The fronds that trap palm tree trimmers are usually many years of dead growth. You’ve seen the trees, the ones with a long “beard” of dead fronds. The trimmers start to remove the lowest fronds which are supporting all the dead fronds above. At a certain point on the trunk, usually about half way up a tall palm, the remaining upper fronds, many not attached securely to the tree, slide down the trunk, crushing the climber under several hundred pounds of weight. The fronds were held up by the lower fronds that the climber just removed. The upper fronds slide down between the tree and the climber’s chest, making it impossible to detach the climber’s lanyard. The climber usually suffocates within a short time. It is difficult to cut trapped climbers free because they are buried in fronds and soon are not responsive to give their location. They are often high off the ground so aerial devices are needed for rescue. In spite of their best efforts and speedy response, the first responders are most often conducting a body recovery.
The Z133 tree industry safety standard requires palm trees with more than 3 years growth to be trimmed starting at the top of the tree. If loose fronds collapse, the climber is safely secured from above with a safety line and positioning lanyard. Pass the word: Fan palms with more than 3 years growth must be trimmed from the top down.
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If he was a tree trimmer couldn’t he cut himself out from being trapped?
The fronds that trap palm tree trimmers are usually many years of dead growth. You’ve seen the trees, the ones with a long “beard” of dead fronds. The trimmers start to remove the lowest fronds which are supporting all the dead fronds above. At a certain point on the trunk, usually about half way up a tall palm, the remaining upper fronds, many not attached securely to the tree, slide down the trunk, crushing the climber under several hundred pounds of weight. The fronds were held up by the lower fronds that the climber just removed. The upper fronds slide down between the tree and the climber’s chest, making it impossible to detach the climber’s lanyard. The climber usually suffocates within a short time. It is difficult to cut trapped climbers free because they are buried in fronds and soon are not responsive to give their location. They are often high off the ground so aerial devices are needed for rescue. In spite of their best efforts and speedy response, the first responders are most often conducting a body recovery.
The Z133 tree industry safety standard requires palm trees with more than 3 years growth to be trimmed starting at the top of the tree. If loose fronds collapse, the climber is safely secured from above with a safety line and positioning lanyard. Pass the word: Fan palms with more than 3 years growth must be trimmed from the top down.