DUMB A$$ MOVE OF THE WEEK!!!!!!!!

[Steve Connally]

Yesterday I was removing an Oak from a front yard. It had been utility pruned back from the primary and I had atleast 10' of clearance from the lines. Pretty much all the growth was away from the lines. About 40'up the main lead split into 4 smaller leads about 6"d I could get up on one but on the others. One of them was small enough to man handle but no room to bomb it out. I cut the bottom and slid it off the cut to lower down by hand. If you can picture it, butt down straight to the ground like an arrow. I let-er-rip. Murphy's law got the thing hung up in the crotch I was tied off in. I tried to lift it, no good, tried to pull it, no good then before I tried to cut it again, I lifted one more time. Evidently I manipulated the limb enough that I swept the primary. I felt something funny in my hands then my feet were vibrating. I immediately let go and tried to get the metalic taste out of my mouth. My groundies were just sitting there looking up and watching me. Nobody said anything like "stop". I suppose thats what I should expect with no experience on the ground. Anywhoooooooo----not a pleasant experience. I honestly didn't know the limb was moving to the line. I was outside the 10' but electricity knows no boundaries. Call me what you want, I probably deserve it, but i'd much rather hear you all give me crap thant the alternitive. Another important lesson learned............whew!

 

[Colin]

It's good you're still with us!

 

[Zac]

Holy crap.... take this lesson with a grain of salt, or a liberal shake of salt on the back of your hand

 

[SirTreeRat]

Glad to hear your OK, that's a giant wake-up call.

 

[Gord]

Did it actually contact the line?

 

[Kevin]

If the branch touched the line you didn't have the required ten feet.
That may be a misconception here so it's worth mentioning.
The ten feet is for anything within reach of touching the power and that's only for certain voltages.
The higher voltages require more.
You are extremely lucky.
Thanks for letting others know, you give the rest of us a reminder to be more cautious around power.

 

[Tree_Frog]

Not fun at all. Glad that you made it.

 

[GregManning]

Glad to hear the Kolibri will ride another day. Take Care.

 

[Hammer]

[ QUOTE ]
If the branch touched the line you didn't have the required ten feet.
That may be a misconception here so it's worth mentioning.
The ten feet is for anything within reach of touching the power and that's only for certain voltages.
The higher voltages require more.
You are extremely lucky.
Thanks for letting others know, you give the rest of us a reminder to be more cautious around power.

[/ QUOTE ]

+1 on that.

You need to be thanking someone right about now for looking out for you, and it is not the ground man.

 

[familytree]

had something like that happen to me before, groundie pulled the line of the limb i was working on into the primary, the jolt ran all the way through the branch, through the rope and into my hand, lucky me i was fine, i came out of the tree, almost killed my groundie, drank a red bull and went back up

 

[Jamin_Mayer]

Your groundies need a swift kick in the arse! They should have warned you. Yeah, I have tasted that metallic taste too. Not a good feeling.

 

[Norm_Hall]

Ginormous wake up call. Glad to hear you're OK. Where you on spurs?

Care to share how far away the primaries were?

 

[CommunityArborKB]

This happened to me not to long ago. A large gust of wind grabbed a piece as it was being lowered and snaged the primary. I felt it but it wasn't very bad. I made sure to tag the rest.

 

[hl_tree]

One of the landscrapers I work for has a hickory tree coming up that he wants me to do. 1 BIG lead goes out over the 3 phase. I told him already... thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Kevin]

hl;
You could see if the power company will take it down to where you can work it and still get the job.

 

[damage_inc]

I think the most important lesson learned is if you have family you almost left them with many un ansewed questions and hopes. Do yaour groundies speak good english? If not Id try to teach them or find new ones. Also try to promote an approacable work atmosphere. Do this by engageing them in challenging questions that would bring them out of their box of quietness. Most grounds pearsons are bashfull to approach an experienced climber for fear of humiliation so its equally important not to laugh or critisise theier imput. Plus we all know what looks like 10 feet in the air while were up there is actually 12 to 14 feet, peception misjudgement. If you are EVER in question of the size ask your ground guys, the can see it better than you, but its up to you to swing it in there

 

[hl_tree]

Kevin, it's not my job... I'd just be the contract climber... so for the measely few hundred bucks I'd get for the day... I'd rather stay home, or do something else. I did tell him though that he could probably do that... get the power co. to take it down below the lines... but we shall see.

 

[Steve Connally]

Yes I was wearing spurs. Yes the goundies speak english. I was over 10 feet. Probably around 12 to 14. The power c/o will make it safe for me but big orange had recently done their pruning so it was by standard from the wires. Just a bad move on my part. I was outside the required limit but I just manipulated the branch a little too much. Thanks for all the kind words.

 

[inztrees]

be safe and don't get dead man

 

[DanielSon]

[ QUOTE ]
but i'd much rather hear you all give me crap thant the alternitive.

[/ QUOTE ]

Amen to that!!!
My friends climber got fried in fl about 18 months ago.

I am glad you are stihl here..