Maybe he shouldn't try to be a Tree surgeon

[Ian Flatters]

Well i just quoted on a job this evening a not to hard re-reducing a lapsed thorn hedge to about 15ft high from 20ft high. Whilst being show the job i commented that a section had been started. He replied that the local gardener/tree surgeon had, 'had a go'. I noded and asked why he had not finished it? They client replied because he's in hospital he fell off his ladder and has broken his ankle and back. Just shows how easy it is to damage yourself even from a somewhat lower altitude to what we normally hang around at. And why you shouldn't 'have a go'.

[Dean O]

the wife is a radiographer - its surprising how many people she sees coming through the doors for x rays after "having a go"

 

and not all of them "amateurs" either.

[Ben90]

I heard a very similar story from another client, except the hedges were twice as tall...and the chap who attempted it died. My condolences to him.

 

Anyway, there will always be some 'have-a-go's, especially in this climate. They can be in the form of gardeners who see us and make it look so easy () or Mrs Bloggs' 'we-don't-need-an-expensive-tree surgeon-darling' husband.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

That makes me remember an instance when I was still 'on the tools' (fond memories) too many years ago and a neighbour took inspiration from me pruning nearby trees and decide to become a 'have a go yourself' but mucch to his great pain and my great amusement.

 

He duly placed his ladders against the branch of an extended Cherry tree in his front garden, the right side of the cut (unlike the current TV ad...for summat) and merrily started to cut away. I was most impressed when he placed a step cut on the underside and then started his top cut (obviously he'd been watching the professional ('moi') next door) and it acted as a very efficient jump cut...wow, how good was that (but it quickly got much better from my point of view) as the wieght came off the end of the branch, and he was about half way along its length, the remainder, against whihc his ladder lent AT FULL EXTENSION, duly sprang upwards and......"bl**dy funny it was"! Thankfully he was only about 10ft of the ground and other than a sprained ankle his 'pride' was the most damaged thing.

 

Needless to say as I left the site I popped a business card through his letter box (never heard tho, think he was too embarrassed!)

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Shane]

At a recent Arb show (Saltex, I think) I was talking to the Health and Safety bods, looking through their list of major accidents. There was one where a London Borough employee was doing the same sort of thing as the bloke in Paul's post. Only one difference - he made his cuts in-board of the ladder! . Unfortunately he was using a chainsaw and died from the resulting plummet/chainsaw altercation.

I kniow we all get complacent sometimes but I certainly find that we can only benefit from reading about these things and remeber to continue to work in a manner where such events are nigh on impossible.

Safe working, and keep on enjoying the work.

Shane

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

It is also worth remembering that it is all too easy to take all these have a go accidents and asume that by doing things the right way will give you some form of imunity from harm. It can and does happen to even the best of us, so never get complacent, for as soon as you do, youll be taught a lesson!

[Jon Lad]

The other problem is that all recorded accidents with a chainsaw are classed as being accidents within tree work, regardless of whether it was a farmer, builder or householder. Which means that on paper the level of accidents looks much higher than it would be if it where just chainsaw accidents in arboriculture and forestry.