beastmaster
Addicted to ArboristSite
This job keeps getting worse. I went back to finish a job I started for a landscaper in the hollywood hills. He was supposed to supply me with a crew, No crew, so I brought my own experience groundsmen. I had just walked a big leader though and around an oak tree. It was impressive, and I was of course talking sh##. With that leader out of the way I had a tall skinny branch growing straight up with some weight on the backside and a slight lean 180 degrees from where I wanted to drop it. On the ground was a steep slope and that was where my groundman was holding the tipping line. I suggested he might want to tie a trucker hitch or hook up some pulleys. But after pulling on the line and seeing the tree moved both him and were sure he could handle it ok.
He was out of my sight, so after making a shallow face cut, I yelled back cut. I saw the cut start to open and speeded up my cut. I then saw the groundmen almost lifted in the air as the branch started going backwards over the primarys, that were about 10 feet behind me and beneath me. The piece came off the tree I was in and landed across the primarys. At first I thought maybe they weren't energized, nothing happend. Then the limb started smoking. The groundmen pulled the rope and that ##### arced and let out a pop that sounded like a canon going off, Im still only 10ft away in the tree. I hear a carwash below me, shout down.
I screwed up and I know it. I was rushing. I should of came down and tied a truckers hitch or hooked up a mechanical advantage. The groundmen couldn't get no leverage on that hill side when it started pulling him upwards.
Mean while he pulls the line again and she pops again and shoots out a green and blue fire ball. I scream at him to let that rope go.
I hear sirens and people are coming out to see what killed the power for half of hollywood, and I paniced a little bit and grabbed my stuff and bailed the hell out of there, just beating the fire truck.
I call the Landscaper, I am on the freeway heading home. He's calm, he asked me why I left? I don't know why(shell shot?)He asked me are you going to finish today, don't think so. He upset I left the branch on the wires, "you couldn't get it off?" I don't think he realizes what 12,000 Volts is. I continued the ride home and he went to deal with the aftermath.
I messed up, Its my fault, and was my responsibility. The wires didn't break. I am hoping they just turn off the power and take the branch off. I don't know if I left the scene of an accident, or if were going to get sued or fined. I offered to go back and deal with it he said he has it handled for right now. Haven't talked to him yet. I did scheduled next Saturday to finish the job. I feel like crap.
He was out of my sight, so after making a shallow face cut, I yelled back cut. I saw the cut start to open and speeded up my cut. I then saw the groundmen almost lifted in the air as the branch started going backwards over the primarys, that were about 10 feet behind me and beneath me. The piece came off the tree I was in and landed across the primarys. At first I thought maybe they weren't energized, nothing happend. Then the limb started smoking. The groundmen pulled the rope and that ##### arced and let out a pop that sounded like a canon going off, Im still only 10ft away in the tree. I hear a carwash below me, shout down.
I screwed up and I know it. I was rushing. I should of came down and tied a truckers hitch or hooked up a mechanical advantage. The groundmen couldn't get no leverage on that hill side when it started pulling him upwards.
Mean while he pulls the line again and she pops again and shoots out a green and blue fire ball. I scream at him to let that rope go.
I hear sirens and people are coming out to see what killed the power for half of hollywood, and I paniced a little bit and grabbed my stuff and bailed the hell out of there, just beating the fire truck.
I call the Landscaper, I am on the freeway heading home. He's calm, he asked me why I left? I don't know why(shell shot?)He asked me are you going to finish today, don't think so. He upset I left the branch on the wires, "you couldn't get it off?" I don't think he realizes what 12,000 Volts is. I continued the ride home and he went to deal with the aftermath.
I messed up, Its my fault, and was my responsibility. The wires didn't break. I am hoping they just turn off the power and take the branch off. I don't know if I left the scene of an accident, or if were going to get sued or fined. I offered to go back and deal with it he said he has it handled for right now. Haven't talked to him yet. I did scheduled next Saturday to finish the job. I feel like crap.