They it say it happens in three's

Jeff Darby · 20th May 2011, 09:03 PM

Three men fell out of tree's today...all very lucky to be alive to tell the tale!

Quote:

Spate of men falling from trees
Two elderly men are in hospital after falling from trees in two separate incidents today — while a third man suffered an electric shock ... also up a tree.

Intensive care paramedics were called to an 85-year-old man who fell from a tree in Avondale Heights just before 11am.

"He'd been up the ladder pruning a large tree when he lost his footing and fell onto a fence, nearly impaling himself," intensive care paramedic Matthew Singh said.

"He suffered a severe wound to the left side of his abdomen, internal injuries and multiple cuts and grazes across his body.

"We took him to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he swore he was going to have the tree cut down and never go near it again."

Less than an hour earlier, advanced life support paramedics attended an 80-year-old man who fell from an olive tree in Windsor.

They were called to the home by a neighbour who saw the man fall from a tree.

When they arrived, the man could not remember being in the tree but it was evident he'd fallen from about three metres up where there was a broken branch.

He had a large cut to his forehead and a suspected fractured right arm.

He was taken to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.

In the third tree incident, a man suffered an electric shock while up a tree at Tooradin this morning.

Paramedics from Cranbourne and Hampton Park were called to the scene just before noon, where the 26-year-old man had been unconscious for up to 10 minutes.

"We were told that he was lopping the tree when somehow he came into contact with powerlines," paramedic May Deveson said.

"Witnesses said he suffered a severe shock and lost consciousness while still several metres up the tree.

"When he came-to he was able to talk to us and was fully aware of what was going on.

"Because of the dangers of live power lines we waited about 45 minutes for the scene to be made safe before we could reach the man.

The man suffered serious burns to his legs and hands as a result of the shock and was taken to the Alfred Hospital in a stable condition.

'He's very lucky not to have fallen from the tree after suffering the shock and subsequent burns," Ms Deveson said.

Read more: Spate of men falling from trees

Apocalypsse · 21st May 2011, 12:20 AM

Interested in finding out more details about the climbing and powerlines. Anyone know what kind of powerline it was? Service wire, SWER, etc

Drouin Tree Service · 21st May 2011, 12:30 AM

Heard it was 3 wire HV most likely 22kv

Eric Frei · 21st May 2011, 08:25 AM

Man shocked by power lines at Tooradin - Emergency Services - News - Cranbourne Leader

Quote:

20 May 11
A MAN lopping a tree has suffered an electric shock after contacting power lines in Langtree Rd, Tooradin, about noon.

The man, aged in his 20s, was unconscious for about 10 minutes and was stuck in the 8m tree for about 45 minutes.

Ambulance crews had to wait for the power to be switched off before treating the man.

The man was conscious and breathing and was able to talk easily to paramedics.

The man has suffered serious burns to his legs and hands, and internal burns.

Burns dressing was put on his skin and he was flown by air ambulance to The Alfred hospital.

phill ellison · 21st May 2011, 10:18 AM

OUCH

Angus · 24th May 2011, 01:15 PM

Energy Safe Victoria Safety Alert, Tooradin Incident

Eric Frei · 25th May 2011, 09:28 AM

Thanks for that and good to see such a rapid release of info.

Sounds like he lost a limb backwards onto the 22KV wires which formed a circuit to ground via him or near him.

Part of the misconception to many people is that wood is an insulator, it is not.

Perhaps a pull rope was required.

Part of the problem also for tree people is:-

They need the work $'s
They may feel inept if they walk away, in other words their "image" is weakened.
They risk losing the job to some-one else who will take the risk and tell the customer what a wuzz they are etc

I say these things as it happens, I have walked away from a few then heard of others doing it etc. Before you know word spreads, "get Joe cowboy, he's great and will do anything, that other guy well he'll carry on about rules."

Brent Ferris · 25th May 2011, 03:35 PM

I have found it better to price the job higher - more danger, more bucks -- if you want Joe Cowboy to do it for cheap then he is risking his life and your property -- priced higher, there's more room, and time to do the job safely, and if you don't get the job, it is only because you are too pricey, not because (assumed) you don't know how

And Eric, wood is an insulator -- that is dead dry wood -- most of the branches we cut are green and they conduct quite well. But even dead wood has its limitations, and I would think 22 kv would be enough to overpower even dry wood.

Eric Frei · 25th May 2011, 05:45 PM

Near impossible for wood to be an electrical insulator outdoors exposed to elements, that's why wooden battons and poles still have insulators.

Resistance of wood varies with humidity and rain. In humid areas moisture content rises to be in equilibrium with surrounding air. It is upon this principal that wood moisture meters are designed, they measure electrical resistance and convert it to a % moisture content.

Angus · 26th May 2011, 02:19 PM

I suspect the rest of the country is the same as Victoria, the name of the line clearance game is production.

Generally you do not quote, you are told by your contractor how many bays must be done. Don't get the bays done, lose your contract.

There is big discussion happening right now in regards to that. It will be interesting to see how industry continues to evolve.

When the investigation into the incident is complete I am sure more pertinent details will emerge.

Apocalypsse · 26th May 2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angus

I suspect the rest of the country is the same as Victoria, the name of the line clearance game is production.

Generally you do not quote, you are told by your contractor how many bays must be done. Don't get the bays done, lose your contract.

There is big discussion happening right now in regards to that. It will be interesting to see how industry continues to evolve.

When the investigation into the incident is complete I am sure more pertinent details will emerge.

Big difference for Victoria is that the clearances are actual law (coz you remember that mega bushfire in Toorak LOL), councils can get fined for trees not being up to spec. Contracts are being upgraded state wide for more pruning cycles but there aren't enough people going around to hire so subbies will play a big part, especially out further and we will probably see more of this happening.

21st May 2011, 12:20 AM	#2
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,152	Re: They it say it happens in three's Interested in finding out more details about the climbing and powerlines. Anyone know what kind of powerline it was? Service wire, SWER, etc

21st May 2011, 12:30 AM	#3
Drouin Tree Service Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Posts: 1,727	Re: They it say it happens in three's Heard it was 3 wire HV most likely 22kv __________________ Drouin Tree Services \| Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland \| Landclearing Melbourne

21st May 2011, 10:18 AM	#5
phill ellison Mature tree Join Date: May 2008 Location: new zealand Posts: 450	Re: They it say it happens in three's OUCH

25th May 2011, 09:28 AM	#7
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: They it say it happens in three's Thanks for that and good to see such a rapid release of info. Sounds like he lost a limb backwards onto the 22KV wires which formed a circuit to ground via him or near him. Part of the misconception to many people is that wood is an insulator, it is not. Perhaps a pull rope was required. Part of the problem also for tree people is:- They need the work $'s They may feel inept if they walk away, in other words their "image" is weakened. They risk losing the job to some-one else who will take the risk and tell the customer what a wuzz they are etc I say these things as it happens, I have walked away from a few then heard of others doing it etc. Before you know word spreads, "get Joe cowboy, he's great and will do anything, that other guy well he'll carry on about rules." __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

25th May 2011, 03:35 PM	#8
Brent Ferris Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,557	Re: They it say it happens in three's I have found it better to price the job higher - more danger, more bucks -- if you want Joe Cowboy to do it for cheap then he is risking his life and your property -- priced higher, there's more room, and time to do the job safely, and if you don't get the job, it is only because you are too pricey, not because (assumed) you don't know how And Eric, wood is an insulator -- that is dead dry wood -- most of the branches we cut are green and they conduct quite well. But even dead wood has its limitations, and I would think 22 kv would be enough to overpower even dry wood. __________________ My business: Tree Pruning and Removals -- Strump Removals -- Advice -- Consulting -- Arborist Reports Consulting Forester If you want an honest opinion, call Brent Ferris...because, Trees want to Live Too ! We do great jobs, even in small yards. Free Estimates Oakville to Oshawa - North to Bradford (Will travel further if cost of travelling covered) Email -- treeshaveneeds@3web.com Cell 416-460-5704

25th May 2011, 05:45 PM	#9
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: They it say it happens in three's Near impossible for wood to be an electrical insulator outdoors exposed to elements, that's why wooden battons and poles still have insulators. Resistance of wood varies with humidity and rain. In humid areas moisture content rises to be in equilibrium with surrounding air. It is upon this principal that wood moisture meters are designed, they measure electrical resistance and convert it to a % moisture content. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

26th May 2011, 02:19 PM	#10
Angus Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 53	Re: They it say it happens in three's I suspect the rest of the country is the same as Victoria, the name of the line clearance game is production. Generally you do not quote, you are told by your contractor how many bays must be done. Don't get the bays done, lose your contract. There is big discussion happening right now in regards to that. It will be interesting to see how industry continues to evolve. When the investigation into the incident is complete I am sure more pertinent details will emerge. __________________ Angus McMahon Sherbrooke Tree Service

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