Tree worker makes huge mistake cutting a log he is attached to - CLIMBING ARBORIST BREAKDOWN

We breakdown a terrible incident of a professional climbing arborist as he makes a face cut, then makes his back cut while still tied into the log he is removing.

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#climbingarborist #Arborist #TreeWork

[samuelscorso]

I made exactly the same mistake this time last year. Last cut of an exhausting rainy day. Left climbing system in crown after tying in a pull line, came down, secured wire core lanyard and made the face cuts perfectly (which is a little unusual). Had the boys pull hard on the 30-foot cedar top to make sure it made it to the drop zone. I didn't notice anything wrong until I came to rest pinned to the trunk under my rope, still suspending the whole top from my climbing bridge and lanyard. Too heavy to wriggle out from under, had to cut my climbing line with my electric saw to get free. The boys helped to lower me with an adjacent rigging rope. A year on from the accident, Bodys about 90% healed up, confidence less so. Still love climbing and will continue until i can't do it anymore. Cutting on the trunk with a climbing system attached is a very questionable habit, and not one that I use anymore. If I'm that tired or uncomfortable, then it's time to just descend and take a break or call it for the day. Fatigue is a killer. Distraction is a killer. Urgency is a killer. Complacency and arrogance too, in my situation. I hope that no one else has to go through that terror.

[teamja]

As a competent person in various construction trades, watching near misses and actual accidents is vital for awareness training and training to mitigate future/repeated job site mishaps. Thank you for showing the clip uncensored.

[treemeister]

Great learning opportunity. Thanks. I’m an old veteran tree climber and this has always been my greatest fear. Be patient out there folks.

[thebeardeddove]

I've done something similar. I was doing a dismantle of a very large horse chestnut in a grave yard, I had been rigging every piece down for around 4 days. On the last limb I forgot to untie my line, when I did the back cut and it started to fall I looked up and saw I was still attached to it. I was very lucky that the way the limb went resulted in my climbing line going over a union at the top of the stem. Somehow I managed to react quickly enough to shout "don't let it run", hold my zigzag open and brace on my lanyard and spikes. Enough of my climbing line ran through the device so I wasn't pulled out of the tree before the rigging line caught it.
When I then shouted to the ground crew not to lower it, the conversation went as followed:

"Don't lower it yet!!!!"
"Why the f#+k not?!"
"Because I'm still attached to it!!"
"You Fu_)#+g idiot!!"

I was very lucky, the limb was big and had I not noticed what was about to happen and reacted quick enough I would probably have been ripped in half.

Thanks for sharing Dan

[joakimyliruusi]

I know a guy who more or less stopped climbing after almost doing this. He was taking the top of a big adler still tied in, I was on the ground, noticed it and started shouting and jumping around trying to get his attention. He didn't hear or notice me because the petrol saw was being loud. Fortunately he noticed it himself in the last minute so nothing happened. But he was really shook up after it. Probably the worst would have happened if he'd drop the piece. There is also where battery saws bring so much safety to the work. They are silent when not cutting, so hearing the groundie shout is so much easier. Also now a lot of crews are starting to run some kind of com system, which increases safety so much. The easiest and most affordable one is just a normal bluetooth ear bud and the keep a whatsapp group call open all day long! No need to shout and you can get the crews attention immediately!

[BeeTreeGuy]

I’ve made it a habit to always pull my line out before making a face cut. Glad to hear the guy survived.

[hosocat]

I almost did that, but just with a 4 or 5 foot length of 18 inch diameter stem. Was getting tired after several hours in the tree and left myself tied in above the cut and was starting back cut. Luckily my groundie was alert and started flailing the rigging line to get my attention. Ill always be grateful to him. Probably saved me from some broken ribs.

[cornwallextreme]

I've stopped 2 climbers from doing this, one was even full of abuse and attitude about why did I stop him. It's bloody scary!

[Wildwoodjake]

It’s tempting, for security feeling and sake, to do a face cut while still cinch attached above. This is a terrible habit that a lot of arborists do. I’m lucky that I established a routine to move my cinch after I descend. This is an example of complete complacency and getting in a hurry. Additionally it looks like he has a small barber chair and he does cut through his hinge on the far side.

[Dazrena]

I did this when I first started climbing. It was either my first or second tree removal. Luckily, for some reason, the piece did not fall. I believe I was doing a snap cut rather than face and back. My groundie called attention to it and likely saved my life. I was exhausted at the end of the day and not paying enough attention. That was the last cut that day to say the least.

[HiLineTree]

Thanks Dan👋 I see a lot of new climbers who see other folks running up and down trees trying to be the hottest thing on YouTube and are setting themselves and others who follow them up for some bad accidents. Glad you ran across this and took the time to share it. Injuries and property damage are hard on families and companies alike. Speed competition climbing should be replaced by safe decision making in picking tie in points and actual trim or removal strategies to be productive but with emphasis on safety 100%. Not risky cuts or maneuvers. Thanks again.

[AWSMEAD]

Very easy to do this when rushing. Cheers for taking the time to discuss.

[adamconnell]

Good Lord that looked brutal... this is the kind of thing ALL TRADES need to see regularly. I'm a former oilfield mechanic, but there are still lessons to be learned here for me even if the only tree work I do is light duty occasional pruning. Got hit with a 22ft dead ash branch from 18ft a few months ago by just being in the wrong place at exactly the right time... totally changed the way I look at the hazards of your craft. Luckily walked away... but just barely.

[havespurswillclimb]

Enjoyed the video. Excellent presentation of a serious potential life robbing situation. I have to admit I came close on this once. I make an effort to keep my ground person(s) attentive and engaged with the work...including my work above, at all times. I tell them to keep an eye on me when they are standing and waiting on me. I tell them to glance around the site, checking for developing problems (ex. people encroaching on the work area). One of my groundies (mate as you would call him) did see my impending doom (climb line still at top of 6' stem I was bout to cut) and got my attention and saved my hide. Thanks for sharing this...a real service to the community at large. Pay attention out there you all!

[frankfrancis]

In 2003 I was taking out a double top poplar.
Pulling over a fence into a parking lot.
One off no problem
The other top went up, tied it in repelled down 40ft
Bucked in
Made the face cut.
Threw the chain on the last cut.
Tool came up set up, reset the chain across the lanyard.
Saw my climbing rope in front of me....followed the rope up and up and up!
Yeap still tied in.
Asked grounds guy if he saw it too.
Nope.

I'd throw a chain perhaps...once in 2 or 3000 cuts
God intervened that day.

He wouldn't rescind the law if gravity for me He did the next best thing, and maintained His anonymity.

[jackshort]

I did this once, but fortunately with a smaller chunk, and I had left some branches below me. I got dragged about 12 ft down the tree where the chunk got hung up. Pure luck I didn't get hurt. Always check everything three times and never rush. If there's someone rushing you, quit. It's not worth your life.

[mattygersh]

I almost did this when I was new to climbing and it made a large impact on my line management and awareness especially when your chunking down the main wood. Very scary

[josephnewman]

Wished I'd seen videos like this. Seen one August huneiki about this danger unfortunately I had just did this very thing and was fresh out of the hospital. Took a big lemon eucalyptus top after lowering all limbs then decided to use lowering line to pull top. Made face cut then forgot my line and made back cut. I was wondering why I was being violently ripped against the trunk then stripped down the tree until my old-school totline burned through and top made it to the ground. Broken sternum 4 Broken ribs and lacerated liver. Bruised lungs, Bruised kidney. 35 years experience and still happened. I still am trying to forgive myself. Still doing heavy removals and big jobs like it never happened a year later. Be careful please. Slow down and enjoy your work.

[branchmanagertreeservice]

Ground has helped me catch crossings ropes or untensioned systems due to a stub I couldn’t see. We all in it together

[norbertriojas]

Unless it’s a homeowner or someone not in the industry, one has to wonder why the person filming this didn’t notice the mistake and alert him immediately!