pruning, either.

I do all my pruning barefoot….

 

[southsoundtree]

I can see wearing a helmet in a very tall evergreen type tree that one cannot see all higher branches and working under a climber or lift. One thing people should advocate is the use of glasses when chipping, eye injury is highly likely.
I never wear a helmet when pruning, or chipping. I can't imagine having the extra heat, weight and loss of periphery sight, when trying to get throughout the canopy.
I cannot imagine wearing boots when pruning, either.

That's a strange reasoning.

 

[Crimsonking]

I bought a white helmet two weeks ago, and haven’t thought about having it on at all, even after full days in the sun.

I started looking for opportunities to remove my helmet (raking) when I had a black helmet. It was the first time I ever thought like that. It’s nice to be back to not noticing it. No more black helmets for me, my dome cooks too easily, I suppose.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I PREFER that everyone wear Hi Viz green helmets/vests/shirts

Its easier for anyone who is off the ground to keep track of anyone on the ground. All other colors are more likely to blend into the background.

 

[southsoundtree]

Black helmets for winter. White/ light colors for other seasons.


I don't get black saws or black equipment. I don't want additional heat challenge.

 

[southsoundtree]

I PREFER that everyone wear Hi Viz green helmets/vests/shirts

Its easier for anyone who is off the ground to keep track of anyone on the ground. All other colors are more likely to blend into the background.

Blue is much more visible than orange, yellow, or lime.

Fall is particularly a challenging time for those colors.