me topping out walnut trees

dov

If you are referring to me, I assure you that I am a professional, but that I mainly deal with suburban trees. I don't yet tackle, say, huge Radiatas or the like as I don't think I have the training to deal with it well enough yet. With the majority of trees I see, climbing like a monkey or using a ladder (securely fastened and footed - I'm pretty anal about that) is all that is required. Sheesh. I've done almost whole jobs walking along the top rail of a paling fence. I do wear a harness on occasion, say for Lili-pillys that have branches which snap without warning. The level of PPE or climbing aids required does depend on the size and risk factor of the job. I still maintain that KNOWING THE RISKS and how to prevent them, doing your cuts properly, keeping your equipment maintained and knowing how to use it is by far more important than PPE.

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stirmantrees

well, i think doing your arb classes will turn out to be a good decision.

yes, i have both style helmets (petzel rock climbing and stihl system with ear protection and face mask) and i believe that both have advantages and disadvantages. the chin strap could actually break your neck if it got caught on something like a branch on a good slip, highly unlikely though. And the stihl does tend to fly off in a good fall/slip. A seemingly viable stub broke off once and the stihl protected me from initial impact and got slung off my head (good thing i had a saddle and rope and helmet though- ofcourse i may just be an idiot)

dov

Haha! I agree with you about the helmets. Personally I don't tend to wear one. We really need one that is better designed for our industry. Rock-climbing helmets are the best I've seen so far, but the price is ridiculous.

As I said before. What gear you use depends on the trees you do. From the knee-jerk reactions I've gotten I reckon there are guys out there who'd put on a harness to prune an apricot tree!

Personally a I never used a harness much and never really got used to it. Because of industries I've worked in previously (including as a firefighter) I'm really big on UNDERSTANDING risks and what you are doing. That's where safety comes from. That's how I assess when I really need a harness and when I don't.

Incidentally, the only harness I used before was a big thing with a solid seat in it that felt like a nappy with two days of crap in the back of it. I hated it cos it got in the way all the time and was heavy and annoying. The flipline with it was a cheap and super heavy one which was too short to double tail with all the time. Couldn't wait to get down the tree and get it off. Just bought myself a Sequoia which seems to fit my climbing style far more, so perhaps I'll be using a harness a bit more in the future. I also got a Yale Maxi-flip 'sport' flipline which is incredibly light, but still steel cored and I got it long enough to double tail with conveniently.

For most of the jobs I do though I'm not more than 7-8m off the ground. Monkey climbing is generally quite safe.

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dov

Hmm. Yes. There are jobs I just won't do cos I don't understand the risks well enough. I also want to learn how to climb with ropes properly. It would be so useful and a lot safer for some jobs.

Stuff! Used up much of my morning again on this site! Got to go to work and make some money!

By the way, really nice profile pic there stirmantrees.

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stirmantrees

thanks.

FlashD

I would really like to know what companies you work for that still allow you to prune with spurs on. They must really be some backwoods, hick, redneck, straight up HACK companies.

You have some seriously large walnut trees. Not saying they don't get that big (National record being 112'). I've never seen one over maybe 70' and that's probably streching it. Even in walnut groves here, where walnuts grow natively, you're lucky to find a walnut tree over 60'.

Welcome to tree world. Remember, life is all about risks and risk managment. Just because the risks haven't caught up with you in your 12 year career, doesn't mean they won't.

Fairfield

I know that walnuts in the Pennsylvania area can get tall as well. Narly things they can be, lots of twists and turns. Lumber guys love them here as well.

Hey man if you are as good as you know you are dont worry about getting worked up at others that are writing about you. Just keep your pics coming be respeactful even when others are not so much toward you at times. Your work in the end will stand for it's self. Besides there will always be one thing or another that someone will not like or dissagree with.

P.S , If you deside to use PPE again some day, alot of use will breath easyer.

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Hi yes you know me I am B.A.M.F nice to meet you