- Location
- Newtown, CT
ya know you see stuff like this and it is really disturbing, there seems like there should be some kind of laws or fines for such negligence.
Seattle Army Corps of Engineers contract
- Thread starter Oxman
- Start date
- Location
- California
Thanks for documenting this. I hope all the Buzzers are following up with the Corps and everyone else who needs to know.
Keep us up to date.
Keep us up to date.
Roger_Barnett
Participating member
- Location
- Seattle, in the PNWet
The next day, I watched them dump chips right where those two folks were walking. I wonder when and by whom they will be moved....and where to?
Roger_Barnett
Participating member
- Location
- Seattle, in the PNWet
Memory refresher:
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.p...true#Post181002
Typical gov't BS....some general on high thought up this nonsense, no doubt stimulated by the Katrina disaster.
IMO, whoever is responsible for this rubbish must have their heads so far up their copllective asses, that breathing should be impossible....which, if that were taken literally, might be a good thing.....it's hard to live if you're not breathing, I'm told.
What a totally farked way to spend our taxpayer dollars...
http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/showflat.p...true#Post181002
Typical gov't BS....some general on high thought up this nonsense, no doubt stimulated by the Katrina disaster.
IMO, whoever is responsible for this rubbish must have their heads so far up their copllective asses, that breathing should be impossible....which, if that were taken literally, might be a good thing.....it's hard to live if you're not breathing, I'm told.
What a totally farked way to spend our taxpayer dollars...
7 days have passed. Today I again photographed the tree removal at 34th & Phinney by the Army Corps of Engineers contractor. The work area was marked with yellow ribbon. The crew was wearing Personal Protective Equipment, such as chaps, hardhats, hearing protection and eye protection.
Some disturbing behavior by the crew involved supporting a large cut limb with a rope that was wrapped around a traffic bollard. The bollards are to prevent cars from driving into the canal, not for securing rigging lines, thus, a violation of ANSI Z133.1 safety standards. The climber was tied to this cut limb (another violation), and the rope accidentally slid upward and nearly popped off the top of the bollard. This could have caused the climber to fall or get stretched by the limb, which weighed about twice his body weight.
Last weeks action was well documented by video also, some of which appears on YouTube. This discussion thread is active on treebuzz.com, with links to the video and photos.
Todays videos are here and here. The attached photo of the unsecure rope should be good for a thousand dollar fine by L & I. This is a good example of how not to do a tree job.
No need to click on the attachment, this photo is it.
Some disturbing behavior by the crew involved supporting a large cut limb with a rope that was wrapped around a traffic bollard. The bollards are to prevent cars from driving into the canal, not for securing rigging lines, thus, a violation of ANSI Z133.1 safety standards. The climber was tied to this cut limb (another violation), and the rope accidentally slid upward and nearly popped off the top of the bollard. This could have caused the climber to fall or get stretched by the limb, which weighed about twice his body weight.
Last weeks action was well documented by video also, some of which appears on YouTube. This discussion thread is active on treebuzz.com, with links to the video and photos.
Todays videos are here and here. The attached photo of the unsecure rope should be good for a thousand dollar fine by L & I. This is a good example of how not to do a tree job.
No need to click on the attachment, this photo is it.
Attachments
- Location
- California
[ QUOTE ]
Here's a real Cowboy.
[/ QUOTE ]
A REAL Cowboy wouldn't be up a tree, they'd be horseback chasin' cows. Cowboys/Ranchers are professionals who suffer from the same problem we do as arborists. Anybody can call themselves whatever they want. Just cause a fellow has boots, a hat, and is broke doesn't necessarily make him a cowboy :{).
I know what you mean, though. Butchers are well trained professionals, unlike the hacks who mutilate trees. One of those words that have crept in to our vocab.
I'm really glad to see your documentation of this. I hope some consequesces follow as a result of your work.
Here's a real Cowboy.
[/ QUOTE ]
A REAL Cowboy wouldn't be up a tree, they'd be horseback chasin' cows. Cowboys/Ranchers are professionals who suffer from the same problem we do as arborists. Anybody can call themselves whatever they want. Just cause a fellow has boots, a hat, and is broke doesn't necessarily make him a cowboy :{).
I know what you mean, though. Butchers are well trained professionals, unlike the hacks who mutilate trees. One of those words that have crept in to our vocab.
I'm really glad to see your documentation of this. I hope some consequesces follow as a result of your work.
- Location
- NJ
Is all the documentation being done cause you lost the bid?? By losing the bid do you now have nothing but long days to flim these guys?? You do understand goverment bids are won by mert more so then skill. Vets, women, and minorities come first.
easyphloem
Branched out member
- Location
- Louisville, KY
[ QUOTE ]
Is all the documentation being done cause you lost the bid??
[/ QUOTE ]
I was wondering the same thing. When I lose a job to another bidder, I just move on to the next bid.
SZ
Is all the documentation being done cause you lost the bid??
[/ QUOTE ]
I was wondering the same thing. When I lose a job to another bidder, I just move on to the next bid.
SZ
- Location
- NJ
[ QUOTE ]
I just move on to the next bid.
[/ QUOTE ]
As do most others, having a company to run and workers to keep working. It must be a Seattle thing, lose job, spend next 2 weeks on unemployment filming others working. In away they should be happy those guys are working to put money into unemployment so they can collect.
I just move on to the next bid.
[/ QUOTE ]
As do most others, having a company to run and workers to keep working. It must be a Seattle thing, lose job, spend next 2 weeks on unemployment filming others working. In away they should be happy those guys are working to put money into unemployment so they can collect.
easyphloem
Branched out member
- Location
- Louisville, KY
[ QUOTE ]
In away they should be happy those guys are working to put money into unemployment so they can collect.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's why the USA rocks!
SZ
In away they should be happy those guys are working to put money into unemployment so they can collect.
[/ QUOTE ]
That's why the USA rocks!
SZ
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
It does sound like sour grapes somewhat. I can understand feeling upset about our (that is mine, Roger's, Oxman's, yours, et al) tax dollars funding projects where people don't have the skills to do the jobs safely and properly, protecting the public, workers, remaining trees, etc.
I guess this leave us with...what is the original point of the thread?
A business owner venting about a bid lost? Venting because it was to a less professional company that doesn't represent professional tree workers well?
Someone raising awareness about how our government spends our money?
I don't know. Just asking.
I'm lumped in with "tree guys" that topped the Sh*& out of a big leaf maple in a lady's driveway that I just saw. She was concerned about a giant three-trunk maple next to the topped one because she thought that one trunk was leaning more. Maybe because of the bulldozer and backhoe that the septic installer were using to put a new $25,000 system. They trenched right next to two huge maples. The cavity in the one maple, on a second trunk was only visible because it faced the work area and was about 5-6" across, then there was all the wood surrounding the hole that was extremely, extremely decayed. The "tree guys" didn't say anything about that. That is why I don't like being referred to as a "tree guy".
I don't like being lumped in with that caliber of workers, as I don't think that anyone on TB would. Even worse is to be lumped in with them, and then they get awarded the work, and don't they do it competently.
As for collecting unemployment, I don't know about how it all works exactly. I know that as an employer, I pay a percentage of my employees' state and federal Unemployment Insurance, and my rates go up if my employees collect due to a lack of work. I doubt that I could collect unless I were to incorporate. Unemployment works differently state to state.
I guess this leave us with...what is the original point of the thread?
A business owner venting about a bid lost? Venting because it was to a less professional company that doesn't represent professional tree workers well?
Someone raising awareness about how our government spends our money?
I don't know. Just asking.
I'm lumped in with "tree guys" that topped the Sh*& out of a big leaf maple in a lady's driveway that I just saw. She was concerned about a giant three-trunk maple next to the topped one because she thought that one trunk was leaning more. Maybe because of the bulldozer and backhoe that the septic installer were using to put a new $25,000 system. They trenched right next to two huge maples. The cavity in the one maple, on a second trunk was only visible because it faced the work area and was about 5-6" across, then there was all the wood surrounding the hole that was extremely, extremely decayed. The "tree guys" didn't say anything about that. That is why I don't like being referred to as a "tree guy".
I don't like being lumped in with that caliber of workers, as I don't think that anyone on TB would. Even worse is to be lumped in with them, and then they get awarded the work, and don't they do it competently.
As for collecting unemployment, I don't know about how it all works exactly. I know that as an employer, I pay a percentage of my employees' state and federal Unemployment Insurance, and my rates go up if my employees collect due to a lack of work. I doubt that I could collect unless I were to incorporate. Unemployment works differently state to state.
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
I can see some people's perspective that nobody wants a buzz-kill. Some people come to the Buzz to celebrate the excitement of the day, learn new tricks, techniques, diseases, etc.
Is this a call to arms to preserve trees? I don't know.
I am trying to load www.saveseattletrees.com that is on the bottom of Oxman's signature, but it isn't loading.
Is this a call to arms to preserve trees? I don't know.
I am trying to load www.saveseattletrees.com that is on the bottom of Oxman's signature, but it isn't loading.
southsoundtree
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Olympia, WA
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It must be a Seattle thing
[/ QUOTE ]
Maybe its the rain.
Maybe there isn't time for both keeping the crew busy and keeping tabs on things.
Maybe there is time for keeping the crew busy and keeping tabs on things.
[ QUOTE ]
It must be a Seattle thing
[/ QUOTE ]
Maybe its the rain.
Maybe there isn't time for both keeping the crew busy and keeping tabs on things.
Maybe there is time for keeping the crew busy and keeping tabs on things.
Roger_Barnett
Participating member
- Location
- Seattle, in the PNWet
Neither Ox, myself or even Ballard Tree, who did the last round of work there 11 years ago (my guy Dave did much of the climbing)were invited to bid....Didn't know about it, myself.
The outfit doing it wasn't even the ones awarded the bid. They are doing the seawall, and were offered the job. so, they hired a bunch of yahoos, and went at it. $70,000 for 42 odd trees, way low, even for us, I think, though we'd be about 4 times as efficient. Sad thing is, lombardy poplars or no, 90% of those trees were fine, and won't start declining for years and years. They knew nothing of any ANSI regulations.....all climbers are slow and backwards, and they have inadequate equipment....meaning no lowering devices or rigging lines, and nothing but an open 6 yard dump truck to chip into with the rented chipper.
The ACOI has their heads so far up their collective butts , it isn't even funny. They seem to love spending your taxpayer dollars...and mine....well, that is BS..
Especially the part about them cutting every tree on every levee in the whole damn country...Which is utter rubbish, period! Thanks to some idiot general in a cushy leather seat in the Pentagon, maybe.....we have this travesty to add to our tax bill.
The outfit doing it wasn't even the ones awarded the bid. They are doing the seawall, and were offered the job. so, they hired a bunch of yahoos, and went at it. $70,000 for 42 odd trees, way low, even for us, I think, though we'd be about 4 times as efficient. Sad thing is, lombardy poplars or no, 90% of those trees were fine, and won't start declining for years and years. They knew nothing of any ANSI regulations.....all climbers are slow and backwards, and they have inadequate equipment....meaning no lowering devices or rigging lines, and nothing but an open 6 yard dump truck to chip into with the rented chipper.
The ACOI has their heads so far up their collective butts , it isn't even funny. They seem to love spending your taxpayer dollars...and mine....well, that is BS..
Especially the part about them cutting every tree on every levee in the whole damn country...Which is utter rubbish, period! Thanks to some idiot general in a cushy leather seat in the Pentagon, maybe.....we have this travesty to add to our tax bill.
- Location
- Greater Seattle area
hear hear. We have a number of good companies in the area and they hire some jackasses to do a high profile job because they are the cheapest. though I am apposed to this kind of thing, here in seattle it is common. Isn't there a lawsuit for this kinda thing? (for everyone else... Seattle is one of the most litigious cities in the nation. Pretty much everyone thinks someone owes them something for something.
so... point being. I wish all these crappy companies would just die out. The best companies in the area don't even try to bid these jobs because there is always someone that will lowball it, which means someone is getting their asses handed to em(either workers, company...someone).
Hire a quality arborist. (but hey I'm preaching to the choir, right?
so... point being. I wish all these crappy companies would just die out. The best companies in the area don't even try to bid these jobs because there is always someone that will lowball it, which means someone is getting their asses handed to em(either workers, company...someone).
Hire a quality arborist. (but hey I'm preaching to the choir, right?
