TREE CARE
parcel of a storm situation,
regardless of whether the
storm brought the lines down
on its own, or the lines were
brought down by trees affected
by the storm. Examining the
work site closely for energized
conductors must be a priority
before any work is started in
a storm situation. Crews must
also keep in mind that a line
downed away from them may
reach their worksite through
other conductors such as chain
link fences, metal curbing,
or even "harmless" phone or
cable lines. The ground under
a crew's feet can even conduct electricity for a distance given the
right soil conditions and voltage. Tree crews should also always
be aware of the possibility of an incorrectly hooked-up generator
back-feeding into the "dead" lines, and causing serious injury in
a "known" safe area.
LOOK, LISTEN, FEEL, AND THEN DO IT AGAIN
Checking out and evaluating the worksite should happen every
time a tree job is happening, but this evaluation/planning
process is vitally important in the case of storm work. Prior to
anything being cut, or even the
saw started, the operator needs
to examine the wood closely to
try to determine what kind of
pressure and forces it may be
under; and from where they
originate. Not only will this
examination help figure out
how and where to cut, but also
where things are going to move
once severed, and where a safe
place to be is while cutting. The
two primary forces present
will be compression and
tension; and, as mentioned
in previous articles, an
excellent way to deal with
these particular forces is by using the acronym CUT developed
by the instructors of Arbor Canada. Compression wood is cut
first, Tension wood last, and "U" are in the middle. The forces
acting on the particular lead, branch or trunk may not be readily
apparent or obvious, so personnel need to look closely to find
the forces, but also try to predict their effect on the wood and
the whole piece. Sometimes, when a visual examination is not
successful, the operator may be able to "hear" or "feel" the wood
talking to them. This is not meant in a spiritual "Long Island
Medium" sense, but more in the sense that stresses in the wood
Ice, trees and electricity: a combination that demands all of a tree worker's
focus and attention to deal with safely.
PHOTO
S
BY
MICHAEL
"HOUSE"
TAIN
A fairly reasonable illustration of what the tree crew might encounter upon arrival at the storm cleanup work site — in this case after an ice storm.
www.landscapeirrigation.com Landscape and Irrigation November/December 2015 37
