Unattended chippers

[SkwerI]

Dave, sounds like you have quite the knack for training rookies.

 

[sotc]

 

[Fiddler]

I am always training someone. Comes with the job. I do love to see people get better at what they do, and try to do whatever I can to help them progress. I have worked for more than one of my old groundmen.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

I will stage the chipper with enough work that when it is running.. it is running.. I hate something running and not productive. If it is running.. Then it better be chipping. My chipper cost me 1400.00 last year on an engine. Bugger best be chipping when running. And yes.. staged right... chipping is fast!... I often schedule the chipper after one days work just to run it non stop.

 

[rumination]

I am always training someone. Comes with the job. I do love to see people get better at what they do, and try to do whatever I can to help them progress. I have worked for more than one of my old groundmen.

 

[OTGBOSTON]

Being that all of our work is in a town made up of genius' in training (aka college kids) I have seen quite an assortment of things thrown into our chippers from note books, to clothing, to coffe cups. The best one was a drunk chick (at like 2 in the afternoon) 'helping us' chip brush. She was hot as hell and stupid as a bag of hammers, usually a desireable combination.......not so in this instance.

We always have someone within arms length of our chippers when they are running.

 

[Bounce]

I used to work for a company that ran two crews: one cutting crew and one chipping crew. The cutting crew would focus on getting stuff on the ground as fast as possible and then move on to the next job. Then the chipping/cleanup crew would show up the next day. It was extremely efficient, but it only worked because they had enough business to do that. Also, it was a pain on jobs with tight quarters because there was not enough space to stack all the brush.

 

[treeclimber]

I like to stage the brush to the point that the operators can have at least twenty minutes of chipping and than shut the machine down completely , often the noise of the chipper can be a huge distraction between ground crews and climbers or bucket operators not to mention every hr. is equal to about 50 miles on the engine at high rpms.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

I used to work for a company that ran two crews: one cutting crew and one chipping crew. The cutting crew would focus on getting stuff on the ground as fast as possible and then move on to the next job. Then the chipping/cleanup crew would show up the next day. It was extremely efficient, but it only worked because they had enough business to do that. Also, it was a pain on jobs with tight quarters because there was not enough space to stack all the brush.

We have tried that and it works awesome. However; you really have to pick your jobs for the room.. Room for brush is usually only an issue here if you are staging for burn. Also works better on smaller multiple jobs.

 

[rumination]

I used to work for a company that ran two crews: one cutting crew and one chipping crew. The cutting crew would focus on getting stuff on the ground as fast as possible and then move on to the next job. Then the chipping/cleanup crew would show up the next day. It was extremely efficient, but it only worked because they had enough business to do that. Also, it was a pain on jobs with tight quarters because there was not enough space to stack all the brush.

The first company I worked was on the same system. It was great if you were on the cutting crew, but the cleanup crew sucked.

 

[sotc]

Twould be nice to be that busy!

 

[Frans]

Originally Posted by Fiddler
I am always training someone. Comes with the job. I do love to see people get better at what they do, and try to do whatever I can to help them progress. I have worked for more than one of my old groundmen.

I kind of like explaining things to folks, but the actual cost of training someone is very high.
Making that kind of financial investment in someone is risky and lowers your bottom line on profit.

 

[Fiddler]

Frans....I agree, it is financially beyond many small businesses to take time to continuously train people, I work as a foreman for a large company, so training groundsmen & trimmers is part of my job description. We will have 3-4 new guys starting next Mon. and I am sure one of them will be assigned to me.

 

[woodworkingboy]

For something like a chipper, I'd like to see a mandatory training program in operation, say a short low cost course where you get certified. Without the paper, no can run.

I know you guys aren't big on government intervention, but maybe in this case, considering the element of risk, and that some management doesn't offer proper instruction to newbies.

 

[squisher]

You're right Jay. I disagree.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Yes of course, but I was just googling around and did find a course offered in Great Britain, and the curriculum outline. 2 day course it says.

Learning Outcomes:

Identify, inspect and comment on key parts of the machine

Prepare the machine for work safely without risk to themselves, other people or the environment

Carry out daily and routine maintenance on the machine

Operate the machine safely and competently without risk to themselves, others and the environment

Follow the correct procedure to adjust chip size

Deal with blockages

Maintain cutting systems as per manufacturers instructions

Prepare the machine for transportation

 

[Blinky]

I used to work for a company that ran two crews: one cutting crew and one chipping crew. The cutting crew would focus on getting stuff on the ground as fast as possible and then move on to the next job. Then the chipping/cleanup crew would show up the next day. It was extremely efficient, but it only worked because they had enough business to do that. Also, it was a pain on jobs with tight quarters because there was not enough space to stack all the brush.

We did it that way in NOLA, it was a sweet deal. We didn't even have to flush the stumps, just put the wood on the ground and go to the next property. The guy driving the dump had the crappy end... had to go over that skinny ass causeway 5 or 6 times a day and got bitten by brown recluses twice in one week.

 

[woodworkingboy]

and got bitten by brown recluses twice in one week.

There were negro homeless people living there?

 

[Paul B]

the spider methinks...





lookout for the pic of the damage it causes (lower)!

 

[woodworkingboy]

Wow, that is no joke!

 

[Mr. Sir]

For something like a chipper, I'd like to see a mandatory training program in operation, say a short low cost course where you get certified. Without the paper, no can run.

I know you guys aren't big on government intervention, but maybe in this case, considering the element of risk, and that some management doesn't offer proper instruction to newbies.

More government regulation will not fix stupid.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Obviously, but without knowing what percentage of chipper injuries or deaths, or potential injuries, is caused by stupid, compared to ones where improper training is a factor, I don't see how you can offer such a generalization.

 

[SkwerI]

So you suggest creating more government bureaucracy to create regulation for something where the 'problem' isn't even defined yet? Please, don't vote in our elections.

 

[Mr. Sir]

A person(employer) who allows untrained workers to operate a chipper is stupid, as are said workers who choose to operate such equipment without proper training; and no amount of government regulation will change that.

 

[Old Monkey]

If we, as an industry, keep on the path we are on injuring people, regulation is just around the corner.