Advice on looking for work.

[jamesfwpurdy]

Hi everyone,

 

I am aware that this is probably a strange request but thought I'd put the feelers out there.

 

At the moment I am between jobs and looking for something to fill in for a few months while I train for my HGV Licence. I am keen to get on a Plumpton College 12week tree surgery course at some point over the next few years as a possible job option knowlege improver for my own woodland. I have always had pretty physical outdoor jobs looking after horses and farm animals so not afraid of hard/long hours. Is there such thing a tree surgery labourer? I vaguely recall someone telling me once that they knew someone who did it but may have made it up. I have a full driving licence, am pretty sensible, I have done a couple of one day courses and have my own saw for personal use, just for firewood nothing major. Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

Thanks in advance

 

James

[jrose]

a tree surgery labourer means feeding a woodchipper, and dealing with stuff on the ground (at least, that's what I do when I work for a tree surgeon). AKA groundie. Most people will require you to have at least CS30 chainsaw ticket, you'll struggle to find anything without this as it is illegal to use a chainsaw without. And you'll need to have all the safety kit - boots, trousers, helmet, ear and eye.

 

If you have all this, try responding to anyone advertising on here for a groundie/brash dragger in your area, that's what I did! Be honest and tell them you're not very experiened but willing to learn, you won't earn brilliant money to begin with but it's a start.

 

hope this helps

[ecolojim]

...you'll struggle to find anything without this as it is illegal to use a chainsaw without.

hope this helps

 

sorry, not true in the slightest

[Chris Gagen]

likely to get shot down in flames here, but it's my understanding that use of a chainsaw on your own private land, be it your farm or your garden is fine without any tickets. it becomes an insurance issue once you step off your own ground without any qualifications unless under approved training supervision. however, there is nothing illegal about unqualified chainsaw use anywhere.

 

i look forward to being corrected on this one...

 

back to the topic in hand...

[jrose]

I was working under the understanding that if working for someone else, you are an employee, be it self employed or otherwise. In that context, I'm fairly certain it is illegal for an employer to ask the employee (you) to use a chainsaw, without making sure that employee is fully qualified/trained in its use as appropriate to the job in hand.

 

I could be wrong though, and I realise you are perfectly within your rights to use your own saw on your own land with no tickets, blindfolded, wearing nothing but a pair of speedos etc... however I was trying to provide information within the context of the question asked. Again, I may well be wrong but this was my understanding

 

cheers,

Joe

[Neil Frost]

You're right, there is no legal requirement to hold any competency certs, it's purely an insurance issue.

[jrose]

From the Health and Safety Executive leaflet Chainsaws At Work, available at http://www.liv.ac.uk/safety/Hazard_A_to_Z/chainsaws.pdf

 

"Employers should remember they may be responsible for the health and safety of someone who is self-employed for tax and National Insurance purposes but who works under their control and direction."

 

"Chainsaws are potentially dangerous machines which can cause major injury if used by untrained people. Anyone who uses a chainsaw at work should have

received adequate training and be competent in using a chainsaw for that type of work."

[ecolojim]

aaaand, where does that say you need CS30? trained and competent can be in house. As said, insurance stipulation

[Mike Hill]

Call up all the local Tree Companies and offer your Labour for Free for a Day.Explain to them why you are doing this,this will encourage them to have you out without taking a gamble on productivity.

 

Like alot of Business owners,many is the day I could "ring in" some reliable help.

[Scott Farmborough]

Hi James, I may be able to help out with the odd day to give you an idea of what it's like..work is a bit shy at the moment but give us your number and I can let you know when I need an extra pair of hands. I'm only in Ardingly by the way!!