Tree Service Fatality in Washington State

Here's where the associations need to come together to more aggressively promote safe work practices. Will the local ISA or TCIA hold an open meeting inviting all tree care professionals to learn about SWP?

Accidents happen, we're saddened by the result then turn around and continue with business as usual.
 
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The article said he was pruning while tied into the crane.

and the pictures DO show them secured with only a lanyard attachment, but I didnt see anyone making a cut while only secured by lanyard.

A few pictures and you've got their s.o.p. figured out eh?

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I may have jumped to conclusions, but probably not. What's your angle? Freak accident? Cut through both attachment points?

SZ

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No freak accident. No such thing. Right?

All Im saying is...

We all know how accurate the news reports and media can be reporting ANYTHING. Accidents in our industry come down to a specific detail (whatever that may be) or an error in judgment (whatever that may be).

They may have had poor SOPs or they may have had good SOPs to speculate from a news article and few pictures is leading to conclusions. If you weren't there, you really dont know what happened.
I will agree the article and photos weigh in the favor of poor SOPs, but that just may not be the case.
 
[ QUOTE ]
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The article said he was pruning while tied into the crane.

and the pictures DO show them secured with only a lanyard attachment, but I didnt see anyone making a cut while only secured by lanyard.

A few pictures and you've got their s.o.p. figured out eh?

[/ QUOTE ]

I may have jumped to conclusions, but probably not. What's your angle? Freak accident? Cut through both attachment points?

SZ

[/ QUOTE ]

No freak accident. No such thing. Right?

All Im saying is...

We all know how accurate the news reports and media can be reporting ANYTHING. Accidents in our industry come down to a specific detail (whatever that may be) or an error in judgment (whatever that may be).

They may have had poor SOPs or they may have had good SOPs to speculate from a news article and few pictures is leading to conclusions. If you weren't there, you really dont know what happened.
I will agree the article and photos weigh in the favor of poor SOPs, but that just may not be the case.

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I agree with your points. I guess it is not my place to make assumptions based on limited facts and work practices gleaned from a few website photos.

SZ
 
The fact is, like'em or not, intelligent assumptions are more often right than wrong. Assumptions are conclusions based on limited information. Since when has ANYBODY ever had ALL the facts about ANYTHING?

If we never made assumptions we wouldn't even be human.
 
I cannot confirm the setup that was being used. While it is common for folks around here to use a figure 8 descender as part of a DdRT system with a soft lock, this was only speculation on my part, in a private and unofficial conversation with an individual from an organization that tracks accidents. It was based on other private communications and viewing photos from their website, as well as photos from the news story.

Whatever system was being used failed in a way that left no part of the system on the hook, as can be seen in the news photos.
 
Our local OSHA inspectors keep this stuff pretty close to the vest. It would be unlikely that they would share any of the details with anyone outside of their department until their investigation is complete.
 
I don't know if this is accurate or not, but John Hushagen just told me (third hand report from Scott Parr-a Poulsbo company owner) that the climber had installed a shackle on the crane (above the ball or on the hook was not specified) He then passed his climbline through the shackle and descended, but the shackle had flipped around and the rope was now running on the pin--which, having not been tightened with a wrench or locked via wire, came undone as the rope ran on it.
 
I was talkin with a crane operator after we completed a job using the 'shackle, ring & ring and Kador resting on the ball' system. He told he had done a job the week before with a tree co. that used a screw pin shackle resting on the ball and the climber had placed his climbing line around the pin... The climber had just landed on the ground and the "pin" from the shackle landed at his feet. The climber looked up at the shackle and laughed.

I find it kind of hard to believe that the shackle flipped while on the ball. I would bet it was installed with the bow around the wedge socket and climbing line around the pin.
 
I think the proper system as Norm has posted should be listed and illustrated in the ansi standards. It might be good for some of us to goto crane and tree companies and politely offer our experience. I posted some pics of a set up a company used which if properly installed would be safe. The problem was the misapplication which WOULD have been deadly if someone used it.
I advised the climbers immediately but also went to their higher ups to make sure there was follow through.
 
Just to be clear, here. In WA State it is illegal to use the crane for personal suspension. There is an exception for not having a safer way to get into the tree, but L&I finds that to be a highly unlikely scenario.
An unnamed source, but very reliable one, indicated that the climber was not secured at all. All of the speculations previous are simply that.
However, it would be very beneficial if it was legal here, and if it does become so, if the proper method and equipment were available.
 
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