Uncontrolled swing

macswan · Jan 9, 2015

So a few weeks ago I was trying to complete a job which I myself has underbid brutally. Sorry bossman. I was in a box elder leaning over a fence and a glass gazebo, tied into a tall black locust behind me. My coworker had just gotten a TIP in a locust over a dead elm removal, and made his way into the top of the elm to get started. This was early December at 3:30, and the sun was about to set. We also had a :45 min drive to the shop. So I tell warren to come out of the elm. We are just gonna havta come back. He and the groundie clean while I bang out the elder. There were also glass bulb lights strung all around the yard, a deck under the gazebo and knick knacks every where.
So I have just taken the head off the branch my lanyard is around and thrown it. Near as I can tell when I threw the piece my weight shifted the tree, which was very springy, and my lanyard came off the foot long stub I'd left. But I was still balanced on my feet. I then leaned back to find no lanyard attached and swung fifteen feet back into another box elder adjacent to the one I fell out of. I managed to spin around to impact frontwards. But I got jabbed hard with a stick in the forearm.
A few days later it looked like I dipped my elbow and forearm in ink. Biggest bruise I've ever had. Lotsa swelling. And strong pain when extending the arm. Now about a month later it is still swollen with a mass of some sort of upset tissue, and there is a numb patch on the skin where it happened. I also still have a bit of pain when I fully extend my arm and then grip something, which doesn't happen every day or anything. My PT friend says it will be ok with time. I didn't lose any time and didn't have to go to the doc, I got wicked lucky. And it sucked for a little while.

treehumper · Jan 9, 2015

Soft tissue injuries are annoying. Good that it didn't cost anything in lost time or dr. bills.

Mark13y · Jan 10, 2015

Thanks for sharing and glad your ok. So what would you have done differently in hindsight Mac? Different lanyard attachment, redirected tie in, 2nd rope/tie in, or just come down and call it?

Oroboros · Jan 10, 2015

A month later? That is one severe bruise! Are you doing anything to treat it?
I would think a second opinion is in order.

Leroy · Jan 10, 2015

Dang. That is one of my biggest concerns while climbing... uncontrolled swing. Good thing it wasn't worse, I recall hearing a story of a guy getting stabbed by a pointy stub. Super icy in the trees here today... hangin on for dear life. Hope you recover quick Mac.

oldoakman · Jan 10, 2015

It's obvious between this post and your eye post that you are a high risk employee Mac. I suggest you not work in December or January ever again.

Treetopflyer · Jan 10, 2015

macswan said:
So a few weeks ago I was trying to complete a job which I myself has underbid brutally. Sorry bossman. I was in a box elder leaning over a fence and a glass gazebo, tied into a tall black locust behind me. My coworker had just gotten a TIP in a locust over a dead elm removal, and made his way into the top of the elm to get started. This was early December at 3:30, and the sun was about to set. We also had a :45 min drive to the shop. So I tell warren to come out of the elm. We are just gonna havta come back. He and the groundie clean while I bang out the elder. There were also glass bulb lights strung all around the yard, a deck under the gazebo and knick knacks every where.
So I have just taken the head off the branch my lanyard is around and thrown it. Near as I can tell when I threw the piece my weight shifted the tree, which was very springy, and my lanyard came off the foot long stub I'd left. But I was still balanced on my feet. I then leaned back to find no lanyard attached and swung fifteen feet back into another box elder adjacent to the one I fell out of. I managed to spin around to impact frontwards. But I got jabbed hard with a stick in the forearm.
A few days later it looked like I dipped my elbow and forearm in ink. Biggest bruise I've ever had. Lotsa swelling. And strong pain when extending the arm. Now about a month later it is still swollen with a mass of some sort of upset tissue, and there is a numb patch on the skin where it happened. I also still have a bit of pain when I fully extend my arm and then grip something, which doesn't happen every day or anything. My PT friend says it will be ok with time. I didn't lose any time and didn't have to go to the doc, I got wicked lucky. And it sucked for a little while.

Sounds like its not such a good idea to lanyard in to the branch your cutting if possible, you'll be moving away from it any ways if its not there right, but if needed to keep it low low and double check its secure before leaning on back on it. Maybe a wrap around the piece with lanyard would've helped. Sounds like end of the day syndrome strikes again . thanks for posting. I've been banged up from some I thought I was in control swings and uncontrolled as well so I feel your pain.

Stihlmadd · Jan 10, 2015

uncontrolled swing due to pole belt release, oh yeh I feel that pain.

LeviRockett said:
hat is one of my biggest concerns while climbing... uncontrolled swing. Good thing it wasn't worse, I recall hearing a story of a guy getting stabbed by a pointy stub.

sorry at your suffering between the eye and the elbow it can't be much fun at this point.
levi is right I have been stabbed by the stub on a swing back and know others with similar injuries from premature belt release
hence the no stub left standing policy.
look into comfrey for the deep tissue damage to the elbow and better luck in the future.

macswan · Jan 10, 2015

Hindsight says I should have used both ends of my lanyard. Or found another position. There was nothing directly over this leaning bastard tree. So two points of attachment in the tree I was standing in should have been the game plan. But I was pissed at myself for the under bid, and rushing against the dahkness. In reality it was not a serious injury. Just a wake up call. I had literally five minutes before told the other climber to descend because i didn't want us getting too deep and rushing and doing something stupid. Thinking it would be him to rush and eff up. And then...

damn tree was like a trampoline. It had so much weight out over that porch. Total PITA even under good circumstances.

I think when I leaned forward to throw the piece my weight shift pushed the trunk down and away from me, out of my lanyard.

macswan · Jan 10, 2015

oldoakman said:
It's obvious between this post and your eye post that you are a high risk employee Mac. I suggest you not work in December or January ever again.

Obviously.

You tell my bank account okay oakman.

Treetopflyer · Jan 10, 2015

macswan said:
Hindsight says I should have used both ends of my lanyard. Or found another position. There was nothing directly over this leaning bastard tree. So two points of attachment in the tree I was standing in should have been the game plan. But I was pissed at myself for the under bid, and rushing against the dahkness. In reality it was not a serious injury. Just a wake up call. I had literally five minutes before told the other climber to descend because i didn't want us getting too deep and rushing and doing something stupid. Thinking it would be him to rush and eff up. And then...

damn tree was like a trampoline. It had so much weight out over that porch. Total PITA even under good circumstances.

I think when I leaned forward to throw the piece my weight shift pushed the trunk down and away from me, out of my lanyard.

Good wake up call for me as well . All the awakenings . They are making me focus hard on staying in the moment.Good reminders .

KYAPLE · Jan 10, 2015

Glad your alright Mac! I too have been in that position of end of day and underbid. It's a bad feeling. Funny though I did the exact same thing. Asked the other climber to bag it, yet kept going myself. Convinced I could finish and ended up raking with the headlamp. No injuries just lack of proper hydration (due to rushing) resulting in more fatigue and pounding headache when I got home to my real job. Playing with my daughter. All it takes is a little handsaw cut, 5 stitches from the ER, and $1000 workmans comp claim to offset the cost of going back the next day. (Personal experience)

On a lighter note hope to c ya soon! Maybe New England Grows? Fids and Fibers? CT rec climb? (It's a blast you can have oceans watch u rip a zip line in the dark and rain!) somewhere, sometime. Stay safe brotha

macswan · Jan 10, 2015

maybe all three

oldoakman · Jan 11, 2015

macswan said:
Obviously.

You tell my bank account okay oakman.

The bank account should be no roblem, when it gets to zero, that means there is nothing there. It's the bill collectors, utility companies and grocery store where the zero becomes a problem and those people have no sense of humor.

craneguy1 · Jan 11, 2015

Good god mr. Macintosh...glad to hear youre alright and even the best have their days. just a thought but my mom swears by neosporine...i use ice and heat...and an occasional anheisure product.

shaddart · Jan 14, 2015

I've been pressured into working in the dark a few times this winter- complete BULLSH*T. Don't work in the freaking dark! Especially if you have to come back anyway. I mean seriously, if you take off your glasses because you can't see, but then you still can't see because you've already switched to your clear glasses and it's FRICKING dark, GO HOME! The bids will average out.

treehumper · Jan 14, 2015

macswan said:
Hindsight says I should have used both ends of my lanyard. Or found another position. There was nothing directly over this leaning bastard tree. So two points of attachment in the tree I was standing in should have been the game plan. But I was pissed at myself for the under bid, and rushing against the dahkness. In reality it was not a serious injury. Just a wake up call. I had literally five minutes before told the other climber to descend because i didn't want us getting too deep and rushing and doing something stupid. Thinking it would be him to rush and eff up. And then...

damn tree was like a trampoline. It had so much weight out over that porch. Total PITA even under good circumstances.

I think when I leaned forward to throw the piece my weight shift pushed the trunk down and away from me, out of my lanyard.

Never a good idea to climb pissed. More learning opportunities in that situation. It's just the kind of scenario that begs a step back to regroup, collect your thoughts and let the anger go. Then your head is in a better space to assess the best way to go forward. Once the job is called due to darkness it's time to pack up and get down. Modelling the behavior you expect from your crew is going to reinforce the lessons learned.

How you feeling now, Mac?

macswan · Jan 15, 2015

Feeling okay now.

evo · Jan 15, 2015

Damn, I know those kind of bruises well. Arnica works wonders, topically and the oral kind too. Gotta watch bruising like that too, it can lead to blood clots breaking up and getting into your blood stream it's rare but no good.

Richard Mumford-yoyoman · Jan 15, 2015

Me too! Glad you walked away from that one.
Question/Comment....You are 20' up in a tree or you are 20' away from and level with your anchor..... and you fall from your perch, which is going to have the most impact force?