Signs of Incompetence

Tony

Tony

Carpal tunnel level member
Location
Lancaster, PA
Sometimes I see the funnies things on the way to the post office!

2014-08-07 #18 - Version 4.webp

First, some backstory. This "removal" started week before last. It is a silver maple (Acer saccharinum). Say 65 feet (19 m), formerly topped, but a long time ago (25+ years) A large tree, but not extraordinary for the area or species. I will not comment as to what it was being removed. I really do not know . If it survived last winter's ice storms it should be good for quite awhile as it was an exceptional brutal winter on trees around here!

I know I have you all at a bit of a disadvantage. I see this tree frequently so have a before pic in my head. However, let's play a game! Find the signs of incompetence. Just to start fair I'll give you the total lack of PPE!

Scroll down for the answer!
















2014-08-07 #18.webp


We will start clockwise, lower left.
1) I know it is hard to see, but this used to be a lamp post light. Bit mangled now!
2) Trust me these wires were whole with no splices before this "job" started. Do you know how hard it is to break three strand? Believe me, it's tough stuff
3) When your ground crew is incapable and/or unwilling to tie knots, they can always ascend a ladder (hidden from view on back of tree) and hand you your saw. File that under "new" trick!
4) Again you have to trust me but week before last the roof was unblemished.

The pull line in the picture was for the next piece down. Did not go quite as planned. Still editing that video.

For reference sake I give you the following assessment of this tree removal. A good three man crew, aerial lift, log truck, 18" chipper, some skill and professionalism would have this tree down and out 9 hour day including drive time. Throw a crane in there and your done raking by 1300 hrs.

Can you find anymore?

Tony
 
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Saw the roof, and I'm sure I could tell more if I could see the climber better. One other thing, I don't see a single face cut on any of the logs. And I see a couple of rips, where the bark tore when felling the leads. Not the company to hire people.

Oh yeah, it's Acer saccharinum (not saccharum). Acer saccharum is Sugar Maple. Sorry, not important but it's in my blood :)

EDIT: Actually I see one face cut. But not nearly enough.
 
TL,
Thanks for the correction. I fixed it in the post. I read my cheat sheet too quickly!

There were some face cuts, but the climber might as well not bothered. He routinely cut through hinge and the pieces fell were they may. The cut I videoed took 8.5 minutes from saw hitting wood till piece falling. 18" cut, saw seemed sharp.

et al,
I post this, first because I find it a trifle amusing. This shames me a bit since the homeowner is spending good money and these guys are alive through sheer luck. But we cannot take ourselves too seriously!

Secondly, a discussion of other's mistakes is always preferable to making them ourselves.

Lastly, to add ammunition to your arsenal of "Well this company can do it for. . ." answers. Perhaps we can discuss how to justify proper rigging and safety in the face of "competition" in the form of a lower bottom line on the estimate. That will ease my slight shame for poking fun :)

Tony
 
some people go for big lumps because of a bad pricing, and working the time scale...I have seen it many times, I always teach the boys that small bits, care and control is the way...regardless of the price being wrong.

A more professional approach may have scared the home owner into the cheaper price...but who knows.

I wonder if they quoted $400 o_O
 
Saddle, Rope, Lanyard, Spikes (most likely).

But it seems if you can't flip your own lanyard your buddy can help from the ground!

2014-08-07 #2.webp

Tuttle,

You got it. Go big because you gotta get it done quick. Failed logic.
In this case I would say the go big mentality is shear ignorance. If I were to bill for the time this job has taken then well. . . let's start at four zeros!

Tony
 
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Man, poor guy must be scared as hell now. Already tagged the roof and the powerlines. No wonder he needs help with that lanyard, his feet are probably shaking on those spikes.
 
rip cuts aren't necessarily a sign of incompetence.
Probably safe to venture that here... however I can point out many videos where undercuts, notches and side cuts are signs of ignorant orthodoxy..
 
Yes, somewhere in that neighborhood for stump and wood. A crane would probably pay for itself and lesson the $$

Tony
 
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