My turn

[Daniel]

I'll bet you have mudbutt right now. Gross. Guys like you never take the time to wipe fully.

SZ

how many have you licked clean? you sound like a true expert on the subject...

 

[Daniel]

Daniel, we work as a crew, everyone has a responsibility to work safely. As a crew they weren't controlling the work zone nor did they properly assess the limitations of the drop zone. At the time of the felling the crew needed to have someone stop any access by equipment. While the ultimate responsibility lies with the op it's not his solely in the broader context.

I agree that everyone is responsible for their own safety and the OP should have not put himself in a position to get run over... and that other members of the crew had a breakdown in awareness and communication... so though the operator is not solely "at fault" or "to blame", the consequences of his actions are so sever that he should not be given a second chance... he should be fired immediately at minimum... maybe others too... when something like this happens its the managers responsibility to make the changes needed to correct the system... otherwise something else is bound to go bad, perhaps far worse!

Seems like the OP is blaming himself, and justifying the operator's actions somehow..

 

[Daniel]

I might pull 1 out of 50 trees by hand... its passe... like the tautline hitch... more pulling power means more strength to the hinge, which means better control and of course much easier...

the fact that they were pulling by hand with the skid steer right there is suspect in my thinking... we all have our own ways of dealing with the work adn my skid steer has turf tracks which do little or no turf damage.. still I wonder what other safety issues this company has..

 

[TreeLogic]

daniel, if the limbs have been removed to make the tree heavy on the fall side...why use the skidsteer? why damage the lawn more than needed. these are blanket statements you're making. you weren't there.

 

[easyphloem]

daniel, if the limbs have been removed to make the tree heavy on the fall side...why use the skidsteer? why damage the lawn more than needed. these are blanket statements you're making. you weren't there.

The Daddio is the king of blanket statements. How DARE you question his wisdom?

SZ

 

[easyphloem]

how many have you licked clean? you sound like a true expert on the subject...

Avoiding the subject. The sign of swamp ass for sure.

SZ

 

[Daniel]

daniel, if the limbs have been removed to make the tree heavy on the fall side...why use the skidsteer? why damage the lawn more than needed. these are blanket statements you're making. you weren't there.

If you have a skid steer on site, why go to the trouble of removing limbs on the back side? Another example IMO of the how developing good falling skills is a huge safety issue!

On the other hand you're right... I wasn't there ... lots of factors in making planning decisions... however the only "blanket statements" I made are "HE RAN YOU OVER" and "HE is responsible for operating the machine safely"... the scenario you describe just makes me wonder about the company...

 

[ipkyss]

I have been operating track machines as my main job on our crew for about 12 years now. I would put the blame completely on the operator. As I would myself if I was in the machine. I run the machine fast and often find myself needing to slow down to be safer. Fortunately the asv track machines we use have good viability.

There are a few things I see issues with. The operator should have been looking far enough behind him to see a person before he was on top of them. The crew should have let the operator know what was going on if there was a large piece of would coming down. A track machine does not move that fast. Its not like he just appeared. I guess I am also having trouble understanding how you did not hear it coming, there not very quite?

I have found myself with a few close calls. Twice I had a working bend down behind the machine to pick up something. As I went by he walked behind me and bent down. I only traveled a few more feet to pick up a pile and then started backing up with no chance of seeing him. First time was a major talk/warning. Second time he was fired. Since then, If someone walks past me as I am operating I will not back up until I have sight of them. Even if that means getting out to see that they didn't trip and fall behind me.

Unfortunately when you operate a machine. Everything is on your shoulders. Aside from someone diving out from behind a house and laying in front of a track, its the operators fault. In 12 years that I have been on the crew there has been no machinery related accidents. I have hit a couple guys with a long branch in the grapple, and a few times on purpose as a get moving kick, but no injures.

I would never say the operator should be fired. Sure things need to be talked about. Unless this is a trend of issues. That operator will more then likely be one of the safest operators to be around from now on. I am sure he goes to bed sick to his stomach because of this.

I hope you have a good recovery. Get back to work and enjoy the job