Top Safety Tips

Welcome to the Buzz Katie! Be always aware of your surroundings. Brush, saws, rakes, people whatever may be the case. If you need to get out of the way the last thing you want is something in your way. Strive for a clean worksite.
 
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Frax, every time I look at your avatar I think you've just sliced that piece off like a ninja swinging a samurai sword.

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It's especially important for us women who can't skate by on brute strength.

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I know what is she talking about?

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On that pic? That's a huge dead red oak. Funnest job I worked on in ages and ages. But I was tied in much higher on the same tree and lanyarded in too. With gaffs. Very secure work position. Both hands on saw. I wasn't going anywhere.
 
Hi and welcome to the Buzz
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Eye contact and communicate constantly.
and fully agree with the Time to lean, time to clean
 
Katie,

When I started climbing in the early '70s safety was a pretty remote issue. Over time the profession, and myself. have both become safer but just as dangerous.

I found this pic on your site:

http://www.dyneema360.com/10/tree-climbing/

One handing a chainsaw? Whew...you HAVE to get that picture down. Your credibility will plummet! I'm not 100% sure but It looks like the climber doesn't have a lanyard on. Most country's safety regs require two means of attachment when using a chainsaw.

I've talked with some people who support the requirement that climbers wear chainsaw leg protection but do NOT want to have to give up one-handing or wearing a second attachment. That seems way out of balance to me?????
 
A highly refreshing post from an arborist of the fairer sex, and you guys try and get her in hot water?

She obviously is seeking advice on increasing safety, which is a good thing.

I know, I'll be the forgiving good arbo cop, and you guys carry on according to script and chapter.

It's never too late to change bad habits and work smarter and safer.

Bailey's sells a great loggers emergency medkit for a very reasonable price that's come in handy for myself and others at times. Don't leave home without it, or Karl Malden gets uptight see.......

jomoco
 
J,

What difference does it make if its a man or woman? Should we let something slide that sets a bad example? Your admonition is incredibly sexist.

If Katie wants to know about safety then its certainly fair game to suggest that there are some blatantly unsafe illustrations on the webpage.

The 'forgiving good arbo cop' attitude condones unsafe practices. Remember...every safety rule is named after a death...would you like to have 'The Jomoco Rule' as your legacy? You're not an arbo cop, maybe just a arbo that looks the other way.
 
Wow, good thread guys (and gals!) and thanks for the warm welcome. Interesting to hear about how little safety was a consideration when some of you were starting out. Glad that's changed!

It seems the main points from all your advice are:
- Listen, Feel, Look
- Clear Communication and communicate constantly
- Take your time!
- Always give yourself a way out/plan an escape route
- Check your system before every operation
- Don't be afraid to be afraid
(Did i miss any?)

Now, I feel a fool for having that unsafe image up on the site, thanks Tom for pointing it out. Let's say I take down that photo and replace it with our new list of safety advice? Is everyone ok with that?

Frax, I do work for Dyneema but as part of the innovation team, not a rope scientist. If you have any questions about our rope though feel free to ask.

Thanks,
Katie
 
Inspection! Inspection! INSPECTION!

I learned climbing 50+ years ago from a world class mountain climber. He always harped on checking everything - ALL THE TIME: when you get it out, when you're using it, when you put it away. Develop an extensive visual memory on how everything <u>should</u> look - knots, rope, gear, conditions, etc., etc. ... If it looks wrong it probably is WRONG -- stop and make it RIGHT.

Attention to detail ... the littlest imperfection can be deadly ... saved my butt a number of times ...
100% inspection all the time
 
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Frax, every time I look at your avatar I think you've just sliced that piece off like a ninja swinging a samurai sword.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
It's especially important for us women who can't skate by on brute strength.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know what is she talking about?

[/ QUOTE ]

On that pic? That's a huge dead red oak. Funnest job I worked on in ages and ages. But I was tied in much higher on the same tree and lanyarded in too. With gaffs. Very secure work position. Both hands on saw. I wasn't going anywhere.

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It's a great shot showing pretty much ideal safe work practices. It's in the timing and angle of the shot that gives it that samurai quality of a deft stroke slicing off a chunk of that stem. BEAUTY!!
 
Welcome, Katie

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Wow, good thread guys (and gals!) and thanks for the warm welcome. Interesting to hear about how little safety was a consideration when some of you were starting out. Glad that's changed!

It seems the main points from all your advice are:
- Listen, Feel, Look
- Clear Communication and communicate constantly
- Take your time!
- Always give yourself a way out/plan an escape route
- Check your system before every operation
- Don't be afraid to be afraid
(Did i miss any?)

...

Thanks,
Katie

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Respectfully, from what I was taught, please allow this re-emphasis: "Check your system before every operation", IMHO is not nearly enough!.

It's even good to do a routine and scheduled gear check that has NOT in use very often. You certainly don't want to arrive at the job site with a critical, but seldom used, piece of gear and find that is not safe even though it was checked and stored properly. Example: I once found, during such a routine maintenance check, that I could not get my blood stopper out of its pouch if my hands were sweaty -- simple but certainly NOT safe, potentially life threatening -- there's a thread about that here, somewhere.

Gear can even become 'un-safe' <u>during</u> normal operation. Please accept the suggestion to re-word the "Check your system before every operation" line item to include: Constant vigilance, constant checking, pre-check, post-check routine maintenance, routine retirement, maintenance/usage/inspection log, et al.

Your kit IS your life and the lives of your co-workers. Checking my gear <u>constantly</u> (every minute) to assure that it is up to the task is the single most important safety tip I was ever taught. FWIW

BTW; great thread!

OH YEAH ... Know when to quit! Fatigue is certainly a big killer in any endeavor.
 
Ok, that's the plan then. I'll make those last 2 changes to my list to really emphasis INSPECTION and checking your gear constantly and then I'll post the new list on our site. I'll let you know when it's live.

Thanks again for all your advice, it's been eye opening!
 
My first safety lesson from my first boss was "If you think a line is live touch it with the back of your hand not the palm, so you don't grab onto it if the juice hits you." There are so many reasons I'm surprised he's not dead.
 
how rugged is it for natural crotch rigging? compared to true blue?

First safety tip for climbing was: always get in a good stable position to start saw, and always stay above your cuts.. that's the mother rule of never cut above the shoulder, and always keep a running saw at least 4" away from your nose :)
 
Dyneema caint hold knots at all. So it has to be used in set braided lengths.

Using it as a bull line in a tree to rig dynamically would be most unwise grass hopper.

jomoco
 
Hi Katie,

My top safety tip is to send send everyone on a First Aid/CPR course, all in one group if possible.

If they've bandadged each other for pretend, they will not only know how to do it for real, they will look out for each other more. It's a bonding thing.

Better have top-notch First Aid kits in the trucks or this goes sideways real hard.

Which is my second top safety tip: Top-notch first aid kits in the trucks.

Northwind
 
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