benedmonds

If you ate less pies you would be under the 140kg...

I spent the best part of a year in Christchurch and in particular Sumner. It was before the earthquakes, but still regret leaving. Things may have changed since but it is a fantastic location.. Weather similar to the UK, but drier.. You can be on the beech in the morning and in proper mountains in the afternoon..

We could do mixed loads of arb arisings. I am away at the moment. But can get a price to deliver when I return. Ben

The AA Arborists Working Group (Tommy Plummer did most of it) did some drawings for arbs a few years back. I think they were on the website for a while, but looks like you need a password that I can't remember. Arborists HandSigs updated apr12.doc

I am shocked at the number of you who would do a straight fell onto a road.. It hadn't even crossed my mind

It's bigger then it looks... It would probably take 2 days lowering it. Might give the crane a go as adam really wants to use one... See if we can do it in a day and use it as a training exercise..

That would be quickest and safest.. Shut road, gobs back cut, tidy up... I hadn't even considered that...

The pic is from google 2015, DED killed it between then and now.

We have a big dead elm to take down, how would you do it and why? Experienced climber who enjoys tricky take-downs but never used a crane before. We have GRCS, 10 inch chippers and loader tractor to take away logs easily..

Spend the money on a Petzl Nao more like £120 but worth it IMO

It is interesting that you say no crane access. Looking at the economics would a crane have been more profitable if you could have got one in? Discuss... These are my estimations that could be well out... You took that down in 4 days with no major issues with a team of 3 by the looks of it.? I am guessing here as have only used a crane a few times but would imagine you would could have got them down in a day with a crane, would have needed more men on ground to deal with the waste and probably another day moving logs etc.., so 1st day 2 teams.. then a third day with 1 team? So which is the better option - 12 man days no crane or 9 man days and one day with a crane - The crane obviously allows you to move on to the next job quicker but need to organise the extra team and the risk factor increases delays can become costly...

I missed it... To subtle for me..

If you are not doing it and you are an employer you should be.. HSE: Is health surveillance required in my workplace?

Cheers Paul, We use the new starters (Appendix 2) but I had not seen the annual review (appendix 3).. "Caring employer" could easily be replaced by an employer who wishes to be legally compliant... I am interested to hear what other folk do and pay..

As a caring employer we need to undertake some monitoring of the health of our staff, mainly for HAVS and hearing... but I guess also other muscular skeletal issues.. To be honest I do not want to go down the route of full on medicals... Does anyone have a form they use or have used? What do other companies that do something do.?

Not expensive to hire for a day..

is that better

I think we probably spend more on everything else.. Over £12,000 last year on diesel..

Rough break down of what we spent in 2016 as a percentage.. 56 percent on wages.. 11.5 percent on VAT 8.5 percent on new stuff and repairs to small plant 5.5 percent on running vehicles including repairs (but not fuel or insurance) 4 percent of professional services 3 percent on fuel 3 percent on advertising 2.3 percent on insurance 1 percent on training

ohps..

What does it mean...? I have a TO who uses it.. Am I missing something or is it a reasonable specification for reducing previously topped trees .. Like these..

A Kia should be fine, as would most 4x4's its all about the right image IMO. You don't want to look too well off, but you don't want to look like your struggling to make ends meet either..

I tried to do this for a client recently but failed... They had a young (20 year old) silver birch in their front garden that they had planted.. but very close to the house. The TO liked it and would not give permission to remove. There was as large lawn area in front of the tree where a replacement could have gone that would have been away from the house and in a much more suitable location. I suggested sticking in a replacement now and removing once established but the TO would not or could not give delayed consent. He suggested we could plant another, but would have to reapply to remove the first one in a few years... but there would be no guarantee and there would likely be a different TO. The home owner understandably was not going to risk planting another tree and end up being stuck with 2..

Your going to be spending a shed load of time in it, get something you can enjoy. I was using a VW caddy for quoting and it was fine, but I was spending more and more time in it and decided I wanted something a little more comfortable and could get the kids in. As it is seen by many clients the image had to be right. A 4x4 is probably the right look but too thirsty with high mileage, the average hatchback didn't give the professional feel. I went for a mini clubman which looks a bit different from all the others, came in green, does 70 mpg (according to the book) is fun to drive and ticks most of the boxes.. The skoda is probably the most practical solution, but will you enjoy it..? My wife called me a boring old fart when I told her my options before we settled on the mini. Depending how you want to appear to your clients I would consider buying something a few years old as you could probably get a premium brand, Audi or Merc for the sort of money you have to spend...

You obviously don't employ or have very understanding employees.. and clients.. Postponing a job for whatever reason often causes extra work as you have to call other clients and rearrange and basically is a PITA. Same with people off sick... and jobs over running