TCIA letter to Discovery Network.....

[rbtree]

http://www.natlarb.com/Public/news_industry_news.htm


TCIA and ISA call on TLC Network to Pull “Saw for Hire” Program Off the Air

January 23, 2009

Mr. David M. Zaslav
President and CEO
Discovery Communications
One Discovery Place Silver Spring, MD 20910

Dear Mr. Zaslav:

I would like to call your attention to a dangerous and unprofessional depiction of commercial tree care operations in the TLC program “Saw for Hire.”

Tree care is one of the five most hazardous professions in the country, according to independent research. Fatalities are all too common, and serious injuries occur daily. To advance safety, respected arborists are hard at work with associations, professional societies, certification organizations and government at all levels to reduce the accident and fatality rates among workers in the trees. Your program undermines all of those efforts, and it defames thousands of professional arborists in the U.S. who will not compromise their ethics, their integrity and the very safety of themselves and their co-workers for the sake of sensationalism.

Commercial arboriculture is subject to a variety of Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. Judging from your program and the footage available at http://nosakraw.com, the arborists at Nosak Tree Service are either unaware of, or choose to ignore, these safety requirements.

The Tree Care Industry Association represents approximately 2,000 businesses engaged in commercial tree care in the United States. Since 1938, the association has worked to promote and uphold the highest standards of safe and professional conduct, including creating a Certified Treecare Safety Professional program and accrediting tree care companies so consumers know how to hire qualified companies.

In addition, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) represents over 30,000 professional and Certified Arborists around the world. Founded in 1924, ISA promotes the professional practice of arboriculture including administering the Certified Arborist credential program. Through its position as the Secretariat of the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee Z-133 Safety Standards for Arboricultural Practices, ISA also works to promote high safety standards within the industry.

Our organizations are concerned that “Saw for Hire” glorifies unsafe and otherwise unprofessional conduct that, if used as an example in the field, quite simply puts lives at risk – both arborists and the consumers who hire them. The violations are numerous and egregious. They are not simply small, technical violations of industry safety practices but life-threatening acts that repeatedly and consistently show a lack of knowledge of the basics of safe tree care operations.

Discovery Communications claims it is committed to managing its business activities in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and to ensuring honest and ethical behavior by its directors, officers, employees and contingent workers. “Saw for Hire” is a constant, ongoing violation of state, federal and industry professional standards and safety practices. In broadcasting this program, your network is complicit in the promotion of the unprofessional and unsafe practices of this company – practices that lead to injuries and fatalities in the tree care industry on a weekly basis.

Discovery Communications cannot be expected to know all of the safety regulations and best practices requirements that govern commercial arboriculture. Now that you have been made aware of the critically dangerous nature of the broadcast by your network, however, we ask that this program be taken off the air immediately for the benefit of consumers and arborists.

The tree care industry is ranked among the most dangerous professions in the United States. Employees in the tree care industry are often exposed to extreme hazards that must be met with an equally extreme commitment to safety. There are thousands of professional, safe and legally compliant tree care companies in the United States that could provide safe and professional examples of commercial arboriculture. It is in the spirit of cooperation, not confrontation, that we ask for your timely response.

Respectfully,

Cynthia Mills, CAE, CMC                              Jim Skiera, CAE
President & CEO                                          Executive Director
Tree Care Industry Association                  International Society of Arboriculture

[Höllenreich]

I have to say you can really tell the eco is slow. Guys just have too much time on their hands.

You know I do this work on a day to day basis and I never once think I'm risking my life. I think the ones that feel they are risking their lives to do this type of work should maybe think of another line of work. Cutting grass is safe.

[MasterBlaster]

[quote author=rbtree link=topic=196.msg231#msg231 date=1232813855]

http://www.natlarb.com/Public/news_industry_news.htm


TCIA and ISA call on TLC Network to Pull “Saw for Hire” Program Off the Air

January 23, 2009

Mr. David M. Zaslav
President and CEO
Discovery Communications
One Discovery Place Silver Spring, MD 20910

Dear Mr. Zaslav:

I would like to call your attention to a dangerous and unprofessional depiction of commercial tree care operations in the TLC program “Saw for Hire.”

Tree care is one of the five most hazardous professions in the country, according to independent research. Fatalities are all too common, and serious injuries occur daily. To advance safety, respected arborists are hard at work with associations, professional societies, certification organizations and government at all levels to reduce the accident and fatality rates among workers in the trees. Your program undermines all of those efforts, and it defames thousands of professional arborists in the U.S. who will not compromise their ethics, their integrity and the very safety of themselves and their co-workers for the sake of sensationalism.

Commercial arboriculture is subject to a variety of Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. Judging from your program and the footage available at http://nosakraw.com, the arborists at Nosak Tree Service are either unaware of, or choose to ignore, these safety requirements.

The Tree Care Industry Association represents approximately 2,000 businesses engaged in commercial tree care in the United States. Since 1938, the association has worked to promote and uphold the highest standards of safe and professional conduct, including creating a Certified Treecare Safety Professional program and accrediting tree care companies so consumers know how to hire qualified companies.

In addition, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) represents over 30,000 professional and Certified Arborists around the world. Founded in 1924, ISA promotes the professional practice of arboriculture including administering the Certified Arborist credential program. Through its position as the Secretariat of the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee Z-133 Safety Standards for Arboricultural Practices, ISA also works to promote high safety standards within the industry.

Our organizations are concerned that “Saw for Hire” glorifies unsafe and otherwise unprofessional conduct that, if used as an example in the field, quite simply puts lives at risk – both arborists and the consumers who hire them. The violations are numerous and egregious. They are not simply small, technical violations of industry safety practices but life-threatening acts that repeatedly and consistently show a lack of knowledge of the basics of safe tree care operations.

Discovery Communications claims it is committed to managing its business activities in full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and to ensuring honest and ethical behavior by its directors, officers, employees and contingent workers. “Saw for Hire” is a constant, ongoing violation of state, federal and industry professional standards and safety practices. In broadcasting this program, your network is complicit in the promotion of the unprofessional and unsafe practices of this company – practices that lead to injuries and fatalities in the tree care industry on a weekly basis.

Discovery Communications cannot be expected to know all of the safety regulations and best practices requirements that govern commercial arboriculture. Now that you have been made aware of the critically dangerous nature of the broadcast by your network, however, we ask that this program be taken off the air immediately for the benefit of consumers and arborists.

The tree care industry is ranked among the most dangerous professions in the United States. Employees in the tree care industry are often exposed to extreme hazards that must be met with an equally extreme commitment to safety. There are thousands of professional, safe and legally compliant tree care companies in the United States that could provide safe and professional examples of commercial arboriculture. It is in the spirit of cooperation, not confrontation, that we ask for your timely response.

Respectfully,

Cynthia Mills, CAE, CMC                               Jim Skiera, CAE
President & CEO                                          Executive Director
Tree Care Industry Association                   International Society of Arboriculture


[/quote]


Outstanding.

[BigMike]

WOW, I can't believe it took this long! What a bunch of idiots!!!!!! You guys give every industry that has to do with wood a bad name! Leave it to the pros like the Ax Men

[stihl1]

  Its a TV show. all you other HACKS can quit your fu**ing crying.  LOVE THE SHOW. FU*K YOU IF YOU DONT.

[rbtree]

Well, the word on the street is, that Discovery Network got wise from all the feedback, and canned the show.....

anyone see it yet tonite?


good riddance, Pauly....

Hacks though the outfit is, the craziness was a hoot to watch, for those of us that do the work daily.

So who are you, stihl1?  Nosack Sr or JR.....?

Must say, Jr is sporting a nice $570 TreeMotion saddle, and fancy Gecko gaffs---nice tools, would have loved to see you guys do some real rigging. Lose the crane and do it all with brains, gear, and brawn.

[MasterBlaster]

I was agog and agape watching Gerome don his hooks while standing on concrete. I mean, you might get away with that wearing pole gaffs - but NOT longshanks.

[rbtree]

agog, eh?

How's about some grog.....

We craned out two big leaf maple today....the house corner was crushed.....but, alas, we didn't do that... the wind did though!  About 16- 20 picks.....4 hours....then we went to an exclusive gated community and craned a half dead cherry, which will make some nice furniture (34"butt, with some burl) and craned a broken madrona from its perch in some other trees. Extent of the damage. My young new climber was working the cherry before the crane got there, and dropped a 5 foot chunk onto plain old asphalt..put a small dent in it...easy fix if the rich customer even cares.)

No drama, just professional fast work.

[MasterBlaster]

Are you in the right (LOL!) thread - heck, the right forum, Roger?

[stihl1]

i am not paul. i am in virginia. i run a business that is just like any other. you name a business like roofing,lawn care,tree removal,landscapeing,any dirt work, what ever it all has it;s hacks. some more then others but i dont cry about it or write letters,call osha. there is a lot more on TV for people to worry about then some guy takeing down trees. and how much is set up for TV ? I thing it is a good show. and i stand by what i said before- IF YOU DONT LIKE IT DONT WATCH IT. And all them haters who cry and write leters GO FU*K YOUR SELF. GET A FU*KING LIFE.

[SFHFan]

[quote author=rbtree link=topic=196.msg245#msg245 date=1233293203]
agog, eh?

How's about some grog.....

We craned out two big leaf maple today....the house corner was crushed.....but, alas, we didn't do that... the wind did though!  About 16- 20 picks.....4 hours....then we went to an exclusive gated community and craned a half dead cherry, which will make some nice furniture (34"butt, with some burl) and craned a broken madrona from its perch in some other trees. Extent of the damage. My young new climber was working the cherry before the crane got there, and dropped a 5 foot chunk onto plain old asphalt..put a small dent in it...easy fix if the rich customer even cares.)



No drama, just professional fast work.
[/quote]

Come watch Pauls crew one day when they aren't filming for A TV SHOW!!!! and you will see them do exactly that, good quality efficient work!! Do you people not understand this is TELEVISION?? Good good what a bunch of babies!!!