safety and volunteering

[lumberjackson]

yesterday I participated in Neighbors Helping Neighbors with my church group. The house we were assigned to work at had a tree to be removed. Two gentlemen who worked for the city met us there with 2 chainsaws (192T, MS361), a gas powered pole pruner, and two tanks of gas. they unloaded, and one guy left and went to another house. The other guy fired up the pole pruner and started cutting on the alder to be removed. He was standing right under the limbs falling, and didn't have a hard hat. I asked him why he wasn't wearing one, and he said something with a heavy Spanish accent and continued working.

He got the low limbs off, and grabbed the 192T and made this atrocious face cut (looked like a beaver started eating it but got chased away when he was only 1/2 way around) and finished it off with a back cut that went diagonally down (see picture) . Anyways, that wasn't what concerned me. I already mentioned no hard hat, but he wasn't wearing chaps or ear protection, either. to top all that off, once he felled it, he one-handed-ly limbed it up so we could drag it to the dumpster in front. He asked me to get the other saw for him, and I am in the habit of checking for fuel when ever I go get something, and it was almost empty. So, I put the gas in the gas, and started putting oil in the oil, but it was more gas. I took it back to him, and told him, and he replied "Oh, thanks! there should be enough oil in there to get this done anyways." so I said ok and kept dragging limbs.

I know this was a volunteer service project, but I think the city paid their employees to do that work. but really? for PPE, he had long pants and safety glasses to compliment his poor cutting habits.

Sorry, this was mostly to vent about that experience. I thought about sending an email to the person in charge of that event, but will it make a difference? Thoughts? I think minimizing dangerous situations, especially at an event like this, should be a priority.

 

[treehumper]

Every once in awhile I see a stump with a cut like that. Usually a town tree. I think it's a good idea to contact the person in charge about your observations but be very diplomatic in how you tell them and offer a potential solution to the issues as you see them. Remember getting volunteers who can do technically challenging work can be a chore, to introduce another obstacle to them may not be appreciated. Do you know anything about how they cover the volunteer workers for injuries?

Approach this with caution and plenty of due consideration for the person in charge!

 

[Raven]

Kinda makes you want to puke doesn't it. I bet you could have done it faster and better as well as safer yet you politely let the system run backwards just because you felt no authority in your volunteer position.

I sometimes wish we could have a safety police badge that would enable to STOP some idiot from working poorly - if I can find the wife I'll tell her how dangerous it is and that sometimes works. Most of these people just haven't been exposed to ANY training. I see licensed and insured tree guys(even Cert Arbos) one handing a 200T on the ground all day long - holding sticks with the left hand and hack hacking with the "buzz saw Louie" right hand. WHen I mention a better way they give a condecending smile and just nod, yeah. Often when I give a tailgate safety meeting on chainsaw safety it's the new guys/brush draggers who pay close attention, but the boss is busy on the phone, then when the chipper starts it's him still doing all the right things wrong - doh.

Nobody likes the 'safety cop' but I bet they'd listen if we had some real authority. Like actual tickets to write. OOOOH, how about a gag ticket that gets mailed home to wife and kids? That might help them think.

 

[SingleJack]

[ QUOTE ]
...
Sorry, this was mostly to vent about that experience. I thought about sending an email to the person in charge of that event, but will it make a difference? Thoughts? I think minimizing dangerous situations, especially at an event like this, should be a priority.

[/ QUOTE ]

That's a great "vent". I've had similar experiences. ALL the work I do is volunteer. That's not heresy ... I'm retired, but not old enough to sit in a rocker. I love the tree work, but can't afford the insurance. So, I only volunteer with organizations where I'm covered under their insurance; Habitat For Humanity, nursing homes, church, etc.

Anyway, when I see any unsafe situation like the one you describe, I tell the site manager <u>in person</u> (emails get so mis-undertood). If nothing is done to correct the situation ... I simply un-volunteer and walk off the site (with apologies) -- "it all pays the same". I can't bear the fear of seeing or attending to a bloody disaster. I feel it's a moral responsibility to share skills, especially knowledge about safe practices.

... just my 2 cents.

 

[lumberjackson]

I think one reason that he brushed me off and I am hesitant to go talk to someone in person is the fact I'm a 16 year old. I doubt they will take me very seriously...

 

[allmark]

[ QUOTE ]
I think one reason that he brushed me off and I am hesitant to go talk to someone in person is the fact I'm a 16 year old. I doubt they will take me very seriously...

[/ QUOTE ]

Age can be a tough obstacle to overcome. Do what you know is right. Remember to lead by example and some people will recognize that. Let your actions speak for you. They often speak much louder than words. Go ahead and talk to people and politely make suggestions but if someone doesnt want to listen dont push it.