I got a scare 2 weeks ago

newguy18

I've been to busy to post this but I hope this reminds someone else how important that second tie in is on removals.I was taking a small tree down maybe 45' tall about 12" base diameter went smooth went up limbed it out and cut a notch in the top hooked the line so my dad could pull the top over.The top went over smooth as could be but I left the saw at a fast idle by my only tie in and cut it 3/4 the way through.I figured that I could make it down to the ground on it.I leaned into it to get past a stub and it snapped so at 20' up my dad had to throw my climbing line up to me so I could tie in and come down to fell the pole.I got lucky and I will NEVER go up without two tie ins again.I hope whoever reads this wether vets or newbies like me will learn that it only takes a second for an accident to happen I just happened to thrust myself towards the trunk and grab the pole with my hands.

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treesailor

I used to be cheap and would not buy a flipline with a cable core. I was chunking out a white pine at about 40 feet. Almost threw my climbing rope as I didn't think I needed it anymore. I usually tied in twice but I figured I was only chunking out. I took a chunk of tree and 75 percent of my flipline. I got lucky and was able to lean forward and save my but. Yeah use a cable flipline and always double tie. No tree job is worth your life!!

newguy18

Welcome to tree world treesailor.The tree I was in was a water oak.

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playfordtree

Everytime i make a cut with only 1 tie in,
it feels like i'm driving a car with with no seatbelt!

Two tie ins = more chance of coming home alive!

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newguy18

I under stand what you are saying but my truck doesn't have seatbelts.

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franz nel

how about switching off the saw after each stage of the operation. Wastes time but saves ....? Were you tied in fronyt middle or back. I don't want to preach I just wnt to live longer thanks for sharing your experience

shaggs

I have a wirecore flipline that i nicked about 15yrs ago. It sits on the wall in the shed where I see it every day....and reminds me every day about how careful we must be. I not ashamed to tell the tale when people ask, and how not to scrooge on money when it comes to safety.
Hi Franz, I agree with turning off the saw. It can be a PITA but I've gotten into the habit of turning off as soon at the cut is made. Makes communication easier too.

newguy18

Welcome to tree world franz nel i don't understand your question but i was tied with a non steel core flipline set with a double wrap.as for shuttting down the saw i didn't think about it.

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Houthakker

Climbing safe is climbing double! Problems with my boss in the past about this. Takes too much time he thinks, I don't put a foot in the tree of my ladder without a rope around something. Seen a guy in the Netherlands falling down ending up in a wheelchair. I complie with ... that I always turn of my chainsaw as soon as the cut is ready. Being an arborist is not only climbing, it is using your head as well. Even when it is filled with sawdust.

Ekka

Darned ladders, I fell off one too!

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newguy18

You use a ladder?don't you know how to rope climb?

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Ekka

Years ago, I used to use them to clean palms and not spike them ... now I come first screw the palms.

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newguy18

I know what you mean when the get more than 15' tall its just a matter of time till the come down.

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shaggs

I think everyone has to have a bad experience with a ladder to realise that climbing is the way to go.

newguy18

Yeah I had 2.The first was when i was 10 and deathly afaraid of heights my dad and I were doing a siding job on his aunt's house and he sent me 4 stories up a ladder that was already on top of thier porch to get his snips and I made that mistake of looking down while the wind was blowing.The second was 3 years ago i was climbing one to set a pull line in a tree so my uncle's friend could pull it with a tractor and my uncle waited until I got halfway up the ladder knowing I hated the things and he shook the chit out of the ladder so I grabbed ahold of a vine to keep from going over.nowadays i won't be caught dead on a ladder higher than 10'.

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Therrin

Hold up....

When I was only using 1" tubular webbing as my positioning and safety straps, I was always extremely cautious. Once I got my first steel-cored flipline, I think I began to feel a little over-confident. (which is bad, and dangerous).

One day i nicked the rope-sheathing on my steel-core flipline, and it um... "spliffed" the rope part. (spliffed is a very technical term, im sure you all know.... the rope "puffs" up)

So, noticing that the steel hadn't been touched at all, I just took some electrical tape and wrapped it around the poofed part of the rope sheath and called it good. Granted, it looks a little odd.

You're telling me that this ISNT SAFE?????

Okay, seriously though.... can I get by on it, as long as I'm using a second tie in, or does it HAVE to be retired?

a_lopa

I would retire it personally...for a few hundred $$$

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Ekka

Therrin

Lets run along with this theory.

The cable is inside the rope.

If the rope were cut all the way around but the steel core stayed in tact ... would it be possible that the rope would just slide along the core and you'd be a goner?

I think when we "skin" electrical wires the same principal applies.

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Therrin

it didnt cut the rope all the way around.
When I get my new camera I'll take pictures, I think its actually kinda iffy.
(I'm a college student, a couple hundred $$$ makes a big difference to me, not that I'm not worried about my safety, but until I have a buffer that I can fit that expense into, I try to over-compensate to make up for it)

Ace Master

I have two motto that i go by, for trees and gear!

IN DOUBT CUT OUT (trees)
IN DOUBT THROW OUT (gear)

Forget about you should have done this ,done that ,it will be to late by then.At the end of the day we all like to go home aliveYou can learn by other peoples mistakes as well as your ownNo need to say anymore..........the end.

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Sean Freeman

One of the most memorable moments relating to gear was to watch Adam Tom cut up different guy's gear during a safety inspection, the look on their faces when their lanyards and even harnesses get cut up!!!

Don't hang onto any life support gear you have nicked with a saw.

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pomme

in Aus does your kit need to be inspected by a certified competent person? or is your own visual inspection good enough?

Sean Freeman

To satisfy OH&S you need to document your inspections and have clear criteria about what you are looking for/at. This cutting up of gear happened at an TCC as part of the gear checking process before competition can't remember which one though.

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Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky,
We fell them down and turn them into paper,
That we may record our emptiness.
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Ekka

Therrin, I know you didn't cut it all the way around however I was making sure you and others knew what could happen if it were.

People think coz there's wire in there that she'll be right, and assume that the rope is decoration but the prussik/adjuster grips the rope and pulls the sheath.

I write these things here as for every person who posts or discusses the situation there's many times more who read and lurk.

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JayD

I agree, If it's ify, retire it, I inspect our climbing gear before and after our climbs, anything that's a bit sus I retire or down grade,such as climbing rope goes to tag line use,..etc...etc. But hey it your butt in your gear not mine, the final call is your's!

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DoG

I hope you don't mind me adding my two cents as a new climber. I've only been
climbing a year and a half, on and off. My thoughts everytime I tie into the tree
is everything I have learned from 4 web sites about tree work. I am not embarressed
to tie in more times than is considered safe. I'm not embarressed to take more time
to make sure I'M SAFE and going to get up the next morning. I know I have not
yet done the amount of tree work you awesome guys have done, but that is how I
am starting out and intend to keep it this way. Thanks for the post!

newguy18

welcomt to treeworld doG.it sounds like you take that extra minute that some of us don't me included.2 tie ins after that accident and I'm good.

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Therrin

Wow, I've gotta give you props for just learning from web sites. If I had done it that way I'd probably be scared stiff!
I'm not sure that it's a matter of embarrasment (at least not to me), if you're the one in the tree, then you do as you deem necessary for the time and place. People who look and see what you're doing, who don't climb, dont have a clue what's going on. All they think is "gee, that guy is nuts!!!" =)

wit

just remember one thing, safe climbing is to learn from a qualified trainer and do it a lot of time, two lines is a must if you want to stay alive, use your learning and think before
cutting, then remember to check your gear, !! allways !!.
safe climbing
Regards Wit

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reachtreeservice

Totally agree with Ace Master...In tree work , if you take any chances with your gear , Mr. Murphy may well come see you.

I have a 56 year old customer I work for every year, he's in a wheel chair from a tree work accident when he was 22.
Be smart, if you can't afford to replace your damaged gear, quit work till you can !