This post was inspired by an article published in Park Ranger Magazine, Issue 1, written by Ken Phillips titled Speak Up!

The article starts with this passage (all other quotes from that same article will follow in bold text):

“On July 7, 2010 a United States Coast Guard MH60T helicopter crashed in the ocean near La Push, WA resulting in the deaths of three of the four crew members aboard. The Jayhawk helicopter was being transferred to Air Station Sitka, Alaska, from the Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, N.C., following a six month overhaul, when it collided with electrical power lines suspended above the water to a small island that powered a USCG navigation aid. The sole survivor of the accident was co-pilot, Lt. Lance Leone. In the official Final Action Memorandum, published on March 12, 2012, the USCG stated there was a ‘breakdown in crew resource management’ among the crew members. The flight crew failed to speak up and challenge the pilot’s decision to deviate from the planned altitude of 1000 feet. As the helicopter ‘zoomed’ a USCG motor lifeboat at the mouth of the Quillayute River, the helicopter struck the power lines 114 feet above the water. The impact of the strike caused the rotor system to become out of balance and disintegrate in flight. Taking a hardly strong position, the USCG levied charges against Lt. Leone for negligent homicide and dereliction of duty. These shares were later dismissed by the agency, however the tragic loss of three crew members will continue to haunt everyone associated with this very unfortunate and preventable accident.”

Certainly, as many times as we are members of a larger crew during tree work operations, arborists owe to each other both observational and situational awareness throughout the entire project’s decision making process. Many times we, as individuals, experience different levels of stress or physical demand throughout a project, whether as managers, climbers, or riggers. We can observe or recognize things that other team members may not in specific or immediate instances. And although there are many factors that can potentially suffocate the act of communicating those observations in order to keep one another safe from the perspective of clarity, we must make it a necessity to overcome the physiology of the human condition and speak out against unsafe or dangerous acts.

“Keeping this in mind former USAF pilot and aviation safety advocate Tony Kern provides the definition of an expert as someone who: 1.Recognizes his or her personal limitations. 2. Recognizes diminished decision-making capacity in emergencies. 3. Discusses personal limitations. 4. Encourages others to question decisions.”

No one crew member can be perfect in every situation. And let’s be honest, in problem-solving situations there are several ways to skin a cat, as the old saying goes. The argument here isn’t to question every single decision that we make as team members. That could be quite the hindrance to a smooth operation. But, if something makes us uncomfortable, for whatever reason, follow your heart and bring the topic up with the team. There is the opportunity for team building and strengthening the bond amongst crew members. Leave your ego at the door, under the welcome mat.

We can’t anticipate an accident happening as a tree crew. Or can we? Go to any tree climbing competition, and most likely you will find an Aerial Rescue event. This event isn’t to make the job site more dangerous. In fact, it is to better prepare us as climbing arborists if the need for an aerial rescue situation were to arise. Entire companies throughout the industry are dedicated to training arborists in emergency response and high-angle rescue situations. Given these considerations, it certainly does seem that we do anticipate emergencies in high stress environments to occur. Given the numbers to tree work related injury and death, we most certainly should live by the motto: Don’t get ready, stay ready.

“Phsycologist Dr. Judith Orasanu found that ‘one of the factors that distinguished between high and low performing airline cockpit crews was that the high performing crews spent the light workload phases of flight discussing what they would do in emergency situations.”

Every single member of the crew is an absolute resource, both as an information source and monitoring lens of the situation as it unfolds. There is real value in bringing issues under a microscopic, or to the forefront of a pre-job safety briefing and/or job-site walk through. From power lines to questionable tree mechanics to insects to dangerous site terrain, missing something, or acknowledging something overlooked, can be the difference of success and failure. Every detail matters.

“When we work together in a small teams during an emergency, our ability to share information and develop a ‘shared mental image’ is the key to effective teamwork. The incident commander must adequately communicate their intent and plans to other rescuers.”

Have a plan and rehearse it as a step-by-step process. I know many competition tree climbers realize just how important this rehearsal is for a strong Aerial Rescue score and performance, but it is a process that will undoubtedly spill over into the reality of an unfortunate job site  emergency. If there is anyone that we should be able to turn to other than ourselves to keep a safe and efficient worksite, it is our teammates.

Planning is the ultimate way to address an emergency. Essentially, dealing with circumstances before they arise and eliminating the option of failure.

“Sheryl L. Chappell of the NASA Ames Research Center prepared the following list for leaders to consider how to manage situational awareness in their crew: 1.What do they know that I need to know. 2.What do I know that they need to know? 3.What do none of us know that we need to know?”

Our love for one another, as professionals, and as family men and women and fellow human beings in general, should drive our communicative and observational abilities to keep one another out of harms way.

Talk about it. Be about it. As team members, we are each others most valuable asset.