Am I a bad person?

juniorgilman · 11th May 2007, 02:00 PM

I was on my way to play in a softball game last night when I noticed two guys in a yard staring up at a tree that had been poorly pruned (sometime in the past) and was leaning toward the house. There was a 25ft ladder leaned up on the tree that may or may not have been tied to the tree at the top. The men were pointing up and gesturing in the direction the thought the tree might fall. I did not stop to beg them not to do what was so obviously on their minds, however as I drove I offered a little prayer for their sanity and safety. Since I'm not in full swing in the business, I don't know if I have much in the way of expertise to offer. I do know from monitoring you guys for the past six months and some common sense that they were about to embark on an extremely dangerous situation.

Ekka, I know how much you like pictures, but unfortunately I did not have a camera. Of course if I would have had time to take the pics, I would have warned the men.

Matt

Ekka · 11th May 2007, 03:58 PM

Many times they get up there and chicken out.

Way back in the beginning I used to tie a rope around my waist thru the belt holes of my trousers ... that's a start but overall you need the gear to be safe.

People just have to save a buck and also conquer a tree dont they? Then when they're laid up and busted they realise it's a profession.

Marc · 11th May 2007, 04:15 PM

I know where your coming from Matt I had a similar situation not so long back, I drove past a house and saw a guy cutting down a conifer with a cheap saw and no safty gear.
At first I was'nt sure what I saw so I doubled back and parked up to see what was going on out of morbid curiosty, at first it did'nt look so bad he had his wife/girlfriend helping. He had already removed a lot of the lower branches leaving pegs from the ground and off a ladder.
It was what i saw next that scared me, with one leg on the top rung and one wrapped around the stem he lifted the saw to neck height and proceed'd to cut straight through from the back, he struggled like hell as the saw began to get trapped in the kerf, but eventually he managed to cut through enough to get it off stripping about a meter of bark in the process.

I then had to leave, it was a real moral dilemma but i did not intervene, unfortunatly its all to common and most of the time they get away with it through sheer luck.

One guy was'nt so lucky when he chopped his wife's head off whilst she footed the ladder as he lopped a few branches and lost control of the saw.

Another point and a relevent one is that these d.i.y accident's are recorded alongside accidents that happen within the professional industry which corrupt the figures!

Don't beat yourself up about it though Matt your not a bad person.

Marc · 11th May 2007, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Many times they get up there and chicken out.

Way back in the beginning I used to tie a rope around my waist thru the belt holes of my trousers ... that's a start but overall you need the gear to be safe.

People jusy have to save a buck and also conquer a tree dont they? Then when they're laid up and busted they realise it's a profession.

Thats another reason I did'nt intervene as I too had done similar stunts before I took up tree work professionally.

JohN Dee · 13th May 2007, 06:25 AM

Matt, your not a bad person.

If it was a sin to let a home owner d.i.y a tree with a ladder - I would most definately be going to hell to be tortured for a thousand years for the dozens of home owners/hacks I see and drive past.

Off Topic: Matt, what part of the world are you from?
Some home owners need to hurt themselves so a lesson can be learn't, so they apreciate our profession and why we ask for the money we do.

juniorgilman · 14th May 2007, 07:51 AM

Thanks for the encouragement. I am just getting my feet wet in the industry and have done some silly things myself. You guys are a wealth of info, and I am enjoying this Tree World site, it seems to be more productive that some others that I won't name

. Not to say they don't have their good points though. I just wanted to check what kind of social responsibility we have towards the types of situations I saw.

I updated my profile and Signature to give a little more info. Maidens is just west of Richmond.

Thank you guys for what you are doing here to help each other be better professionals, and share info to those who need it.

I was unaware that DIY accident numbers were added to the industry numbers. That just isn't anywhere close to being fare to any industry.

I've have tried to get in with a local arborist, but haven't been very successful, so if there are any guys looking for a good man to help out part time while I learn I would be much obliged.

Ekka · 14th May 2007, 02:52 PM

We try to have a blend of info and fun.

Do realise many people have their own little ways of doing things and as time rolls on you will to.

I was fortunate to have learned very early from a well respected guy here and developed some good habits.

When you start to climb think ergonomically. Simple things that will make life easier.

Just for me for instance, I have that hook so I can hang my saw up one handed without trying to open biner gates etc. It's on RH side of me where I finsh 90% of my cuts so no lifting the saw over my lanyard.

Have your adjuster on the left so no confusion etc ... good habits.

Jump on the yellow pages in your area and ring around, also ring ads in the paper etc looking for work ... be persistent and you'll get a job.

juniorgilman · 16th May 2007, 02:23 PM

An interesting side note to the original post is that I was on my way back home after winning the game of course, when I witnessed an automobile wreck right beside me. A guy ran a red light and t-boned a lady coming across the intersection.

I did decide to stay and give a statement as a witness to the police. I at least took care of my civic duty for that incident.

Matt

11th May 2007, 02:00 PM	#1 (permalink)
juniorgilman Sappling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maidens, VA Posts: 44	Am I a bad person? I was on my way to play in a softball game last night when I noticed two guys in a yard staring up at a tree that had been poorly pruned (sometime in the past) and was leaning toward the house. There was a 25ft ladder leaned up on the tree that may or may not have been tied to the tree at the top. The men were pointing up and gesturing in the direction the thought the tree might fall. I did not stop to beg them not to do what was so obviously on their minds, however as I drove I offered a little prayer for their sanity and safety. Since I'm not in full swing in the business, I don't know if I have much in the way of expertise to offer. I do know from monitoring you guys for the past six months and some common sense that they were about to embark on an extremely dangerous situation. Ekka, I know how much you like pictures, but unfortunately I did not have a camera. Of course if I would have had time to take the pics, I would have warned the men. Matt

11th May 2007, 03:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,734	Many times they get up there and chicken out. Way back in the beginning I used to tie a rope around my waist thru the belt holes of my trousers ... that's a start but overall you need the gear to be safe. People just have to save a buck and also conquer a tree dont they? Then when they're laid up and busted they realise it's a profession. __________________ Arborist Training in Australia\| Your Free Helping Guide Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory .... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Tree Care, Consulting, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

13th May 2007, 06:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
JohN Dee Moderator - Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 869	Matt, your not a bad person. If it was a sin to let a home owner d.i.y a tree with a ladder - I would most definately be going to hell to be tortured for a thousand years for the dozens of home owners/hacks I see and drive past. Off Topic: Matt, what part of the world are you from? Some home owners need to hurt themselves so a lesson can be learn't, so they apreciate our profession and why we ask for the money we do. __________________ Don't tell me the sky is the limit, when there are footprints on the moon. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

14th May 2007, 07:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
juniorgilman Sappling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maidens, VA Posts: 44	Thanks for the encouragement. I am just getting my feet wet in the industry and have done some silly things myself. You guys are a wealth of info, and I am enjoying this Tree World site, it seems to be more productive that some others that I won't name . Not to say they don't have their good points though. I just wanted to check what kind of social responsibility we have towards the types of situations I saw. I updated my profile and Signature to give a little more info. Maidens is just west of Richmond. Thank you guys for what you are doing here to help each other be better professionals, and share info to those who need it. I was unaware that DIY accident numbers were added to the industry numbers. That just isn't anywhere close to being fare to any industry. I've have tried to get in with a local arborist, but haven't been very successful, so if there are any guys looking for a good man to help out part time while I learn I would be much obliged. __________________ Husky 385xp Husky 334t

14th May 2007, 02:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ekka Admin - Dip Arb & Hort Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 7,734	We try to have a blend of info and fun. Do realise many people have their own little ways of doing things and as time rolls on you will to. I was fortunate to have learned very early from a well respected guy here and developed some good habits. When you start to climb think ergonomically. Simple things that will make life easier. Just for me for instance, I have that hook so I can hang my saw up one handed without trying to open biner gates etc. It's on RH side of me where I finsh 90% of my cuts so no lifting the saw over my lanyard. Have your adjuster on the left so no confusion etc ... good habits. Jump on the yellow pages in your area and ring around, also ring ads in the paper etc looking for work ... be persistent and you'll get a job. __________________ Arborist Training in Australia\| Your Free Helping Guide Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory .... Yes, I also SEO (Optimize) and build websites that fly high in Google Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane - Gold Coast Tree Care, Consulting, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

11th May 2007, 04:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Marc Sappling Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 17	I know where your coming from Matt I had a similar situation not so long back, I drove past a house and saw a guy cutting down a conifer with a cheap saw and no safty gear. At first I was'nt sure what I saw so I doubled back and parked up to see what was going on out of morbid curiosty, at first it did'nt look so bad he had his wife/girlfriend helping. He had already removed a lot of the lower branches leaving pegs from the ground and off a ladder. It was what i saw next that scared me, with one leg on the top rung and one wrapped around the stem he lifted the saw to neck height and proceed'd to cut straight through from the back, he struggled like hell as the saw began to get trapped in the kerf, but eventually he managed to cut through enough to get it off stripping about a meter of bark in the process. I then had to leave, it was a real moral dilemma but i did not intervene, unfortunatly its all to common and most of the time they get away with it through sheer luck. One guy was'nt so lucky when he chopped his wife's head off whilst she footed the ladder as he lopped a few branches and lost control of the saw. Another point and a relevent one is that these d.i.y accident's are recorded alongside accidents that happen within the professional industry which corrupt the figures! Don't beat yourself up about it though Matt your not a bad person.

16th May 2007, 02:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
juniorgilman Sappling Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maidens, VA Posts: 44	An interesting side note to the original post is that I was on my way back home after winning the game of course, when I witnessed an automobile wreck right beside me. A guy ran a red light and t-boned a lady coming across the intersection. I did decide to stay and give a statement as a witness to the police. I at least took care of my civic duty for that incident. Matt __________________ Husky 385xp Husky 334t

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