Tree pruning in the PNW

[garyGee]

I agree with Furu. 10 years ago I got up on a six foot ladder in my 2 sorry garage which I built to cut off a piece of angle iron from an overhead door which was preventing a light cover from going over the base. I knew better than to get on a ladder with a power saw, but the, "it won't happen to me syndrome stepped in". Long story short, saw kicked, knocked me off ladder, broke tailus bone in 9 pieces. Two years later they had to amputate my right foot. That completely changed my life! Use your brain, it can happen to you!

 

[jjakes2014]

Started my yearly job of pruning
View attachment 4655365

 

[Shawn T. W.]

I know that ladders are dangerous, but both "society" and the government have not banned them, they just come with the legalize of lawyer talk about being careful ...

I like my platform style step ladders, as my feet don't like to stand for too long on the steps ...

 

[Auminer]

Safety is always number one. When you forget that you are temping fate.
I have a Silky pole saw unit that is 20 plus feet fully extended.
Can't find that product online but here is a similar one.
https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/p/81801/76353/notch-sentei-pole-saws

Cheaper than even a copay at the ER.

"Cheaper than even a copay at the ER."
$370 ? ... Not by much

 

[BryceSteiner]

I am super happy with this cordless pole saw from HF

https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-cordless-pole-saw-tool-only-64996.html

I was thinking about the ladder to get higher and do somewhat, but I noticed that the branches tend to come back and try to hit the ladder out from under when you cut them. Almost like reciprocity for cutting the tree.
I actually think the idea of first responder is crazy. Firemen generally don't save houses - if the house is still in decent shape, it's destroyed by water. Maybe they keep the neighborhood from burning down. I don't understand why to be a volunteer firefighter in my state you need 160 hours of training. On the job training is the best you can have with the equipment your dept has.
Then the EMS...I see the same people using the ambulance regularly, and will actually use it for their personal transportation. If you use it, pay for it. Don't have the taxpayer be paying for it for somebody else. Same with public libraries. I'm all for libraries and books but today they are so expensive for taxpayers because they are entertainment hubs for lonely people rather their focus of promoting literacy. Ever see your county budget for audio/movie subscriptions or free internet hotspots? It's massive.
Same for paying for homeowners insurance. I think you're better off saving the money as a community and using it when needed rather than building skyscrapers and pension plans for CEOs.
Enough rant for today.

 

[etpm]

After thinking about it I just had to respond to the "safety police" comment. It was derogatory and misses the point. The reason I want to see people act safely is because I don't want to see them get hurt. Even if I don't know the person. It's just empathy. I have been hurt badly. I know what it feels like. I don't want anybody else to be hurt like that. So that's why I hate to see unsafe practices, especially egregious examples. I think most folks that see people doing stuff that is needlessly risky feel like I do. They don't want to see someone get hurt.
Eric

 

[bumperm]

Safety is always number one. When you forget that you are temping fate.
I have a Silky pole saw unit that is 20 plus feet fully extended.
Can't find that product online but here is a similar one.
https://www.forestry-suppliers.com/p/81801/76353/notch-sentei-pole-saws

Cheaper than even a copay at the ER.

For a manual pole saw, not considering the cost of ER, that's up there in price! Here's one for $57.

Amazon.com

 

[TheRealWorld]

If you can't reach it from the ground with a pole saw, don't do it. Death is a long time.

 

[big bubba]

I agree with Furu. 10 years ago I got up on a six foot ladder in my 2 sorry garage which I built to cut off a piece of angle iron from an overhead door which was preventing a light cover from going over the base. I knew better than to get on a ladder with a power saw, but the, "it won't happen to me syndrome stepped in". Long story short, saw kicked, knocked me off ladder, broke tailus bone in 9 pieces. Two years later they had to amputate my right foot. That completely changed my life! Use your brain, it can happen to you!

garyGee: oh boy, am sorry to hear of your tragic accident & loss of your foot. that's a tough one, glad to hear that you are well along the way.

I disagree with Furu. his message seems to imply that us taxpayers & society should not take care of foolish decisions leading to an accident because we're the ones paying taxes. That is not the way first responders should operate in a humane society. Perhaps he has had bad experiences that led him to that conclusion.

i agree with consensus in the thread about the danger of chain saws and ladders. but some of the setups of the posters, esp securing the ladder, makes sense.
best regards