Lombardy Fell Incident

[Darrin Turnbull]

Go big and you get bigger problems.

I would say the hinge was non existent.

If that was my job i would do it in two halves or a second rope to stop it breaking out in the wrong direction.

[scotspine1]

Think it's safe to assume no one from the company or the AA (re Arb Association Approved Contractor Scheme) will want to make an appearance. AA Teccie? Any thoughts Paul?

 

On the fell itself - aside from the crosswind issue - there's no issue with the truck being used to pull the tree over into the direction of fall. With a good hinge it should work fine.

 

However, the position of their truck in the vid - it's clear from during the cutting and particularly at the end of the video there are far too many people moving to and from the area directly in front of the truck. As someone said it's a main path through to the local train station. So he was never going to get a good strong pull without also stopping pedestrian traffic on that side (as well as the opposite pavement where the guy was nearly killed). The corner position of the truck looks problematic as well - limited space to drive forward. Also, no barrier tape or warning signs, as been said before - very poor site management for that scale of felling operations.

 

If you look at the pull line, there's not enough pre-tension - and although they set the rope high for leverage it would've been better to have the rope set lower as it makes for a shorter distance the truck has to travel to get the tree over.

 

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[sean]

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if this incident occurred because of the ridiculously low prices that big contractors commit to in order to win contracts especially local authority. The often inexperienced and young workforce (due to low wages) are then under a lot of pressure to make x amount a day which is often unrealistic. A tree such as this one could be on a schedule of rates at as low as £150 for a team of 3. Considering target money for the day could be approx £600 they are under pressure to get the tree down and processed as quick as possible. I've worked for many a contractor doing local authority work and have seen at first hand the pathetic pricing.

Obviously I do not know the scenario here but I wouldn't be surprised at all.

[Gary Prentice]

You got to love the Internet. Judge, jury and executioner all In one.

 

Personally I don't think it would be appropriate for Paul to comment, personally or on behalf of the AAAC at this time.

[sean]

 

Personally I don't think it would be appropriate for Paul to comment, personally or on behalf of the AAAC at this time.

 

Agreed ^^^^^^^^^^^^

[simonm]

Lot of people picking this video to bits, was anybody actually there or know the whole story? Its easy to pick fault sat behind a computer watching a video filmed on a mobile phone.

Gotta love the internet.

[Mick Dempsey]

The whole story....

I heard that the faller saw a mugger running away from a handbag theft and cleverly changed the direction of the fell and dropped the tree on his head preventing his escape.

The guy cocked it up, that's the whole story. Bad luck for him is when someone filmed it. I'm glad no one followed me around with a camera for the past 20 odd years.

Re. Picking the video to bits, what do you expect other tree workers to do?

 

 

Where it's a bit out of order is when people start bringing the AA into it.

Edited August 10, 2016 by Mick Dempsey

[scotspine1]

You got to love the Internet. Judge, jury and executioner all in one

 

Lot of people picking this video to bits, was anybody actually there or know the whole story? Its easy to pick fault sat behind a computer watching a video filmed on a mobile phone.

Gotta love the internet.

 

Humbling stuff lads, just as well we've got you here to keep us right eh.

 

If you watch the video and read through the thread you'll see the majority of posts are reasonable and fair minded comments based on observations people made whilst watching the video. There's a lot going on in there that's worth commenting on from a safety perspective.

 

The video was posted with the intention of being educational.

 

 

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[MattyF]

Personally I wouldn't be surprised if this incident occurred because of the ridiculously low prices that big contractors commit to in order to win contracts especially local authority. The often inexperienced and young workforce (due to low wages) are then under a lot of pressure to make x amount a day which is often unrealistic. A tree such as this one could be on a schedule of rates at as low as £150 for a team of 3. Considering target money for the day could be approx £600 they are under pressure to get the tree down and processed as quick as possible. I've worked for many a contractor doing local authority work and have seen at first hand the pathetic pricing.

 

Obviously I do not know the scenario here but I wouldn't be surprised at all.

 

Good post Sean , I think your absolutely right.

[RC0]

Ridiculous.

 

All singing all dancing more tickets than a ticket-shop outfit.

 

Can't even fell or judge how to pull a tree like that.

 

I make no apology whatsoever for these comments.

 

FISA mentality / mockery of inexperience.

 

Everything about that procedure was STUPID.

 

" ******** tree experts" !!!

 

Hard to argue. Falling a Lombardy in the wind with such a big sail....pretty wreckless stuff considering the location.