jomoco
Tree Freak
It has long been my contention that today's tree industry leaders, or powers that be, are an old boys club that does not represent the best interests of the average tree worker.
A glaring proof of this grisly reality dealing with life and death issues for average treeworkers is the rising numbers of modern whole tree chipper fatalities, and the stance taken on this issue by the current leaders of our industry today. Which is only conducive to the interests of WTC manufacturers, not the life and well being of literally thousands and thousands of treeworkers operating WTC's in the field every work day. Essentially exposing thousands to the hazard of suffering a slow medieval form torturous death unthinkable to inflict on the most evil mass murderers in today's modern society.
How many WTC operators have suffered this medieval form of death since WTC's were introduced onto the market in 1989? Over 60 and rising.
What do our industry leaders recommend to prevent and lessen the numbers of such grisly death and dismemberment? Better training and chipper feeding protocols enforcement measures.
What do both federal and state OSHA, NIOSH and FACE officials recommend to lessen the numbers of WTC fatalities? A two man minimum WTC operator policy being established in the tree industry.
Which begs the question of why our current industry leaders have chosen to back the practice letting a single operator feed WTC's. If they make a mistake? Too bad.
The discriminatory hypocrisy on full display here is glaring. Our leaders would never dream of actively recommending a hazardous tree be climbed and worked on by a single climber alone. Indeed they've created best practices and policies require a qualified second climber be present on the jobsite. Even sometimes going so far as setting a secondary rescue climbing line in the tree being worked just in case.
Clear objective proof that the leaders at the helm of this industry today put a far higher value on the climber's life and well being, than that of a lowly chipper operator feeding a huge 200 horsepower WTC alone. So much so that they've chosen to ignore the number one recommendation
Of state and federal officials to prevent these gruesome tragedies.
My bringing this matter up for discussion and debate among my peers in this biz seems to invariably lead to thread lock downs and censorship. Even on some ostensibly professional tree industry forums. It's been many years since I've posted anything at AS.
Should be interesting whether opposing points of view to this industry's status quo will be allowed at AS today?
jomoco
A glaring proof of this grisly reality dealing with life and death issues for average treeworkers is the rising numbers of modern whole tree chipper fatalities, and the stance taken on this issue by the current leaders of our industry today. Which is only conducive to the interests of WTC manufacturers, not the life and well being of literally thousands and thousands of treeworkers operating WTC's in the field every work day. Essentially exposing thousands to the hazard of suffering a slow medieval form torturous death unthinkable to inflict on the most evil mass murderers in today's modern society.
How many WTC operators have suffered this medieval form of death since WTC's were introduced onto the market in 1989? Over 60 and rising.
What do our industry leaders recommend to prevent and lessen the numbers of such grisly death and dismemberment? Better training and chipper feeding protocols enforcement measures.
What do both federal and state OSHA, NIOSH and FACE officials recommend to lessen the numbers of WTC fatalities? A two man minimum WTC operator policy being established in the tree industry.
Which begs the question of why our current industry leaders have chosen to back the practice letting a single operator feed WTC's. If they make a mistake? Too bad.
The discriminatory hypocrisy on full display here is glaring. Our leaders would never dream of actively recommending a hazardous tree be climbed and worked on by a single climber alone. Indeed they've created best practices and policies require a qualified second climber be present on the jobsite. Even sometimes going so far as setting a secondary rescue climbing line in the tree being worked just in case.
Clear objective proof that the leaders at the helm of this industry today put a far higher value on the climber's life and well being, than that of a lowly chipper operator feeding a huge 200 horsepower WTC alone. So much so that they've chosen to ignore the number one recommendation
Of state and federal officials to prevent these gruesome tragedies.
My bringing this matter up for discussion and debate among my peers in this biz seems to invariably lead to thread lock downs and censorship. Even on some ostensibly professional tree industry forums. It's been many years since I've posted anything at AS.
Should be interesting whether opposing points of view to this industry's status quo will be allowed at AS today?
jomoco
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