2 operator in a mewp basket

[David Riding]

Am I right it thinking that technically your not suppose to have 2 operators in a mewp basket if one is a chainsaw operator? The mewp is a massive 8 wheeler truck mounted with 2.4 meters wide basket? So mewp operator would be some distance away from cutter?

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

there was talk sometime ago about it needing to have a cage between the chainsaw operator and the mewp controller.

 

personaly I prefer being alone in the basket makes it simpler and the machine does more goes MUCH further

[Peter]

Minimum safe working distance for a chainsaw is 5 metres, or twice length of longest cut section, whichever is greater.

[zzr1200]

I doubt if your hiring in a lorry mount the driver/operator will allow you to operate the boom. Theres a different IPAF license category for a mewp and a lorry mounted boom.

 

Ask yourself would you want to be in a cage with someone you haven't worked with before using a chainsaw, ask the owner/operator before you hire the boom different firms have there own HS Policies.

 

A person who is trained to recover the boom in an emergency on the ground, should always be part of the ground crew.

Edited November 17, 2012 by zzr1200

[Dan Earp]

Ive heard alsorts of rumours ref the cage between the operators, only one on the basket. But if this was all true wouldnt the local government agencys follow this? As there still able to use a mewp with two guys init

[combined tree services]

my advice would be to speak to the hire firm , in most cases as long as the chainsaw operator is working away from the mewp operator there is not a problem , it is also common that the newp will arive with a perspex/mesh divider any way as it is not only chainsaws that when used in a mewp there needs to be a physical barrier .

 

Hope this is of some use

[stoxs]

none chainsaw operator had to wear chainsaw jacket when we used to do it on the powerlines, he could then hold n chuck as well, which made it really good if you both knew what you were doing, used to take new boys up as well got them used to operating mewp and cutting from buckets.

[Peter]

Really?! So wearing ppe means you can ignore safe working distances? And how exactly is a chainsaw jacket going to prevent cuts to hands?

[born2trot]

Yeh , i liked the fact the operator could hold and chuck also . Agree both should be arborists though

[stoxs]

Really?! So wearing ppe means you can ignore safe working distances? And how exactly is a chainsaw jacket going to prevent cuts to hands?

 

what is the difference if you have the same PPE and training as the chainsaw operator?

 

you dont go holding branches being cut 6inchs from saw , it is surprising how far away you can get if working togeather 2 meters no problem. cutting long branches 4 meters + from a bucket and man holding is on the ballance point he can hold it easy, this is for smallish branches you aint gunna hold a 6 inch round branch at 4 meters are you. chainsaw gloves were to be worn but yes there is little protaction in gloves.

 

How do most instructors instruct felling if they are 2 tree lengths away?

 

we did it for years and never had any problems, safer having someone else there sometimes than on ya own.