Professional Arborist FAILS of 2022

Disclaimer: anything that is broken during one of our jobs we immediately fix/replace.

This is a much shorter video then normal, but I thought it might be a good chance to show some of the larger fails and mistakes that I had this past year. While this is by no means all of them it encompass the majority.

[freedomle]

If people only knew what it's like to be up in a tree. So many things can go wrong, and it's up to you to manage it while not dying in the process. I'm glad you did a video on mistakes. Everyone makes them. It is better to be humble than ignorant.

[patriley]

I did this type of work for 45 years and was considered one of the best in my area. I loved doing removals as each job was different. Some were easier than others, but they all required an understanding of physics, geometry, weight, and forces along with a good understanding of how various varieties of trees responded when cutting them. Some were brittle and broke away when cut into by as little as 1/3 of the diameter. Some would hold un until almost cut completely through. It was very interesting and challenging work. Thanks for posting these videos. It brings back memories. I too had some close calls and caused some damage, but those were few and not fatal or too costly.

[onesadtech]

In a world where everyone is always trying to look perfect online, this is a breath of fresh air. Way to own your mistakes! If nobody got hurt, and you learned something, that's still a pretty good day!

[peterthebull]

As a carpenter that frames homes, arborists have my utmost respect.
Different breed.

[leandroramirez]

My brother did this for a long time. I helped him on several jobs. He was the climber I was the driver/ground work guy.
We were going to start our own business. He was killed in a work related accident.
Thanks for the video. Gave me a view of what it looked like through his eyes.

[ThomasB]

I lost a best friend December 2022 on a tree cutting job. He was 2 days shy of his 35th birthday. Left behind 4 babies and a wife. This was his line of work. For all of you that do this kind of dangerous work, please remember there are people on the ground that are depending on you. Be safe

[Alex]

Well, you didn't drop one through somebody's roof or onto their car, and you didn't fall out of a tree yourself, so I'd say you did pretty well.

[njh]

Arborists are just a different breed man, they have my utmost respect for the work they do.

[justinmcnulty]

Not everyone understands how complex rigging trees really is. Calculating loads, rope paths, dynamic forces, tension & compression, balance points, the list goes on and on…. Glad you posted your mistakes and I’m sure you learned from everyone of them. I carry a wedge on a string in my climbing saddle for the exactly the situation where you were using a carabiner to try and push a large piece off. Learned that one by trial and error myself.

[mattygersh]

Iv been a self taught climber a few years now and these kind of videos are the best kind because it allows all of us to learn for what looks normal but turns out differently then planned. I need to start making these same kind of videos they help so much.

[thejavelin]

I recently had my first experience with this type of tree removal. I rented a 65' manlift to remove a 70'+ pine tree that was next to, and leaning over, my shop. I did it along with a guy we know who used to do arborist work for a living. He was in the tree, and I was in the basket. I have a fear of falling, so we took it slow and got that big bastard down without issue. We worked extremely well as a team. I was proud of myself for overcoming my fear, and it gave me a newfound respect for the folks who do this professionally. You know it's a dangerous job that makes you say, "screw that" when you see the work being performed, but to actually do it is something else entirely. I felt like Mike Rowe up there, harnessed to that basket, doing a "dirty job" I never saw myself doing.

[shawnhill]

I watched the whole video waiting for the "fails." You must have a much higher standard than I do. If these were fails your good jobs must be phenomenal. Job well done.

[Woofer]

As an professional arborist, it's nice to see that other also makes mistakes, not only me :) There is so much things to be aware of, while you are in the tree. And you learn from your mistakes.
Keep going strong .

[michaelmahoney]

I put on a pair of spurs for the first time in 1977 and still climb. If you prevent just one injury it's worth it to share our mistakes. Thanks for putting such an informative and humble video.

[reesewright]

There are two parts about learning a dangerous occupation, what you can get away with and what you can’t get away with. Both are equally important. What doesn’t kill you makes you wiser not stronger. Your job makes you stronger. Thanks for showing us the other half that makes us wiser. Be safe up there bro. Subscribed.

[JimmyDean]

My friend has been doing this for almost a decade now and it is amazing to sit down with him and hear him talk about what he does. He has thrown me in a harness and sent me up a tree without a saw and man. It's a whole new world when you get up in the tree vs looking up at it from the ground. I have seen even some claimed arborists here saying well, "what you did wrong is." It's is like bro. You only know this guy did wrong cause chances are you did it yourself and made the mistake and now you know. The only difference is you didn't take the time to record it and put it on YouTube. It is good to see mistakes and learn from them. No one got hurt and that is the most important part. Property is always replaceable even though it sucks to damage it.

[mregskwach]

Gives me anxiety, and I'm just sitting on my couch.

[lifeoftreedom]

'm just getting into treework and I have to say, that you handle your mistakes excellently and your swearing is on point. Thanks for being confident enough to share your mistakes. This is very helpful thanks for making it.

[baljangsin]

"Seeing danger is the beginning of safety." Thank you for sharing this video. I hope you have a safe work this year.

[erniea]

I have tremendous admiration for you guys who do this work. Even when I was young, I can't even imagine....