Climbers disciplined for refusing tree

[skyhuck]

Just a quick point before I go out to play. I was lead to believe that when working at height the procedure for assessing the work was :-

1 can the work be carried out from the ground ?

(No)

2 Then can you work from a MEWP

(No)

3 Then climb

 

If this is the case then the company ain't got a leg to stand on

 

Not quite as simple as that.

 

The above should be considered, BUT reasons for not using a MEWP can be presented and as long as the RA mitigates the risks of climbing to acceptable levels, alls well

[Wolfie]

My unwritten policy is not to ask employees to do something that i wouldn't do myself. This has mean't that i've stepped in to do risky trees as I knew their'd have issues with it. This has also caused me on a few occasions to think to myself "what the **** am i doing up this tree!"

[silky fox]

Great answer Wolfie!

[FatherJack]

The OP hasn't stated if there was a RA performed at the time. If not, why not? Or, was that another company policy......................

[Rushes]

Try not to take a phone in that is very confrontational, you want the panel on your side.

 

Preparation is all.

 

Best of luck [99% of which is planning]

[difflock]

I'd agree with this up to a point. However from my own observations...over the years I have noticed an increase in the amount of trees that are deemed 'unclimbable'. i'm convinced this is due to the HSE governed society we are brought up in, and the insistance that mewps must be used wherever possible. I have personally seen instances where inexperinced climbers have refused to climb trees for totally unfounded reasons(IMO) and am convinced this is down to the training they receive at college or elsewhere. Whilst my own personal climbing techniques are reasonably modern, my approach to tree work is more old school with a 'get it done' attitude. I'm sorry, but I believe that a lot of climbers wuss out of trees way too easily these days.

 

:thumbup:

 

Not based on ANY knowledge of professionally climbing trees, rather based on 30 years LA exp, where the Barrack room Lawyers always know best, as to why jobs should not be undertaken, strangely these guys are generally the least successful in their whole-life experiences.

Our latest "wheeze" is "lone Working",

JHC!, what a charter for the work averse.

I had a guy refusing to drive his lightly loaded FWD van on rural roads, because they were icy?

Buses, and HGV's were still using them, etc etc.

This guy also drives 70 odd miles to his work and the same home again, an entirely more "risky" drive.

Cheers

M

[scotspine1]

I have personally seen instances where inexperinced climbers have refused to climb trees for totally unfounded reasons, I'm sorry, but I believe that a lot of climbers wuss out of trees way too easily these days.

 

when ah were a lad we used t'climb 90ft dead elms wit no ropes and nuttin but a frayed British Telecom pole belt for safety, no harness neither, just clipped yon BT belt into belt buckle and hoped for t'best, raining as well it was, and windy, blowing a gale it was, like Ilkley moor on a wild December morn, them were the days Steve, them were the days.

[scotspine1]

all joking aside if I was the owner manager of that company I'd be finding work that was within these guys skill level and bringing in top quality subby climbers for the difficult trees, the usual fulltime climbing staff can do the groundwork/easier trees etc on the days the subby climbers come in. That way everyone's happy.

[Gary Prentice]

when ah were a lad we used t'climb 90ft dead elms wit no ropes and nuttin but a frayed British Telecom pole belt for safety, no harness neither, just clipped yon BT belt into belt buckle and hoped for t'best, raining as well it was, and windy, blowing a gale it was, like Ilkley moor on a wild December morn, them were the days Steve, them were the days.

 

Wolfies dad started very much like that, not joking either. First arb ropes were sailing/ rigging lines.

 

Today's climbers don't realize how much easier and safer the job is.

[Woodcrafter]

I'm sure there is probably more to this than meets the eye. However my opinion is that if the climber doesn't feel comfortable doing the job then he shouldn't do it yes he might be fine doing it but I would think there would be more chance of an accident if they weren't confident.

Wether disciplinary is necessary this is the point where there may be more to it than just the incident possibly.

Personally if it was one of my guys id ask what the problem was if it was something I thought I'd have no problem doing myself perhaps if I had the time I may well do it just to reassure them that it was safe to do and therefore the next time it ever came into question they would know I'd do it and think twice at passing it up. Perhaps I'd offer further training and help work on their confidence.

Maybe send them on a course or advise them to educate themselves further with regards to biomechanics of trees.

The company giving a disciplinary if it is for this 1 case alone and given that all facts have been included in the 1st post, then I think they are completely in the wrong.