Predicament in NY

Jake14086

I currently work for a tree company in Western New York. It has 3 employees including myself, however I am the only one who is a certified arborist with any formal training. The other employees started as ground help, but stayed with the company for many years to acclimate to the tree industry. My problem is with my boss who is among other things, addicted to hydrocodone for recreational purposes. This has made him wreckless while using chainsaws, and generally unsafe. He has even taken to lying blatently to customers (As well as employees) just to get jobs and has been intentionally underbidding jobs just to try to drive out other companies. As it is currently winter I am laid off collecting seasonal unemployment. I have been with this company for only just over a year, but the boss's unethical and unsafe actions has left me wondering what I should do. As a certified arborist I feel obligated to try to make conditions safer for the other employees as well as for the customers to be truthfully informed. I don't want to inform authorities, but then what are my options to remedy these problems? Just wondering if anyone else has experienced any problems similar to this. Manye just venting alittle too but this is a real concern of mine. Thanks.

Steve Tipton

I say move on for your own benefit and report him for the safety of the other employees and the public.

No one likes to be a dobber (tattletale) but the way you describe circumstances, someone may be hurt, or worse.

Just my opinion.

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Heightmaster

newguy18

Drugs and the worlds 2nd most dangerous proffesion don't mix.Find a better company and report him for the others safety and his own.I used to repair mobile homes and my crew leader was a pot head and a heavy drinker,he came back from his lunch break,stoned out of his mind and wanted to cut a sheet of plywood,asked me to hold it for him,i told him to cut his own fingers off.I quit 3 weeks later.

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Sean Freeman

Others have said it and I agree get yourself out of there, if he has broken any laws or regs report him....we go to work to earn a living (and help others along the way too!) not to end up dead due to the self centered irresponsibility of others...as the boss he is twice as liable (or at least would be here in Oz) under WH&S laws.

Q.Q.

I agree with all the reponses.

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treeseer

Have you talked to your boss? Let him know your intent before busting him--addicts can be vindictive. Getting him rehabbed beats dobbing.

treefeller

I agree with treeseer, try to talk to him first and mention that you are concerened for his and your colleagues saftey.

newguy18

my ex-boss lives like 4 houses down from me,every friday ,saturday,and sunday night he drives home from the bar drunk as hell,he does seem to avoid cops though.He damn near hit me ,but i'm just a little better at driving,so i made a sharp turn into a ditch.

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Jake14086

I have found another company and start in the spring. A agree that he's most definately going to be vindictive and in my area, word travels quick among tree services. I have told him that if things continue the way they are that the business would fail within a year. Frankly I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did (6 Years). I do my best to stay away from him since all my trust is lost in him, and look out for others as best I can when hes around. I'm just woried about future employes (If there will be any). And turning him in may have more drastic consequences for him than I'd like to see. He's got a family after all and it would be more than just him to pay the consequences if he got shut down. But I mean, even the bucket truck hasn't been inspected since 1983!! Any ideas of what I can do to cause him to reform and re-organize rather than to be shut down?

oldschool

I'm with ya. Some of the worlds greatest get lost amoungst the chaos. Hydros are for pain which he prob became addicted to after some doctor prescribed them to him for the pain he had related to an injury from the work he does. Give him a chance to clean up before u ruin his life by involving authorities. If he refuses then shut him down

oldschool

If you really want him to change........... Try telling his wife.

treeseer

Now there's a man that understands domestic dynamics.

Bruce Hopf

I have to agree, and Glad that you have another job to go to. It is also Not Your Responsibility, to Worry about the other Workers, that work for him. It is up to the other Workers to worry about themselves.
Move on, and keep your Mind, on what you are doing, while you are Working. If you worry about the other guys you worked with, sooner or later, you will get Hurt. Bruce.

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McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Eric Frei

That's a long time ago, is there a rule over there on this?

Here it's like every 10 years or so it's gotta be checked, serious dollars.

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Bruce Hopf

Up here in North America, any Truck over 5 Ton, has to go through a Saftey Inspection, under the High Way Traffic Act. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

Steve Tipton

In Australia, bucket trucks (cherry pickers) have to be inspected every 3 months, with the annual inspection being more involved. At 10 years service, they need a major inspection (rebuild), then every 5 years after that.

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Heightmaster

Jake14086

I realize that it's not my responsibility, but how would you deal with it. Imagine if you saw someone reaching really far into a running chipper to shove some twigs through. I'm sure you'd stop what you're doing and try to stop them from potentially being run through and ending up on the accident breifs. I always look out for myself first and foremost, but remember what I said in an earlier post that I'm the only one there who had any real training. Some of the others can't recognize some of the dangerous situations (ex: tension wood) As far as the bucket inspection goes, the boom and the truck both need to be inspected seperately, however the whole rig is a 1983 and neither has been inspected since then. And many parts have been replaced in house with common run of the mill house hold parts like the hydraulic valves being substituted with garden hose spickets. Either way I'm done there.

tcs

Jake, being a certified arborist upstate NY You shouldn't have so tough a time finding work , there aren't a million ISA cert arbs around , I would count myself pretty well off to have one at hand as I'm sure any established decent tree company would too.As for the former boss to be, or maybe former boss by now, the only person who can help him is HIM . I quit drinking and nicotine a few good years ago & nobody could make me stop until I wanted to . I've been climbing(& my own boss) 25 years ...There are some of the bigger companies up that way NY....Savatree...Bartlett.. Treepreservation & Asplundh although I think they do mainly lineclearing etc. Good luck. Mark.

Jake14086

Thats true Mark, but in the Western New York area we have about 150-200 big and small time tree companies. Thats forcing mostly everyone to get into a price war with eachother to stay competetive. In their doing this they can't afford to pay a fair wage. I could find a job anytime, but if I'm gonna kill myself and make nothing, its just not worth is. I don't think that we have any of those compannies that you mentioned near me, with the exception of Asplundh.

tcs

Jake,
It's a pity that you're that much further north than me, as i said before i'd be glad to have a Cert Arborist onboard.having said that I'm not sure if anyone knows what this next year of uncertain economical times will bring us.
The only other 'big' company I could see up your way is Davey Tree if its the same one that is all over the US they may be Ok. I did notice a Jakes tree co ,is that yourself? otherwise maybe start your own biz , there are ups and downs..no pun intended....but for me mostly up .But instead of the boss being a potential 'headache' it becomes the workers! Climb safe. Mark. TCS

treevet

I had an employee a few years ago that answered an ad for another company prior to mine and when he got the boss on the phone he asked if he "partied".

He said he had a good time on weekends but, upon further conversation, the boss asked him if he smoked marijuana. He said he had in the past but it wasn't an issue. He then asked if he smoked on the job. He replied no. The boss guy then said..."well you won't fit in with our crew".

Imagine exposing yourself like that let alone being that stupid.

Bruce Hopf

Man Alive. With running a Chain Saw, or any type of Equipment a Person has to expect the Unexpected. Something could go So Wrong in a hurry, faster than you can Blink an Eye. Without being High, or Drunk. That is Simply asking for Trouble in any Regards. Bruce.

__________________
McCulloch chain saws
1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's,
2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener,
1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver
2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10
Stihl chain saws
2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084,
Strunk chain saws
1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special
Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

spartek

I've been "stoned" enough to know that in no way would I trust myself with a 660 tached out screamin. It's time to grow up and leave the herbs and booze alone. I've been there and done that, and did't have anything to show for it but literally nothin. Stay away from guys that like to party on a regular basis, your only askin for trouble.

hanging from a rope

yo jake the guy a fool find a better tree service,i delt with a drunk unsafe boss an i belted the guy in his shop after he was running a saw mill smashed off his ass a almost killed a fellow employee then he picked a fight with me cuss i told him he was a moron,well he lost,but the best thing to do is try an find a better job, well the trade were in there's jerks in it..

treevet

It has gotten a LOT better from back in the day when I started 1969.

newguy18

I had a kid work for me that was smoking dope behind my truck,didn't think i saw him from 90' up a pine tree.I had him arrested when i got down.

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old schooler