Got hired with a tree service company...

DonaldRobertson

DonaldRobertson

Location
Youngstown, Ohio
Well I never worked for a tree service before and I finally got someone to hire me and we went over some knots and safety procedures today and I will start working tomorrow morning. I am going to working out of a bucket most of the time for trimming and removals.
 
Congrats Donald.

Be very careful. Ask for clarification on anything/ everything that you don't understand. The new guy is sometimes the most at risk.

Always play it safe.

I got to keep a thumb attached to the hand of someone new to bucket work, and a not safety-oriented, previous to me leaving that company.
 
Great. I hope that you got hooked up with a good company. Your interest on the Buzz shows an interest in doing good work.

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Thanks for some extra info. I know I will ask for help if I know or think I'm doing something wrong.

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I would suggest confirming that you are doing things the right way for the right reason, if at all in doubt.

To me, as a business owner, I need people to be well trained if they are doing any work in the bucket, roping, cutting, basically anything besides dragging brush, note that I don't add chipping in with dragging.

I tell my crew that they need to voice if they need to be trained on something, or retrained, and that hopefully they don't need to be re-retrained. Getting good at the technical parts of tree work is a building block process that needs to be set on a solid foundation.

For me to know an employee is dialed in on something is a relief. Besides the safety factor in all of this, tools are frickin' expensive, and wasted productivity is a killer. I want someone to be using the right tool in the right way, as its easiest on the employee, and the tools (whether the tool is a bucking wedge, chainsaw, chipper, stump grinder,etc.). There are too many ways to have expensive problems.

Remember that you are the primary person responsible for your safety. A lot of businesses don't put enough emphasis on this, IMO.

Take good care of yourself to stay on top of your game, eat, water, sleep, rest, and ENJOY THE WORK!! Best of luck.
 
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Well I never worked for a tree service before and I finally got someone to hire me. I am going to working out of a bucket most of the time for trimming and removals.

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I am glad you have found a job. I do have some concerns though. So, your starting out in a bucket? Have you ever been in a bucket? Have you ever used a saw? What about heights? I do understand that you have to start somewhere, but in a bucket? Seems like to go in and get a feel for the company and how things run, it would be wise to start low and slow? I am not saying that you can't do it but... seems kinda backwards?!?! Anyways, good luck and be safe...glad you found a job. What is the name of the company, if you don't mind me asking?
 
Donald,

Congrats on the job.

When I first started tree work in 1997 I was an adrenaline junkie. I quickly learned that tree work and being a daredevil don't mix.

I remember when I first started wondering what would happen on certain cuts etc. etc.

I had a ton of close calls because I was going to "chance it".

One time I was climbing a tree that I had no business being in without a second time in point off of another tree. The tree ended up breaking and I fell down with the top still tied into my belt. Thankfully I only fell about 12 feet and didn't break anything.

However, it knocked some sense into my head enough to make some calls and find out how to do it right.

This was before the Internet and I really had no idea who to call so I just called my competitors and started asking questions.

I don't know who it was who I talk to, but now I really wish that I did so that I could thank him, but he told me one thing that has kept me alive in many different situations:

In tree work you can't "think" something is going to happen, you have to "know" that it will happen.

If you live by that rule as your learning, you will quickly see the ways that trees behave as you are cutting them.


Unfortunately, I don't always live by this rule. Here is an example where I didn't http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRILH4mNjIo and I almost paid with my life.

It could me about 2 1/2 or three years before I could swallow my pride enough to post this video, because it was such a stupid cut to make.

Anyway, what I've learned is that by being humble and hearing your mistakes you can help others not make the same ones.

Be safe and always remember that: In tree work you can't "think" something is going to happen, you have to "know" that it will happen.


Danielson = learning
 
Actually he changed his mind today and had me working on the ground. I leard how to use the porti-wrap and how to attach it to the tree and yeah I know how to use a chainsaw, I fell like 6 trees last year and 2 all by myself this year. I think he is kinda amazed that when he goes to tell me what something is that I already know what it is and I then cut i and tell him what it is and what its used for and for the company I work for I won't say but I'll tell you that he is located out of Boardman, Ohio.
 
Way to go getting the job. I hope your with a good guy and crew. If you aren't, even you, the new guy can make it a good crew. Focus on the obvious dangers, electrical lines, chainsaws, chippers, falling trees, etc. But always stay alert, there are many dangers. I've only been injured doing the most basic things. Slipped climbing down the truck ladder cause I had oil on my boots, took a large thorn on a nerve in my hand, paralizing it for the season, and I keep popping my wrists pulling branches. Bring your "A" game. Then there's looking out for the others. Also if something doesn't seem right with the company or boss, move on. It seems young people don't have a problem with this but a generation ago we'd stick with a bad job for too long.
 
I just want to say that the Tree Buzz community seems alot more supportive than the more pretentious AS.com. Go Donald, keep up the good work.
 
So Donald, what tasks have you been charged with?

How are the safety and technical skill levels at your company? Do they follow well on industry

How are they with training you?

What types of trees and sizes have you been working on?
 
My company has been good to me and so far as the training goes, that's pretty good too. After a week of working we had a day off and I went to the bosses house where we went over some knot tying/practicing. I learned how to tie the porta wrap on big and smaller trees and the same goes with the block. Since I been working with my company, We have taken down big and small trees. When we are doing a complete tree removals that none of the branches need rigged out that's when I'm in the bucket doing all the work and I have only been up in the bucket one time with the boss when we were doing a rigging operation so I'm not ready to do the rigging stuff all by myself yet. So I'm still learning and hopefully next year I can be doing everything by myself.
 
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