Pole Saw Positioning

Phil

Phil

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Oak Lawn, IL
I was climbing in the student work climb at TCI Expo and went to manuever to the pole saw station in the tree. The saw still had the scabbard on and was hooked to the tree with a carabiner on a loopie. I set my flip line and undid the pole saw and found the 4' saw too short to reach the bell. So I wanted to reposition. I hooked the pole saw on a branch just to my left with blade away from me (even though the scabbard was still on, i did it how i would if i was working with an open saw) And started to reposition. The time keeper told me to stop, put the pole saw back on the carabiner, reposition and then unclip it again. When i got down, he mentioned he never likes to see pole saws placed above climbers and told me some stories that i don't need to repeat; putting a pole saw below a climber is ok though. That was a long story to get to this but its what got me thinking....How do you not put a pole saw above you when you reposition? What are some things you guys/gals do to help alleviate this safety issue.
 
It sounds like they are using some pretty foolish saftey rules to judge the climbers. The few times I take a pole saw into the tree for advancement I hang the pole above and away from me with the blade facing away from me.
 
Just don't hang it right above your head, and always be aware of it. When you're making a cut somewhere else don't forget there's a long flimsy pole hanging nearby with a very sharp blade.
 
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i should note that i was not penalized any points for what i had done.

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Ok no penalties, but it did count youre time....

What about when you set up the first time below the original polesaw position? You need to reposition to? Is it that you MUST position above it before grabbing it and ring the bell?
 
when you connect it to your harness do you keep a scabbard on it? I'm thinking a real world work situation. I've clipped it to my saddle before durring the initial climbing and i keep the scabbard on until i am ready to use it, then the scabbard heads for the ground.
 
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same here,

By the way Mark I'm still confused while people had a sad face when they chatted with you /forum/images/graemlins/beer.gif

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Yeah, me too? J-Rod, do you know? /forum/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Sometimes my polesaw (when used) hangs on my climbing line on a prusik. That way it stays below me. But I don't mind putting it above me. Blade ALWAYS away from me.

Remember the Safety Stripe?

love
nick
 
some people put a strip of tape or paint down the side of the pole which the blade faces, that way you are sure to know which way the teeth are pointed by just glancing at the pole. If you see the tape, the teeth are towards you. or you could reverse it, but the idea is the same.


I would only hang the saw from my saddle if the scabbasrd is on, i don't like open teeth near my rope.
 
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Safety stripe ??? Explain...

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Nick Arraya posted long ago about painting a stripe along the lencth of the polesaw, maybe red for the blade side? Green for the safe side? Something along those lines.
 
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Nick Arraya posted long ago about painting a stripe along the lencth of the polesaw, maybe red for the blade side? Green for the safe side? Something along those lines.

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Neat idea but I find I can just look at the saw blade as I'm hanging it in the tree. Suppose you get confused about the safety stripe and end up cutting with the back of the saw? I hate when the happens.
 
I first did this when I started doing tree work at the Care of Trees. I just had one light blue stripe on the back side of the pole. It was good in the tree and while walking on the ground. Whenever I hung it, I made sure I could see the stripe. If I could see it, the blade was away from me.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=12654&page=1&highlight=safety+stripe That should show you the original thread on AS.

love
nick
 
ditto on the connect; I hang mine on a dogleash. After jostling one with a new blade loose a loonnng time ago and getting 7 stitches as a result(note--blood in the scalp is VERY red), I tend to be pretty careful with it.

Can you use a telescoping one in the work climb?

I never use a scabbard for it; am I ANSI-compliant?
 
I always have a sling on my saddle, with a biner on the end and a biner on the pole saw. Quick and easy to clip into and hang below the feet. I seems that if I temporarily hang it from a branch, I'll forget and bump it ....
 
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I always have a sling on my saddle, with a biner on the end and a biner on the pole saw. Quick and easy to clip into and hang below the feet.

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This is exactly what I do.
 
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