Tree Lopper Leg Amputation

Forester · 30th August 2011, 09:55 AM

Tree worker in WA had left leg amputated while assisting with the lowering of branches using a rope system.

Quote:

Tree lopper leg amputation
The purpose of this Safety Alert is to highlight the circumstances which led to a worker’s leg being
amputated and suggest possible control measures to assist industry to manage the risk.

Background
A worker employed by a tree lopping company had his left leg amputated, while assisting with the
lowering of branches using a rope system.
The rope in use was green, approximately 30 metres long and tied around the base of the tree twice.
Approximately 10 metres of the rope was being used to lower branches and the remaining 20
metres of the rope was on the ground next to the worker, who was standing beside a truck mounted
elevating work platform. The worker had untied the rope from a branch that he had just lowered and
was sending it back up the tree. Another person then dragged that branch away to feed it into the
wood chipper. The spare rope length beside the worker became snagged in the branch as it was
dragged towards the chipper.
When the branch was fed into the wood chipper, the rope was also drawn into the moving parts of
the machine. It appears that the rope was either pulled taut between the tree and the wood chipper,
hitting the worker, or, as the rope travelled towards the chipper at speed the whipping affect caught
the workers leg. The worker was thrown against one of the outriggers on the elevating work platform
by the rope, cutting off his leg.
The site supervisor, who was overseeing the operation, immediately shut down the wood chipper
and commenced first aid.

Contributing factors
• The colour of the rope was green making it difficult to see.
• Excess rope was on the ground in an area where it could become tangled in branches being
dragged away.
• No one noticed that the excess rope had become snagged on the branch.
Action required
• Keep any rope not in use away from the work area, especially where branches are being
dragged into the wood chipper.
• Ensure that excess rope is secured. For example, use a rope bag or a retractable system.
• Use a suitable length of rope; limit the amount of excess rope.
• Use rope that is a contrasting colour to the vegetation, or clearly marked with contrasting
colour, making it easier to see.
• Check that nothing is entangled in material for chipping before it is fed into the chipper.
Further information
• Checklist for tree surgeons and gardening services including safe work with EWP’s
www.worksafe.wa.gov.au
• Working safely with trees Home - WorkSafe Victoria
• Contact: WorkSafe customer service 1300 307 877 or Email: safety@commerce.wa.gov.au

http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/worksa..._amputated.pdf

Eric Frei · 30th August 2011, 04:12 PM

Holy crap!

That is terrible.

Keep them ropes tidy, hmmm, I haven't got a green rope, all colours but green.

Ropes and chippers, deadly.

James Sayers · 30th August 2011, 06:19 PM

i had that sort of thing happen to me those chippers can eat alot of rope fast i was just lucky it ripped off the branch i was rigging and the sling pulley and kbina and just damaged my hand hope the guy is ok

Garry Brockley · 30th August 2011, 08:24 PM

That kind of thing is the stuff of nightmares for a climber

James Sayers · 30th August 2011, 08:40 PM

its all them little things that add up to the big ???? ups

Tony Knight · 30th August 2011, 08:44 PM

Bloody hell, I couldn't even begin to imagine what he thought at the time let alone now.

Best wishes mate....

Regards

Tony

Darrell Mcleod · 30th August 2011, 11:04 PM

Yes

Good luck mate!

Apocalypsse · 31st August 2011, 01:10 AM

Holy painful, thats some lightning speed the rope was taken up with to cut off a leg. I hope not only the guy himself is alright but the crew as well, that would really mess with you seeing a guy's leg come off, especially the guy feeding the chipper.

Rob Chace · 31st August 2011, 09:32 PM

...i though you cold NOT get GREEN rope? presumably for safety purposes anyway. Unless it was throwline....?

anyway not trying to detract

(bunnings rope maybe?)

Tony Knight · 31st August 2011, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robstar

...i though you cold NOT get GREEN rope? presumably for safety purposes anyway. Unless it was throwline....?

anyway not trying to detract

(bunnings rope maybe?)

My Tachyon rope is green with a black fleck through it, whilst my work does not envolve a hogger I take on board the warning and next time will be ordering orange.

Cheers

Tony

ArbTrain · 1st September 2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robstar

...i though you cold NOT get GREEN rope? presumably for safety purposes anyway. Unless it was throwline....?

anyway not trying to detract

(bunnings rope maybe?)

of course you can get green rope- seen the poison ivy ( by yale maybe),, terrible colour for a climbing rope but people are buying it. i think the bigger problem was the work practices not the colour of the rope- i have a green polyprop rope this i use on big takedowns- never had a problem cos the rope is green

Jeff Darby · 1st September 2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArbTrain

of course you can get green rope- seen the poison ivy ( by yale maybe),, terrible colour for a climbing rope but people are buying it. i think the bigger problem was the work practices not the colour of the rope- i have a green polyprop rope this i use on big takedowns- never had a problem cos the rope is green

The colour of the rope is one of the contributing factors...there were many. and they all led up to an amputed limb.

redmower · 1st September 2011, 08:25 PM

We have the green hi-ivy lifeline in daily use and I have use a yellow lifeline consistently for the past twelve months. We have mostly white rigging lines.

Flouro pink. Now that is an excellent good color for hi-visibility. With my eyesight that can't be beaten for standing out in vegetation in daylight. When the social stigma of using pink in the workplace finally gets overturned by industrial safety regulation we will have a product you really can see easily. I bet no one would buy it if it was on sale now in lifeline or rigging rope options. Maybe I would buy it and keep it hidden for night work.

Does not matter what color the rope is when someone hauls a branch out to the chipper without checking they are not dragging the lines as well. This becomes more important to watch for in short drag-outs when the chipper is closer to the tree work.

Jeff Darby · 1st September 2011, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

The colour of the rope is one of the contributing factors...there were many. and they all led up to an amputed limb.

It all come down to poor house keeping...imo. sloppy rope management in the tree or on the ground is pure laziness and will bring you unstuck sooner or later.

ArbTrain · 1st September 2011, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

It all come down to poor house keeping...imo. sloppy rope management in the tree or on the ground is pure laziness and will bring you unstuck sooner or later.

I never said rope colour wasnt A problem ,, but as YOURSELF said.. as did redmower.. slackness and sloppy house keeping were THE problem.. i dont care how green the rope was- when you are standing right beside the debris.. you can see the rope plain as day

Jeff Darby · 1st September 2011, 09:23 PM

Settle petal, your welcome to your opinion.... there was a continuation of errors that led to this unfortunate accident.

ArbTrain · 1st September 2011, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

Settle petal, your welcome to your opinion.... there was a continuation of errors that led to this unfortunate accident.

Petal??.. your the one being precious ... susan

Eric Frei · 1st September 2011, 09:37 PM

It SEEMS a new fad is breaking out .....

But guys, whoopty dooo about it, some poor buggers leg was cut off because a rope was in the stuff being chipped.

ArbTrain · 1st September 2011, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Frei

It SEEMS a new fad is breaking out .....

But guys, whoopty dooo about it, some poor buggers leg was cut off because a rope was in the stuff being chipped.

I could not agree more- horrible accident..

Jeff Darby · 1st September 2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArbTrain

I could not agree more- horrible accident..

moving on...

he paid heavily for a stuff up. susan..

ArbTrain · 1st September 2011, 10:04 PM

im glad we can all hav a grin about it ( not that its remotely funny).. i am a bit touchy about safety in the tree ind. right now- 1 hr ago i had dinner with some of the power line boys i am training in central Vic. a guy who happened to be there heard us talking trees came over and we all got talking,, this guy is a regional manager for a VERY large VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CO. and has been in the game for "about 3 years".... he has not got 1 industry qual.. NOT ONE .. so i am a little touchy about tree ind./ standards/safety. at the moment

Jeff Darby · 1st September 2011, 10:08 PM

We all take safety serious. The ones that dont ...well, what can I say? sooner of later they will be one of our stories here on Treeworld.

Eric Frei · 2nd September 2011, 09:12 AM

Hey Arbtrain,

I come across many businessmen that run tree companies that know little about trees or how to cut them down. Some of their quotes reflect that and at times it can put employees into very precarious positions with a lot of mental pressure on them to get the job done.

How about some of the classics where the tree's structural integrity is poor, and you know that a climber up there + rigging which could place way more load than double the weight of the cut piece being put on to the tree .... so you see EWP access and quote for an EWP. You know the EWP fees and rates and what it costs for the crew so in goes your price.

Customer says you are way too dear as Expert Know Nothing Tree Services said they do not need an EWP and can do it for $1000 less.

Happens.

On a quote I did just yesterday one of the trees had been topped, it had 3 decent epicormics coming out of the top and one in particular was growing bent like a banana over the dudes house. These were maybe 12m long and at attachment point maybe 200mm dia. Here's the crux of the matter, 3 remained but two have already torn out. The customer said when they fell he could not lift them they were that heavy, but missed the house. Without an EWP you would be tied into an epicormic and lowering off them. As the lopping point is level with the 2 story house roof you have to go up high on these epicormics, but why when the driveway is right next to the tree and house and an EWP could go straight up, providing the service wires are dropped.

So will the customer take the safe way or the cheap way?

Often they care more for money than you, but it is sad when your boss does the same.

ArbTrain · 3rd September 2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Frei

Hey Arbtrain,

I come across many businessmen that run tree companies that know little about trees or how to cut them down. Some of their quotes reflect that and at times it can put employees into very precarious positions with a lot of mental pressure on them to get the job done.

How about some of the classics where the tree's structural integrity is poor, and you know that a climber up there + rigging which could place way more load than double the weight of the cut piece being put on to the tree .... so you see EWP access and quote for an EWP. You know the EWP fees and rates and what it costs for the crew so in goes your price.

Customer says you are way too dear as Expert Know Nothing Tree Services said they do not need an EWP and can do it for $1000 less.

Happens.

On a quote I did just yesterday one of the trees had been topped, it had 3 decent epicormics coming out of the top and one in particular was growing bent like a banana over the dudes house. These were maybe 12m long and at attachment point maybe 200mm dia. Here's the crux of the matter, 3 remained but two have already torn out. The customer said when they fell he could not lift them they were that heavy, but missed the house. Without an EWP you would be tied into an epicormic and lowering off them. As the lopping point is level with the 2 story house roof you have to go up high on these epicormics, but why when the driveway is right next to the tree and house and an EWP could go straight up, providing the service wires are dropped.

So will the customer take the safe way or the cheap way?

Often they care more for money than you, but it is sad when your boss does the same.

Yep- sad but true.. the customer just wants the lowest price possible 9and in their defence generally know nothing of OHS in relation to tree work).. and way too many tree crew bosses want the job done quick and cheap ( for the company) so they maximise their profit.. we all see it all the time.. i guess people gotta decide for themselves if they work for bosses like this.. on the flip side- i got a heap of training lined up at the moment by tree co.s who are going out of their way to make sure their crews are up to speed with the nessessary skills.

in your part of the world Eric, ( used to be my part of the world too).. you would see this more than most- the gold coast is a real hot spot for price cutting, ticketless, talentless, moral-less, tree hacking butchers who make it hard for the REAL tree crews to get a gig.. i imagine you are familiar with a ...person.. by the name docker??..

Eric Frei · 3rd September 2011, 03:00 PM

He's still around!

I believe this was one of his crews.

ArbTrain · 3rd September 2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Frei

He's still around!

I believe this was one of his crews.

yeah.. he's still around.. ( and yes,- that was indeed him.. i know of several others, both personal injuryl and property damage). He's still grubbing all over the greater Bris. /gold cst area telling potential customers that they are the best tree crew around and getting people to sign what they very strictly refer to as a "work agreement"-' just so we are clear about what the quote/ job entails'... untill they say no to the quote- then they are told that they have signed a legally binding contract saying ONLY ..that company.. can do the work.. when they feel like it.. the customer is responsible for any damage, and that ..that company.. can do the job any time they like- up to 2 years i think- and if the customer gets another tree crew to do the work they still have to pay.. that company... the most morally bankrupt person i have ever met.. utterly obsessed with $$.. views workers as property to trash and discard

Grizzly · 7th November 2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony K

Bloody hell, I couldn't even begin to imagine what he thought at the time let alone now.

Best wishes mate....

Regards

Tony

neither can I. The last company I was working with had a guy brake his leg on a sprung lemon gum. Bad scean, bad day all around.

30th August 2011, 04:12 PM	#2
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation Holy crap! That is terrible. Keep them ropes tidy, hmmm, I haven't got a green rope, all colours but green. Ropes and chippers, deadly. __________________ 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

30th August 2011, 06:19 PM	#3
James Sayers Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: brisbane Posts: 84	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation i had that sort of thing happen to me those chippers can eat alot of rope fast i was just lucky it ripped off the branch i was rigging and the sling pulley and kbina and just damaged my hand hope the guy is ok

30th August 2011, 08:24 PM	#4
Garry Brockley Bayside Tree Care Brisbane Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Brisbane Aus Posts: 1,641	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation That kind of thing is the stuff of nightmares for a climber __________________ My business:- Brisbane Bayside Tree Care

30th August 2011, 08:40 PM	#5
James Sayers Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: brisbane Posts: 84	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation its all them little things that add up to the big ???? ups

30th August 2011, 08:44 PM	#6
Tony Knight Mature tree Join Date: May 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 311	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation Bloody hell, I couldn't even begin to imagine what he thought at the time let alone now. Best wishes mate.... Regards Tony

30th August 2011, 11:04 PM	#7
Darrell Mcleod Mature tree Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Victoria Australia Posts: 242	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation Yes Good luck mate!

31st August 2011, 01:10 AM	#8
Apocalypsse Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,152	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation Holy painful, thats some lightning speed the rope was taken up with to cut off a leg. I hope not only the guy himself is alright but the crew as well, that would really mess with you seeing a guy's leg come off, especially the guy feeding the chipper.

31st August 2011, 09:32 PM	#9
Rob Chace Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Perth, WA Posts: 238	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation ...i though you cold NOT get GREEN rope? presumably for safety purposes anyway. Unless it was throwline....? anyway not trying to detract (bunnings rope maybe?)

1st September 2011, 08:25 PM	#13
redmower Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: May 2010 Location: sub-tropical Queensland Posts: 75	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation We have the green hi-ivy lifeline in daily use and I have use a yellow lifeline consistently for the past twelve months. We have mostly white rigging lines. Flouro pink. Now that is an excellent good color for hi-visibility. With my eyesight that can't be beaten for standing out in vegetation in daylight. When the social stigma of using pink in the workplace finally gets overturned by industrial safety regulation we will have a product you really can see easily. I bet no one would buy it if it was on sale now in lifeline or rigging rope options. Maybe I would buy it and keep it hidden for night work. Does not matter what color the rope is when someone hauls a branch out to the chipper without checking they are not dragging the lines as well. This becomes more important to watch for in short drag-outs when the chipper is closer to the tree work.

1st September 2011, 09:23 PM	#16
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation Settle petal, your welcome to your opinion.... there was a continuation of errors that led to this unfortunate accident. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

1st September 2011, 09:37 PM	#18
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation It SEEMS a new fad is breaking out ..... But guys, whoopty dooo about it, some poor buggers leg was cut off because a rope was in the stuff being chipped. __________________ 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

1st September 2011, 10:04 PM	#21
ArbTrain Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South Coast Posts: 126	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation im glad we can all hav a grin about it ( not that its remotely funny).. i am a bit touchy about safety in the tree ind. right now- 1 hr ago i had dinner with some of the power line boys i am training in central Vic. a guy who happened to be there heard us talking trees came over and we all got talking,, this guy is a regional manager for a VERY large VEGETATION MANAGEMENT CO. and has been in the game for "about 3 years".... he has not got 1 industry qual.. NOT ONE .. so i am a little touchy about tree ind./ standards/safety. at the moment __________________ http://www.arbtrain.com.au

1st September 2011, 10:08 PM	#22
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation We all take safety serious. The ones that dont ...well, what can I say? sooner of later they will be one of our stories here on Treeworld. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

2nd September 2011, 09:12 AM	#23
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation Hey Arbtrain, I come across many businessmen that run tree companies that know little about trees or how to cut them down. Some of their quotes reflect that and at times it can put employees into very precarious positions with a lot of mental pressure on them to get the job done. How about some of the classics where the tree's structural integrity is poor, and you know that a climber up there + rigging which could place way more load than double the weight of the cut piece being put on to the tree .... so you see EWP access and quote for an EWP. You know the EWP fees and rates and what it costs for the crew so in goes your price. Customer says you are way too dear as Expert Know Nothing Tree Services said they do not need an EWP and can do it for $1000 less. Happens. On a quote I did just yesterday one of the trees had been topped, it had 3 decent epicormics coming out of the top and one in particular was growing bent like a banana over the dudes house. These were maybe 12m long and at attachment point maybe 200mm dia. Here's the crux of the matter, 3 remained but two have already torn out. The customer said when they fell he could not lift them they were that heavy, but missed the house. Without an EWP you would be tied into an epicormic and lowering off them. As the lopping point is level with the 2 story house roof you have to go up high on these epicormics, but why when the driveway is right next to the tree and house and an EWP could go straight up, providing the service wires are dropped. So will the customer take the safe way or the cheap way? Often they care more for money than you, but it is sad when your boss does the same. __________________ 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

3rd September 2011, 03:00 PM	#25
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	Re: Tree Lopper Leg Amputation He's still around! I believe this was one of his crews. __________________ 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

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