Accidents in Treework

[David Humphries]

Attended an HSE, AA & Treevolution seminar on Tuesday.

Picked up a few annual stats around fatalities & accidents within our sector.

 

Made mention of them on another thread, but I hadn't taken the time to get them down in their entirety on the day.

 

Knowing that there is always an interest here from members whenever any "facts" are posted, I thought I would attempt to get something black & white.

So, I spoke with Frances Hirst from the HSE yesterday, and she has kindly agreed to let me post the following information.

 

It has to be aknowledged that these instances, are only the ones that HSE get to know about, many are unreported.

 

".......During the past three years, 9 people involved with tree work(in the Uk) have been killed, over one hundred have suffered a major injury and over two hundred have been off work for more than 3 days as a result of an injury they received while at work. This means a total of well over three hundred people have had their lives seriously affected by the work that they do....."

 

"......To put these figures into a wider context, tree work has an accident rate higher than that of the construction industry......"

 

 

As all too often we keep reading & hearing about yet another loss of life or serious injury, we all have a duty to tighten up our working practices.

(easy for me to say, some may think, as I'm in the public sector & possibly don't have some or all the pressures that those of you in the private sector have)

 

But the common denominator for us all here, is the fact that we need to not be thinking of just ourselves, but also our colleagues, members of the public & most importantly our loved ones and dependents.

 

Please take that little bit more care in your planning tommorow, don't let complacency or a false sense of security, make you end up as one of the above statistics.

You can be entirely sure that each and everyone of those unfortunate souls, believed that it would always happen to someone else !

 

Climb, Cut & Drive smart & safe people.

 

D

 

 

 

.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Good on you David, we all need an H&S reminder now and again.

 

My buddies made me think twice about my ascent technique today, was a tricky one and 10 years ago I would not have batted an eyelid at what I was doing but they was right and doubt anyone is free of guilt in "pushing it" from time to time.

 

Were a brave bunch by our very natures, the very work we do attracts the adventurous and the brave and there is of course the adrenalin junkies (me unfortunatley in my younger years) I am however a wiser man as I age and i am with David all the way on this subject.

 

be safe guys, it CAN happen, even to YOU.

[Canal Navvy]

We must not forget that the sins of the fathers are visited on their sons.

 

It irritates the hell out of me hearing old hands in many industries saying that when the rules are applied then they will retire.

 

No thought at all of the next generation having to fight through a morass of legislation due to the egotesticle behavior of the old pros.

 

The H.S.E. is a valuable source of information,a very real policy of sharing their research.

 

Good post Monkeyd:001_smile:

[Dave D]

a very worthwhile thread. im sure we all have our moans about the amount of red tape surrounding ours and others industries but lets not let this sway our attention from common sense, the one thing that could make all the difference. be aware and take care.

[treequip]

I have had this very conversation with Francis a number of years ago.

The key phrase here is

 

people involved with tree work(in the Uk)

 

This covers ANYONE having at a tree ranging from the seasoned pro with a raft of tickets to some “Herbert” landscaper who got out of is depth. It’s a sad fact that the latter pollutes our industries accident statistics.

[David Humphries]

I have had this very conversation with Francis a number of years ago.

The key phrase here is

 

people involved with tree work(in the Uk)

 

This covers ANYONE having at a tree ranging from the seasoned pro with a raft of tickets to some “Herbert” landscaper who got out of is depth. It’s a sad fact that the latter pollutes our industries accident statistics.

 

 

I don't doubt that you have valid point in here somewhere treequip,

although this little collection would appear to suggest that "arbs" are at the coalface every bit as much as your Herberts.

 

Not trying to be sarcastic here.......

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/11850-another-fatality.html

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/75-fatality-gloucestershire.html

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/climbers-talk/1503-climber-killed.html

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/3455-tragic-news.html

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/14410-tree-surgeon-killed.html

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/9515-fatal-accident.html

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/3776-bad-news.html

 

 

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/14808-yesterday-near-cambridge.html

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/6375-first-accident.html

 

.

Edited March 12, 2010 by Monkey-D

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Take me outside of H&S and the AC scheme etc. and suddenly words fail me (I'm no real 'word-smith' anyway well okay I am the latter...popular not common now) BUT this kinda thread just 'blows me away to be honest'!

 

Again the sense of community, concern, camararderie (spelling?), openess and genuine sincerity for each others wellbeing and safety here on 'Arbtalk' is nothing short of amazin and I'm touched (G*d, I'll have you all blubberin next!)

 

STIFF UPPER LIPS CHAPS...REMEMBER WE'RE HARDY TREE SURGEONS....or "used to be's" (IN MY CASE!)

 

Guddon'ya David n thank you!

 

Paul

 

PS As someone quite rightly points out, and perhaps worth exploring further at some stage to improve our industry image in the eyes of HSE, the stats are contaminated/distorted by 'none' professional related incidents/accidents but nonetheless let it be a lesson to us all never to be complacent...afterall where'd "Arbtalk" be without you/us all...be safe!

[Meep]

And that's only the reported accident's

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

And that's only the reported accident's

 

Absolutely, sorry I got a bit 'sentimental' in my previous post above.

 

If you want me to do one of my trademark postings on Accident (UNDER)Reporting and (UNDER) Recording just give me the green light....great for insomniacs!

 

Your truely..

Paul

[David Humphries]

Again the sense of community, concern, camararderie (spelling?), openess and genuine sincerity for each others wellbeing and safety here on 'Arbtalk' is nothing short of amazin and I'm touched (G*d, I'll have you all blubberin next!)!QUOTE]

 

 

where's me 'ankie.

I seem to have something in my eye........cough, cough

 

 

Paul, as you're quite obviously picking up on, for all Arbtalks foibles, it is first & foremost "The Tree community"

 

With the greatest respect to other arboricultural forums, nothing has come closer to uniting, engaging & putting a human face on those within all the different aspects of our beloved industry.

 

 

It really is great having someone like you on board, who has a good balance of humility, humour & proffesionality.

Imho, (and reaching for those little paper dabbers) your (AA) presence is nothing short of inspiring

 

I'm sure "they" realise already, but please don't let your bosses ever lose sight of the potential you're creating here.

 

 

......right, I'm off to kill me some kittens !

 

D

 

.

Edited March 12, 2010 by Monkey-D