CLSA Webinar: Two-Person Survey Crew Mandates

You know..since the "invention" of the one-man crew I've always felt a twinge of fear every time I've sent someone out by themselves into certain environs. Our "one-butt" crew work is pretty much limited to some basic and simplistic things away from traffic. I have the luxury of an approx. 2500 square mile working area that is generally rural.

Having said that, I'm glad I don't practice in sunny cal. I darn sure don't need someone mandating how many warm bodies I throw at a project.

Some of the discussions are interesting.

paden cash, post: 373651, member: 20 wrote: I darn sure don't need someone mandating how many warm bodies I throw at a project.

I work for myself, by myself; would they force me to hire someone?

If this is done right it could be good. Make it a requirement for firm over a certain size or for set government contracts and site conditions.
We aren't smart enough to keep our Profession going. Let Big Brother twist our arms...

RADAR, post: 373656, member: 413 wrote: I work for myself, by myself; would they force me to hire someone?

I would hope it doesn't come to anything like that. The good part is by the time Oklahoma tries anything like that I'll be dead and gone.

But even though the majority of my work is actually 2-butt crews, a lot of my personal work is done with a pin-finder, sharp-shooter and a can of paint...by myself. In one hour I can square away a crew with instructions for the next day...and if I had left it up to them, it would have taken at least half a day.

From what I've read there may be more behind it than merely "safety". It's gettin' to where a fella can't piss in the woods without someone getting "political" about it..:pinch:

gschrock, post: 373672, member: 556 wrote: ..At a recent surveying forum, someone proposed mandatory crews of 2 to help with the mentoring situation. A worthy sentiment, but not sure of the practicalities of mandating it..

Interesting concept. It is hard to pass on your years of experience when you're out there falling over barb-wire fences all by yourself...

I would think rather than "mandating" something (that just makes guys like me grumble); maybe the answer would be to make it "desirable". Maybe multiple employees could qualify one for "mentoring" status and at least give us a break on the continuing ed requirements.

Is it just a webnair or will there be live solo surveyors there? I hope whoever dreamed this one up has a sufficient amount of bodyguards with him/her.

In my type of work two man crews are all I use. GPS is too slow and the vertical is questionable.

RADAR, post: 373656, member: 413 wrote: I work for myself, by myself; would they force me to hire someone?

Just buy one of those cheap inflate-a-dates at your local porn store, slap an orange vest on her and voila! a new employee. Hell she might even come in handy if you get lost! :-O

Ps: don't get one with giant mammary glands, the vest won't fit.

FL/GA PLS., post: 373675, member: 379 wrote: ....don't get one with giant mammary glands, the vest won't fit.

How in the world would you know that??!!....:whistle:

paden cash, post: 373679, member: 20 wrote: How in the world would you know that??!!....:whistle:

I read it on the internet of course. No wait, a surveyor friend told me. Ummm no, I found one floating in a retention pond and she looked cold so I put a vest on her to warm her up but the vest wouldn't fit. Ummm,...no wait...... Umm.... It's none of your business! 😉

paden cash, post: 373679, member: 20 wrote: How in the world would you know that??!!....:whistle:

Florida man.... :woot:

FL/GA PLS., post: 373682, member: 379 wrote: I read it on the internet of course. No wait, a surveyor friend told me. Ummm no, I found one floating in a retention pond and she looked cold so I put a vest on her to warm her up but the vest wouldn't fit. Ummm,...no wait...... Umm.... It's none of your business! 😉

[MEDIA=youtube]pkYNBwCEeH4[/MEDIA]

Many years ago I worked on a Government installation where virtually all union employees were apparently Siamese twins. Need a carpenter for a 10 minute job, two show up. Need a pipefitter for a 10 minute job, two show up. If the job required three you got four because all help came two by two. Noah's Ark Syndrome.

The story I related a few days ago about the fellow getting bit by a rattlesnake is a prime example of where having a second person around could be extremely helpful.

2 man crew. Double the chance that someone will get hurt.

It was a chance occurrence, and not a really good example of working alone...but I'll tell the story anyway:

I worked for an elderly engineer. I believe he was born in 1905, so when this happened he would have almost been 76 years old. We had done a topo and route survey for an outfall sewer and it was one of the first jobs I remember actually having aerial photos to work with. John (the engineer) had been in favor of a different route in one area. We had nixed that because of the terrain and it would require maybe three "aerial" crossings of creeks. The route we finally decided on passed this area by, but added a few thousand feet to the length of the line. John "had to see it for hisself"....but apparently didn't tell anybody.

His worried wife started calling folks about dark. Some had seen him leave the office that afternoon, but nobody had seen him since. 10:15 PM I saw a local tv news story about a farmer's dog that went crazy barking and drew enough attention they followed the dog down to the creek...sure enough, the dog had led everybody to poor ol' John. He came to rest at the bottom of a 25' muddy ravine with a broken ankle. Local fireman had him to the ER about 10 PM that evening.

He was a little chagrined about everybody "raising cane" about him missing. He recovered and finally decided the alternate route was probably for the better.

A real-and-for-true "Packy fell in the old well" story.

I see...

more solo operators on the horizon

one hour to go, signup link https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2960710310376612100

Been noticing a DOT two man crew around the neighborhood.
One guy busts the brush along the r/w with his rover and the other soaks up ac in the truck......

total fail.
I scheduled my day/week around this, I am pretty busy here, it was not easy to do.
I signed up, got many email reminders: links, instructions on how to make sure it would work, etc. I did all that, on Two different computers.
(never a mention of software that must be installed, never)
a few minutes early I logged in, got a message ... not ready yet.
a few minutes later at the appointed time, and I get a bunch of error messages.
I move to another computer... it wants me to download and install some crud. I do that.
Finally! I log in again, now running 15 minutes late and I get "full, contact support"

am I more disappointed or pissed? hard to tell, both actually.

gschrock, post: 376448, member: 556 wrote: Registered but got the webinar full message.
No problemo, just dialed in for the audio.
Great webinar! Great job Dave and Evan!

I am glad it worked for you