Home Owner| Tree Crew Accidents| Accidents

TREE-SURFER · 6th February 2008, 09:56 PM

I thought it might be a good point to make; the seriousness of our trade and make it knowledgeable to those that really havn't got a clue, as to how dangerous our industry is. After all, you wouldn't go jumping out of a plane without a parachute, nor would you take a fillet stake for a swim around the Barrier Reef, Lets leave the tree work for the Pro's. people, trees often bite back.
I came across this post of a couple of foreign guy's, removing a lower limb of a tree. The only surgery made that day, was I think, made to the cutters face.
Take a look and add your own points/findings.
Tree Cutting Accident

(No gruesome images or blood is revealed)

Therrin · 6th February 2008, 10:05 PM

Hmmm...

I can't help but realize that in the last two weeks, I've been hit in the face zero times on account of my cutting procedures, and about 4 times, pretty good, on account of dumb-ass groundies not paying attention when moving stuff. Been hit in the face with the flat-side of the bar of my 361 by a groundie, have a still-healing cut under my eye from being whacked by a groundie moving some stuff, got thunked in the head by a groundie turning around while holding a large branch, .... came around the end of the truck and groundie threw a branch in my face.

I'm gonna fire the lot of em, I swear! Damn unaware bastards!

TREEMONKEY · 7th February 2008, 12:27 AM

Therrin

I Know exactly what your saying! I hate clueless lazy clumsy workers.

I watched the new guy next door destroy a perfectly good tree a tried to stop him but he could not here me. He ripped a strip right down a nice maple. i just introduced myself told him i cut trees had my dump truck and chipper in driveway. 5 minutes later he is standing on a ladder taking off big branches

Oldtimer · 7th February 2008, 04:04 AM

Rec climber serious injury
This is the first time I've heard of a Rope and Harness Recreational Tree climber suffering a serious injury falling out of a tree:

happy helmet - Tree Climbing

Here is a detailed summary of the accident and the costly recovery.

It was bound to happen I guess, the climber is doing ok after recovering from a broken back.
-Copied from "Moss" posting

TREE-SURFER · 7th February 2008, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TREEMONKEY

Therrin

I Know exactly what your saying! I hate clueless lazy clumsy workers.

I watched the new guy next door destroy a perfectly good tree a tried to stop him but he could not here me. He ripped a strip right down a nice maple. i just introduced myself told him i cut trees had my dump truck and chipper in driveway. 5 minutes later he is standing on a ladder taking off big branches

Any accidents?...we could really do with some pictures if we can, or videos, to get the point right across.

Eric Frei · 7th February 2008, 07:58 PM

Oldtimer,

That's a well written story.

It's easily forgotten that it's only the outside that is alive and the inside can be rotten/decayed/termite hollowed etc. That limb that broke had patches of live cambium, enough to keep things green and alive looking, but inside it was crud.

It was an ambitious tie in, don't know why he didn't go for one closer to the trunk etc.

Lower branches can be more susceptible to problems due to shading from upper branches, it's also the lower branches that naturally shed.

TREEMONKEY · 8th February 2008, 02:51 AM

My neighbor did not hurt himself just the tree. although he was lucky a large branch bounced back into the ladder if he was not hanging on to the tree he definably would have fell. here is the results to the tree.

Eric Frei · 8th February 2008, 07:09 AM

And a nasty cut for the tree too!

R.Boreal · 8th February 2008, 07:21 AM

Wow - even before I read the whole article, when I scrolled down and saw the picture where he had traced the outline of the broken branch in orange ... and I saw what remained of it ... YIKES!! That's an extremely skinny branch, even at the collar. I could not imagine ever making a decision to tie into it 10ft out.

I feel very sympathetic toward this man, and I hope his healing is going well. That being said, if I can kindly implore fellow recreational climbers to please go WAY CONSERVATIVE when estimating the strength of your tie in points. I go pretty high into my trees and I do tie in to some thin branches - but hardly ever less than 4" healthy green top growth. Always vertical or near vertical branches, loaded mostly straight down.
I appreciate this guy sharing his extremely painful ordeal with us to remind us that for all of our strong, expensive gear, it's choosing the wrong TIP that's most likely gonna come back to bite us in the ass. Don't load a limb in such a way as to leverage a weak axis.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldtimer

Rec climber serious injury
This is the first time I've heard of a Rope and Harness Recreational Tree climber suffering a serious injury falling out of a tree:

happy helmet - Tree Climbing

Here is a detailed summary of the accident and the costly recovery.

It was bound to happen I guess, the climber is doing ok after recovering from a broken back.
-Copied from "Moss" posting

TREE-SURFER · 8th February 2008, 07:54 AM

The Drastic Effects of a Kick-Back

Quote:

This young farm hand was lucky not to lose an eye after being cut by a chainsaw that had no chain brake.

Inertia loaded chain brakes are nearly a must for Aerial work.

Quote:

While cutting down a huge tree for a friend, Jim W. Coleman had a nasty accident with a chainsaw, one which could easily have severed the hand. The wrist bones were completely crushed and it was a long, painful road to recovery. The worse part? Dealing with Farmer's Insurance. While in the emergency room, Jim did have the presence of mind to snap this photo with his cell phone camera.

No documentary was made as to how he exactly got this injury, other than with a chainsaw.

JohN Dee · 12th February 2008, 04:10 PM

Many people H.O's think that a chainsaw is only dangerous whilst' it is running. This is not that case!

Last night unloading our gear from the truck, my gf was helping me. I grabbed the stuff out - she put it in the garage (Yeah I'm lazy).

She came back up after putting away the first load she took.

I was carting away with my load when all of a sudden I hear a fumble/laugh from my gf and my little sister. So straight away I thought nothing of it until I heard the big cry "BAHOOOORHHHHR!". I went over there thinking she was having a joke with me...

She had stepped on the bar (the cutter to be exact[Chain]-[She had no shoes on]) of the 066 that had a full chisel razor sharp (I sharpened it that day and we didn't use it). She had burst into tears holding her middle toe with blood running everywhere. I grabbed her up and carried her inside for my parents to help me assess (Laugh & giggle) the situation. Being trained in Senior First Aid, it was aparrent that she was going to need stitches as she had taken a whole chunk of skin out from it.

So I took her to the hospital (Medicare FTW)... 3 and a half hours later (of boring SHIT hospital TV in the waiting room) + a tetnus shot later she got 4 stitches put into the bottom of her middle toe.

She has to see the Dr in 3 days to check that it hasn't became infected and gets them out in 14 days.

SMJ · 13th February 2008, 02:29 AM

A similar thing happened to me...
I was carrying a large saw with a 30 inch bar and tripped over something (still have no idea what it was - it wasn't my feet!

). I fell on the bar and cut my wrist in 5 places - 4 hrs hospital and the ritual. Now I cover the bar during transport at all times.

Stefan

arborjockey · 13th February 2008, 02:52 AM

A good rule of thumb is (holding the handle

) face the bar behind you, put your thumbs facing out.

If you trip, the idea is that the bar is pulled away from you. Try it???

TreeHumper · 13th February 2008, 04:18 AM

OUCH! That limb he tied into was in no way adequate to tie into. As he pointed he lacked proper training. I know I'm going to get grief over this but, it is the cost to companies and health insurance that drive standards in any industry to reduce accidents by implementing new standards.

newguy18 · 28th March 2008, 09:59 AM

I know its nessecary from time to time but as a preety good rule of thumb try to tie in right up against the runk and have a line long enought to reach the ground.

luckilylost29 · 3rd October 2008, 01:04 PM

I too know what it is like to get hit in the face. The picture on my profile is the day after I got hit in the face by a large branch of an Oak tree. This accident was caused by laziness. I was the ground guy holding a rope attached to an extremely large oak tree branch. My brother in law who was a foreman for both Davey and Ashplund tree services was running the saw and rigging up the branch. I was told that I would have to hold on tight to the rope and I would be able to stop the limb from hitting the homeowners truck and motor home. My lazy brother in law did not rig up the branch correctly cause he was to lazy to climb and rap the rope around the upper branch a couple times. He just looped it over and when the branch fell I was catapulted into the air where the calling branch hit me in the left side of the face causing over a hundred fractures, tore my left ear off, and that was all followed by a 15 to 20 foot fall. The best part of this is I wasnt getting paid and he wasnt even insured. I am new to this site and I have only been doing the tree thing for for a couple of years now so I really dont know what I can do here. If there is anyone who knows what I can do to get some help with my medical bills I would greatly appreciate it.

newguy18 · 3rd October 2008, 01:14 PM

Your brother in law is totally liable for what happened to you.I'm not really the type to sue but it might be nessecary in your case.No insurance,i live in the middle of nowhere where it isn't required,but in most areas it is requiered if you have groundworkers.Hope that helps.

luckilylost29 · 3rd October 2008, 01:22 PM

I would rather not sue my brother in law, but I was thinking about something in the effect of the home owners insurance. It was one of my brother in laws friends and I really wasnt working for anyone.

newguy18 · 3rd October 2008, 01:24 PM

Were you holding the rope for you b.i.l?If yes then he is liable.

Eric Frei · 3rd October 2008, 06:26 PM

Nasty situation.

Good Samaritan gets shafted.

We aren't lawyers, and we in Australia dont have a medical system like the USA either.

If you were cutting your own tree on the weekend and that happened somehow it would be tough luck right.

Volunteers are covered by wc here. This is where it gets ugly.

Say I need a hand moving a big old fridge out, my neighbour comes over to give me a hand, slips and does his back in ... guess what, ugly situation. And think about the amount of times we do stuff like that.

Sorry I cant help more, how long ago was that and how are you doing now?

6th February 2008, 09:56 PM	#1
TREE-SURFER Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man,UK. Posts: 337	Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents I thought it might be a good point to make; the seriousness of our trade and make it knowledgeable to those that really havn't got a clue, as to how dangerous our industry is. After all, you wouldn't go jumping out of a plane without a parachute, nor would you take a fillet stake for a swim around the Barrier Reef, Lets leave the tree work for the Pro's. people, trees often bite back. I came across this post of a couple of foreign guy's, removing a lower limb of a tree. The only surgery made that day, was I think, made to the cutters face. Take a look and add your own points/findings. Tree Cutting Accident (No gruesome images or blood is revealed) __________________ The Aerial Arborist Isle of Man Tree Surgeon\| All Aspects of Tree Work What experts say about TOPPING

6th February 2008, 10:05 PM	#2
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Home Owner / Tree Crew Accidents Hmmm... I can't help but realize that in the last two weeks, I've been hit in the face zero times on account of my cutting procedures, and about 4 times, pretty good, on account of dumb-ass groundies not paying attention when moving stuff. Been hit in the face with the flat-side of the bar of my 361 by a groundie, have a still-healing cut under my eye from being whacked by a groundie moving some stuff, got thunked in the head by a groundie turning around while holding a large branch, .... came around the end of the truck and groundie threw a branch in my face. I'm gonna fire the lot of em, I swear! Damn unaware bastards!

7th February 2008, 12:27 AM	#3
TREEMONKEY Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ONTARIO, CANADA Posts: 93	Re: Home Owner / Tree Crew Accidents Therrin I Know exactly what your saying! I hate clueless lazy clumsy workers. I watched the new guy next door destroy a perfectly good tree a tried to stop him but he could not here me. He ripped a strip right down a nice maple. i just introduced myself told him i cut trees had my dump truck and chipper in driveway. 5 minutes later he is standing on a ladder taking off big branches __________________ Last edited by TREEMONKEY; 7th February 2008 at 02:06 AM.

7th February 2008, 04:04 AM	#4
Oldtimer Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Austin TX Posts: 102	Re: Serious Injuries & Close calls Rec climber serious injury This is the first time I've heard of a Rope and Harness Recreational Tree climber suffering a serious injury falling out of a tree: happy helmet - Tree Climbing Here is a detailed summary of the accident and the costly recovery. It was bound to happen I guess, the climber is doing ok after recovering from a broken back. -Copied from "Moss" posting

7th February 2008, 07:58 PM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents Oldtimer, That's a well written story. It's easily forgotten that it's only the outside that is alive and the inside can be rotten/decayed/termite hollowed etc. That limb that broke had patches of live cambium, enough to keep things green and alive looking, but inside it was crud. It was an ambitious tie in, don't know why he didn't go for one closer to the trunk etc. Lower branches can be more susceptible to problems due to shading from upper branches, it's also the lower branches that naturally shed. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

8th February 2008, 02:51 AM	#7
TREEMONKEY Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: ONTARIO, CANADA Posts: 93	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents My neighbor did not hurt himself just the tree. although he was lucky a large branch bounced back into the ladder if he was not hanging on to the tree he definably would have fell. here is the results to the tree. Attached Thumbnails __________________

8th February 2008, 07:09 AM	#8
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents And a nasty cut for the tree too! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

12th February 2008, 04:10 PM	#11
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents Many people H.O's think that a chainsaw is only dangerous whilst' it is running. This is not that case! Last night unloading our gear from the truck, my gf was helping me. I grabbed the stuff out - she put it in the garage (Yeah I'm lazy). She came back up after putting away the first load she took. I was carting away with my load when all of a sudden I hear a fumble/laugh from my gf and my little sister. So straight away I thought nothing of it until I heard the big cry "BAHOOOORHHHHR!". I went over there thinking she was having a joke with me... She had stepped on the bar (the cutter to be exact[Chain]-[She had no shoes on]) of the 066 that had a full chisel razor sharp (I sharpened it that day and we didn't use it). She had burst into tears holding her middle toe with blood running everywhere. I grabbed her up and carried her inside for my parents to help me assess (Laugh & giggle) the situation. Being trained in Senior First Aid, it was aparrent that she was going to need stitches as she had taken a whole chunk of skin out from it. So I took her to the hospital (Medicare FTW)... 3 and a half hours later (of boring SHIT hospital TV in the waiting room) + a tetnus shot later she got 4 stitches put into the bottom of her middle toe. She has to see the Dr in 3 days to check that it hasn't became infected and gets them out in 14 days. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

13th February 2008, 02:29 AM	#12
SMJ I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 3	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents A similar thing happened to me... I was carrying a large saw with a 30 inch bar and tripped over something (still have no idea what it was - it wasn't my feet! ). I fell on the bar and cut my wrist in 5 places - 4 hrs hospital and the ritual. Now I cover the bar during transport at all times. Stefan

13th February 2008, 02:52 AM	#13
arborjockey Mature tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: hawaii. ohio. oregon. california Posts: 260	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents A good rule of thumb is (holding the handle) face the bar behind you, put your thumbs facing out. If you trip, the idea is that the bar is pulled away from you. Try it???

13th February 2008, 04:18 AM	#14
TreeHumper Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 15	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents OUCH! That limb he tied into was in no way adequate to tie into. As he pointed he lacked proper training. I know I'm going to get grief over this but, it is the cost to companies and health insurance that drive standards in any industry to reduce accidents by implementing new standards.

28th March 2008, 09:59 AM	#15
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents I know its nessecary from time to time but as a preety good rule of thumb try to tie in right up against the runk and have a line long enought to reach the ground. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

3rd October 2008, 01:04 PM	#16
luckilylost29 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents I too know what it is like to get hit in the face. The picture on my profile is the day after I got hit in the face by a large branch of an Oak tree. This accident was caused by laziness. I was the ground guy holding a rope attached to an extremely large oak tree branch. My brother in law who was a foreman for both Davey and Ashplund tree services was running the saw and rigging up the branch. I was told that I would have to hold on tight to the rope and I would be able to stop the limb from hitting the homeowners truck and motor home. My lazy brother in law did not rig up the branch correctly cause he was to lazy to climb and rap the rope around the upper branch a couple times. He just looped it over and when the branch fell I was catapulted into the air where the calling branch hit me in the left side of the face causing over a hundred fractures, tore my left ear off, and that was all followed by a 15 to 20 foot fall. The best part of this is I wasnt getting paid and he wasnt even insured. I am new to this site and I have only been doing the tree thing for for a couple of years now so I really dont know what I can do here. If there is anyone who knows what I can do to get some help with my medical bills I would greatly appreciate it.

3rd October 2008, 01:14 PM	#17
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents Your brother in law is totally liable for what happened to you.I'm not really the type to sue but it might be nessecary in your case.No insurance,i live in the middle of nowhere where it isn't required,but in most areas it is requiered if you have groundworkers.Hope that helps. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

3rd October 2008, 01:22 PM	#18
luckilylost29 I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents I would rather not sue my brother in law, but I was thinking about something in the effect of the home owners insurance. It was one of my brother in laws friends and I really wasnt working for anyone.

3rd October 2008, 01:24 PM	#19
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents Were you holding the rope for you b.i.l?If yes then he is liable. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

3rd October 2008, 06:26 PM	#20
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Home Owner\| Tree Crew Accidents\| Accidents Nasty situation. Good Samaritan gets shafted. We aren't lawyers, and we in Australia dont have a medical system like the USA either. If you were cutting your own tree on the weekend and that happened somehow it would be tough luck right. Volunteers are covered by wc here. This is where it gets ugly. Say I need a hand moving a big old fridge out, my neighbour comes over to give me a hand, slips and does his back in ... guess what, ugly situation. And think about the amount of times we do stuff like that. Sorry I cant help more, how long ago was that and how are you doing now? __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

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