Climbing accident, Northwich, Cheshire

[Mike Hill]

2 hours ago, 5thelement said:

The first thing HSE will need is a thorough explanation as to why a tracked mewp wasn’t being used to dismantle the tree instead of climbing, costs overriding safety will never be accepted in a courtroom. 

 

That's the last kin thing I would want to use.

 

 

[peds]

4 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

You really don't like to be wrong, do you?

 

Does anyone? 

[Mick Dempsey]

I think we all need to see the vid. 

[5thelement]

10 minutes ago, Mike Hill said:

 

That's the last kin thing I would want to use.

 

 

Better than climbing it though?

[5thelement]

17 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

You really don't like to be wrong, do you?

The decision was made to put a climber in the tree, are you saying that I am wrong to suggest a mewp would have been a safer option, if so, why?

Edited 6 hours ago by 5thelement

[Joe Newton]

28 minutes ago, peds said:

 

Does anyone? 

Well it's pretty much vital if you ever want to learn...

16 minutes ago, 5thelement said:

The decision was made to put a climber in the tree, are you saying that I am wrong to suggest a mewp would have been a safer option, if so, why?

I'd love to know how you reached that conclusion having not seen the video.

 

"Would a MEWP have been safer?" is a plutonic question. Can you be sure that the machine (base/outriggers & operatives/basket) will be completely clear of falling material/the main trunk when it goes?

 

It MIGHT be safer, but it's not the SAFEST means.

 

It's the first point of the WAHR.

[Mark Bolam]

Big MEWP with good outreach would have been safer than climbing, but still not the best option.

[5thelement]

12 minutes ago, Mark Bolam said:

Big MEWP with good outreach would have been safer than climbing, but still not the best option.

 

12 minutes ago, Joe Newton said:

t's the first point of the WAHR.

I know the first point of the WAHR, but we can obviously assume that that horse has well and truly bolted. 
A decision was made to WAH, was there a safer method than climbing, probably several, but none of them were used. 

[AHPP]

MEWP would have been worse for anything other than setting ropes without disturbing anything. Unless it's one with a lot of sideways, you're putting the boom and carrier in danger of being hit. And even if it is one with a lot of sideways, the basket still risks being hit. So potentially you go down with the basket or get rattled to death in it when a crown comes past you like a train going off a cliff.

 

Climbing, at least you're tied to another tree and can swing out of the way. I'll often make a cut without being lanyarded in so I can swing out of the way or even be conkered out of the way. Better than being fixed there and smooshed in slow motion.

 

But, from what I can see from the video, the best way to do the Cheshire road tree was from the floor. Step cut it and roll/pull/walk the butt until it falls.

[AHPP]