Managed Exceptions

[Frax]

On Managed Exceptions
You can start up a thread a hundred miles long arguing about things like one-handing a chain saw. I'm formulating an idea for myself, kind of a code of behaviour. There are few 'nevers' in tree work. But there are actions I describe for myself as 'managed exceptions'. One-handing a chainsaw is one of them. Another would be not tying in twice, particularly with a lanyard.
To me, 'managed exceptions' are deliberate and thought out behaviours. They aren't for unskilled or relatively new climbers. They are done when the usual action is deemed to be not possible or actually more dangerous than the options available the 'correct' way. They are never done routinely, without conscious decision, or especially without even noticing..
I haven't thought of any others I could justify right now in the sphere of work habits. What do you think? Any others? I'm not counting pruning practices (like 'topping') right now except when it comes to a safety thing.

 

[guymayor]

Exceptions to...what? 'usual' and 'correct' are hard to define. If you mean the Z, I see where you're coming from. Compared to the A300, the Z is chock full of 'shall's, which makes it hard to be strictly compliant all the time.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

There are plenty of 'outs' written into the Z taking into consideration the risk of injury

One really good protocol that was shared in one of 'those' threads was to have the person who was going to use an exemption to call it out to the srt of he crew. They would be forewarned and also have veto power

 

[Frax]

Usual as in generally accepted body of knowledge and standards by competent arborists, so sort of the ANSI standards but I'm playing loose with definitions.
I like your idea Tom.

 

[rfwoodvt]

We're in the same book, if not on the same page, Nora.

I'm a firm subscriber to the "time and a place" for everything. In reality, everything we do carries risk, some of it manageable, some of it not; some of it acceptable, some of it too costly.

Nobody thinks twice about getting in a car, yet that is one of the more likely acts to get you injured or killed. Climbing any tree has its own risks too.

I train my guys to follow the "party-line" on absolutes because if they don't and then get hurt my arse is also on the line. That said, we will deviate from the party-line for specific reasons at specific times, but the ultimate decision and responsibility for that decision rests with the supervisor, namely me. That only happens after we explore all potential benefits/pitfalls of doing it and we all agree the risks have been minimized as a result.

Anyhoo, JMTCW.

 

[treehumper]

Like Rick said, there are absolutes. When someone wants to take an exception then they need to justify it with sound rationale. But, the ok has to come from the crew chief.