Kickback – the thoughts of a victim’s father

[Mike Hill]

29 minutes ago, the village idiot said:

 

 

Wow!

 

What an a-hole.

Havn't gotten started yet.

[Darrin Turnbull]

16 hours ago, ArbMish said:

I would just like to add something that isn't exactly about work positioning but I think is relevant. This is not specific to this very sad case but may prevent others.

 

I think the training/development of new people to Arb' work needs to change. Not in terms of tickets but when people start work with companies. I'm still relatively new to arb work so I'm talking from personal experience and that of others I know who are still relatively new in the industry. Very often you are pushed hard and expected to work quickly..which often leads to rushing..this then leads to corners being cut..one of which is often work positioning. I have found myself many times about to cut because I feel I need to be faster only to check myself and realise my positioning is not adequate. The amount of times I've also heard 'just one hand it' or for small branches in awkward positions when I'm using a silky because honestly when it's that awkward for me it's actually faster. I'm often asked, why I didn't just use the saw?

 

I am lucky to work with some pretty great people now, who don't have ridiculous expectations, who do push me to work harder and better but don't push me to stupid limits. They are also excellent at explaining things to me throughout the job, regardless as to whether it effects me at the time or not. However as the above probably suggests this has not always been the case. My best (or worst as it were) example of this is this incident:

 

The first company I worked for we were worked hard and fast and on the job training rarely seemed to happened. One day I was sent to fell some trees behind a barn at the yard because brash was needed for new guys chipper tickets. The boss asked me to fell a tree in 60 seconds. He told me I should be able to... I'll put this in perspective, despite having the relevant ticket I had rarely been given the opportunity to fell anything. This tree was bigger than the bar length of my saw, something I had never tackled AND it was down a very steep bank (the kind you slide down rather than walk), the barn wall was a couple of meters or so behind the tree so my escape routes were over a small drainage/stream that was down a foot/half foot drop behind the tree. Because of this drop finding footing behind the tree was also very difficult. 

 

Now given my inexperience, the tree positioning and the boss standing at the top of the bank telling me to get it done in 60 seconds I was under a lot of pressure. But it took me shouting at him to get him to explain how I should make a gob cut when the tree is bigger than bar length. Altogether he was not very happy with me. Perhaps you find the acceptable behaviour. But to me it's actions like this that put 'newbies' at a higher risk and this can be when bad habits develop as well. I feel that this is something that needs to change in order to prevent future accidents.

 

This has turned into a longer post then intended but I hope I've got my point across.

 

Good honest post.

[Mike Hill]

So its the second company you have worked for and untill this unsettling episode no one has let you cut down a Tree?

 

During which you were unable to understand how to do it as presumably you had never seen a Tree felled during your time at this,your previous company,during training or on the internet?

 

Gotcha.

 

 

[MattyF]

All too often I see terrible work positioning , absolutely shocking , some from apparent training vids from people being assessed ... with a decent landyard set up for work positioning the saw or bit being rigged should never put a climber in the danger zone, it’s just pure laziness or the fact that the climber is too scared to trust there spikes and lanyard putting them in danger. .. maybe both , good work positioning is what it’s all about.

[felixthelogchopper]

Just a reminder to anybody posting on this thread; Please remember the sensitive subject, show some respect for the original poster and don't turn this into a peeing competition.

[ArbMish]

Just a reminder to anybody posting on this thread; Please remember the sensitive subject, show some respect for the original poster and don't turn this into a peeing competition.

Good point felix. I had only intended to add to the discussion on work positioning. I’m sorry that it seems to have gone another way.

[Stephen Blair]

RIP Alex and to his dad my heart goes out to you.
My eldest Son is also called Alexander, he is 12 and I can’t imagine what you and your family must be going through.

[Tom_Arb]

Sorry for the loss , Stay safe everyone 

[Stevie777]

Heartbreaking story and a frightening one. Maybe not practical but here goes.

 

 I've never used a top handle but i know that it's primarily used for Limbing the small stuff. Couldn't someone design some sort of guard that runs the length of the top of the bar and around the tip. It's obvious that when kickback happens it's the top or tip of the blade/chain that strikes you unless you lose full control and the saw becomes airborne. Just a suggestion.  

Quote

 

 

Edited May 27, 2018 by Stevie777

[Steve Bullman]

2 minutes ago, Stevie777 said:

Heartbreaking story and a frightening one. Maybe not practical but here goes.

 

 I've never used a top handle but i know that it's primarily used for Limbing the small stuff. Couldn't someone design some sort of guard that runs the length of the top of the bar and around the tip. It's obvious that when kickback happens it's the top or tip of the blade/chain that strikes you unless you lose full control and the saw becomes airborne. Just a suggestion.  

 

Not practical unfortunately.  The You need to be able to use both the top and bottom sides of the bar in use, just like you do on the ground.

I personally don't think theres any modifications that can be practically made.  The only option is respecting the tool, and doing everything you can with regards work positioning to minimise the possibility of an accident.