AA arborists working group

[jaime bray]

Hello just an intro, I was asked to attend the AA arborist/contractors working group this week, to give some input as a sector of the arb industry,The group has been lacking in people on the tools over the last 12months, And the proportion of contractors at the meeting quadrupled,

 

My current situation is im a sole trading arborist, Operating with two full time staff, (my Dad being one of them) At the meeting me and other non approved contractors and a couple of approved, were asked to give some input as to what was needed by the smaller organisations with the intention of improving the standards that our industry operates at, and to improve safety etc.

 

I openly admit that being a sole trader im not doing the same level of health and safety recording as some of the larger companies are doing, Its logged upstairs, and as im onsite with every job whats the point,

 

What became very apparent is the ease at which this recording can be done, and the benefits of it, This is only the start of improving the standards and in turn the public perception of our industry,

 

I will be trying to increase my h & s monitoring within my company, And im aware that it will require a little extra time to start with, I came out of the meeting determined to make changes to my company and perhaps focus my business direction,

 

My biggest problem is identifying the issues that arise on a daily basis,and retaining the thought till i get home to enable me to do something constructive about it,

 

I reckoned that one of the best places to start would be to share this with arbtalk, Ive read many a thread in here over the last three years and we all have issues, (related to trees)

 

There is another meeting coming up soon, and im trying to maintain some momentum with this as the AA were very keen to get the input of people working on domestic work and smaller scaled contracts as such, I have been asked to be the chairman of the AWG (arborists working group)

 

So...What would make our working lives easier,

 

What issues need addressing,

 

What can i propose they start to look at to raise the standards etc

 

I need your help with this lads and lasses

 

thanks Jaime Bray

[treemeup]

I think the HSE need to step in like they did with CORGI in the 1990's for us to have a industry standard which can be upheld in any sort of legal way. The problems faced with policing the unqualified in our industry cannot be that different from trades like plumbing?(we make so much noise for starters!)

 

Only then will we not have to compete with flytipping pikyes, who'll do the job for the wood, leaving us with time to not rush our work, complete risk assessments, pre-climb inspection forms, maintain our equipment to a higher standard reducing costs and therefore pressure leading to less accidents etc....

Also lobbying for tax discounts on chip production (instead of paying for waste licences), climbing equipment and chainsaw protection ( both PPE!) might go a little way to show support of us on the ground and make that little more cash available to spend the time to become an AAC.

 

Doing things like making hse and afag downloads available on places like here are definitely a step in the right direction!!

Edited March 5, 2011 by treemeup

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Hi all,

 

PLEASE support Jaime in his role, he's acting as kinda a 'conduit' between the industry and the AA for those who maybe aren't comfortable to come direct, preferring an indirect approach.

 

This is kinda akin to the employee safety rep who ain't afraid to shout at the boss, well 'approach' the boss (certainly Jaime didn't hold back in the week, n gud'on'im for that!), voicing the concerns of his colleagues on the shop floor.

 

Thanks all and 'well done' Jaime, looking forward to working with you...et al!

 

Cheers..

Paul

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

I think the HSE need to step in like they did with CORGI in the 1990's for us to have a industry standard which can be upheld in any sort of legal way. The problems faced with policing the unqualified in our industry cannot be that different from trades like plumbing?(we make so much noise for starters!)

 

Only then will we not have to compete with flytipping pikyes, who'll do the job for the wood, leaving us with time to not rush our work, complete risk assessments, pre-climb inspection forms, maintain our equipment to a higher standard reducing costs and therefore pressure leading to less accidents etc....

Also lobbying for tax discounts on chip production (instead of paying for waste licences), climbing equipment and chainsaw protection ( both PPE!) might go a little way to show support of us on the ground and make that little more cash available to spend the time to become an AAC.

 

Doing things like making hse and afag downloads available on places like here are definitely a step in the right direction!!

 

 

Sorry Jaime, have jumped in here.

 

 

'Treemeup', THANKS for the post whihc I'm sure Jaime will consider.

 

However, we have already had talks with people in 'high(ish)' places about direct central government regulation for the industry. Bottom line it just ain't gonna happen I'm afraid. ALthough what we do is very 'hazardous' most of he time it is so but to oursleves, as climbers/chainsaw operators etc., and the actual risk to homeowners / MoPs directly is relatively low...COMPARED to messing about with a very highly explosive, and poisonous, substance INSIDE someones doemstic dwelling / commercial premises, hence the CORGI / GASSAFE scheme whihc is mandatory.

 

I know this sounds like I'm selling the 'ArbAC' scheme, and I probably am coz I belive in it as it (the process) improves businesses, BUT the only viable option is an industry scheme, yes voluntary, but the less repuatble and scrupulous would not achieve approval nor bother to present themslevs as such. Then we would have a scheme setting us apart from those who are not insured, qualified nor reputable.

 

The other stuff you mention is certainly worth exploring further and I'll leave Jaime to feed them into the system.

 

THANKS again for posting...it's important you do!

 

Cheers..

Paul

[slack ma girdle]

Let us know what you need, and i will try and help.

[treemeup]

I appreciate the difference between the two industries, just trying to find a comparison from another which has the public's acknowledgement enough to actually carry a punch.

 

At least I know I'm thinking from the right angle:001_smile:

 

So the problem really is that no one (or very few) will take much notice of a AAC stamp in domestic business, and smaller companies don't really get a look in when it comes to LA work (already AAC savvy anyway) so for a small company the main gain in work would be from the commercial sector? this is where it would also be easiest to promote the existence of AAC's, which would eventually filter down to joe public, albeit a few years down the line. So maybe a few AA reps travel round building companies, water companies, land management companies etc etc spreading the word of smaller AAC's in their area, does this happen already? is it viable?

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Let us know what you need, and i will try and help.

 

Excellent...THANK YOU.

 

Sorry, I'll 'bog off' now and let Jaime take over.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Wolfie]

So maybe a few AA reps travel round building companies, water companies, land management companies etc etc spreading the word of smaller AAC's in their area, does this happen already? is it viable?

 

You could add parish councils to that list.

[jaime bray]

Paul fill your boots, The more interaction between the AA and the people in here the better in my opinion,

 

The way im looking at this, is not about obtaining a government standard, but perhaps producing stuff that will change the way we think as arborists, managers,sole traders, There are ways to do everything,Sacking people, employing people, Recording ppe issuance,

 

At the end of the day how many of us really do know the significant points of bits of legislation that maybe we can either regurgitate to our employees or vice versa, on matters when we feel that our income is being jeapordised, or employees feel that their gaffer isnt complying with even the basic health and safety issues,

 

How much value do we really put on returning home each day, maybe seeing family,loved ones, even the dog,

 

We do dangerous work, I personally dont care what the rogue traders do, Thats their business, How beneficial would it be to go into qoutes armed with legally compliant info, to which you conform to, These issues have got to be highlighted and sold to customers,

 

I think we need to educate ourselves, to enable us to educate our staff and even employers, which in turn will enable us to educate the public of what can be achieved with good tree care,

 

At the end of the day, The compensation culture is here to stay, We either adopt the practices to make a change or we sit on our laptops moaning and groaning about it, until our firm is hauled into the courts, I think that the saying nowadays is that ignorance is no excuse, So if the AA are offering this service im going to try and get the mostout of it, Its f.o.c!!!

[roseyweb]

I agree with every comment on this thread, is any one welcome to attend these steering groups? as im looking at ArbAC at the moment, if its local to me and theres sandwiches I'm there!

 

James