MasterBlaster
TreeHouse Elder
I just saw on the NBC news another climber that was almost crushed by palm fronds. Firefighters rescued him in time.
Originally posted by treeman82
However I am pretty sure it is allowed in an aerial rescue.
I have no experience with palms, but I think if I was on the ground and saw that happening, I would have called 911, then strapped on a cheap saddle and some spikes with a good hand saw and hauled ass up there to cut those fronds off the guy. Going straight up a pole on spikes really isn't a horribly difficult skill to master.
My Dad worked for the city of Phoenix street department. When the crew would go out to skin palms, they would empty a giant fire extinguisher into the palms to kill the nasties, spiders, rats, scorpions.
Tom
Way to revive that 5 year old thread, people!
I'm just a homeowner who likes saws. This palm tree thing is an academic interest of mine, related to the suspension trauma mentioned above. Seems obvious (now, not a week ago) that using a lift to trim these from above is the way to go. Are there alternatives that are safe? I gather from the accident reports I read in the news that the people who died just climbed up the trunk then couldn't release their ropes/equipment once the ring of fronds came down, either because they'd been knocked unconscious or there was just too much force bearing down on them. This is an issue of having to unweight the equipment to have it let go? Any insights appreciated.
Roger
...They advise us to set a climbing line with maybe a Black Widow micro bull line, ascending the palm either foot lock or body thrust and pruning from the crown down to the end of the skirt. I used to find it hard to believe these stories also, but have come to believe that they are true. We don't get a lot of filifera here, mostly robusta, but I do believe that the Desert Fan Palm are capable of smothering someone. Basically pruning palms is no fun, a mindless task, but it is a necessary evil for those of us living in the sub tropics. As far as the rescue, it is a shame there was nobody on his crew capable of performing an aerial rescue. I sure hope my guys would come rescue my ass.
Check out the photo's I posted here and read the explanation on technique. If this isn't clear enough let me know and I will post a step by step with pictures.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showpost.php?p=1600046&postcount=11
Check out the photo's I posted here and read the explanation on technique. If this isn't clear enough let me know and I will post a step by step with pictures.
http://www.arboristsite.com/showpost.php?p=1600046&postcount=11
I live in the florida keys, and i use an adjustable false crotch, and Ddrt the up. I also use a big shot to get my throw line over the top. Use the same tenq. on Royal palms, (seed pods are a hazard in public areas) that no one can get to with a lift.
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