Ladders, chainsaws and trees do not mix, Period.

BTW, your first sentence is incorrect, I am writing this to reinforce how cautious we all must be with even the simplest tasks

It should say, "I am writing this to reinforce how cautious we must be, when trying to do dangerous things that professionals could have easily done, because of their years of experience and training on the job."

Sorry to hear about your friend.

 

I just found out my elderly neighbor around the corner died when he drove his car into a train tunnel and lost the head on collision with a train.

Man dead after crash - SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

I bet few people get up in the morning thinking they are going to die that day...you just hope they were right with their family and friends and will spend eternity in a better place.....

 

wow...sorry to hear about your neighbor Buck...a prayer to his family.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nitramjr

I just found out my elderly neighbor around the corner died when he drove his car into a train tunnel and lost the head on collision with a train.

Looking at the pics of the car it didn't look like a bad crash all four doors and cabin look untouched.

 

Sorry to hear about that, that must have been tough to watch...

I can add a first hand warning about being careful doing simple things, even things you do all the time, as I'm right now still recovering from a fall from the barn loft. I had a ladder that I've used a million times collapse under me, dropping one leg in between the rungs and nearly breaking my leg, then dropping me about the last 10 feet straight down onto my head. I have no idea why I'm not crippled or dead, my head hitting that oak floor was one of the loudest sounds I've ever heard, but other than a bunch of missing skin from my head, no head. neck or back pain from that. (In fact my real back pain from an L4/L5 disc thing actually better for a couple days.) The leg I should have broken is another matter, but it's healing. I can't believe how lucky I was, and I certainly can't count on being that lucky again...

 

"I had a ladder that I've used a million times collapse under me, "

Ouch!
Was it a wooden ladder?

 

Yes I am. Plenty of strength in the left arm for lifting, etc. Pain isn't bad unless I really try to go too far in any direction. We set the angle of use to the one that would be most useful(?). Meaning that my arm will neither straighten the whole way nor will it bend far enough for me to touch my face with my elbow at my side (eating sandwiches two handed is a trick!)
Basicallly I can't bend it more than 90 deg in contraction nor more than nor more than about 115 deg in extension.
Not twisting the wrist is challenging when reaching under something to tighten/loosen a nut/bolt. Have to shift my whole bodyor use the other arm.
But anyway I am a teacher first and have the side business of outdoor power equipment repair. Swinging a bat, golf club, or splitting maul doesn't work very well at all, but I can shoot rifle and pistolfine and paddle a canoe fine, so it is all good.

Again, I should be dead or blowing through a straw to steer an electric wheel chair.
I got no complaints. Not too many people that fall from that height are as lucky as I was and I appreciate that fact greatly.

Got some xrays. Kinda cool. They even used some baling wire in there!

Enough about me.....everyone else be careful out there. It doesn't take but a second for a life to be lost or changed forever!

 

A properly cut limb shouldn't swing--it should fall straight down. You have to undercut it about a third of the way first, then move a few inches out and cut from the top. Once you cut about 2/3 down from the top, it will split between the two cuts and drop straight down without swinging. I'm no pro, but I've done a lot of tree cutting... Also, as a painter, I almost never climb a ladder that someone has to hold to make it stable.

Sorry to hear about your neighbor.


Jason

 

Yes indeed...life is fragile!!! This is one example of why I leave most chores like this to the professionals!!!

Very sorry to read this!!!

 

Sorry to hear about the neighbor, obviously they never read about not mixing chainsaws with ladders. I usually avoid ladders and chainsaws and I am experienced. imho, One of the only things more dangerous is mixing guns with alcohol.

> was only about 8 ft. off the ground and 8" in diameter

It "only" weighed about 22 pounds per linear foot if it was oak. Probably was at least 12 feet long to be that thick. Basically hit in the head by a 200 pound weight traveling 15+ mph. That is enough to kill someone.

> I always watch these guys and wonder do you really need to support the limb by a rope?

Only when there is a chance it might hit something on the way down or injury the climber if it swings back. I just cut up a 36" DBH oak Sat/Sun right next to a house and we hardly roped anything at all.

Tree work is the 2nd most dangerous job in the USA (after AK crab fishermen) and 4x more deadly then police or firefighting. It looks simple, when it is not, and that is what gets most people killed.

The worse ladder tale I heard was a few years ago in NH, a man slipped on a ladder and dropped his running chainsaw onto his wife's head, who was holding the ladder. Killed her right quick. Another NH one was a man fell on his running chainsaw and gutted himself because the way he fell he did not release the trigger. His wife and mother (in law?) found him on the front lawn.

I have noticed that holding the ladder can be as dangerous as being on the top.

 

The post was only posted to remind us all how fragile life is and how quickly it can be changed or altered. True, many of us would have handled this task differently; however, this was the way it took place and I really did not post it to have us second-guess the situation. Only a reminder to all of us to enjoy life daily to the fullest. In a split second a drunk driver could hit us, a fall could kill us, or another tragedy could occur out of our control. BTW, funeral was today, and the family seems to be holding up ok. Cause of death as determined by autopsy was fractured skull. Thanks to all of you who voiced your concern and sympathy.

 

How about you? Are you okay? Witnessing a death like that can be traumatic as I know personally all too well. Don't bottle it up.....