Ironman

That's great news Nod will it be coming in with a CE marked eye as well? I know you were saying you were working on CE testing your eyes at last years trade show. Wonder how you have got on with it ?

It's just my boss won't let us climb on anything that isn't properly CE marked as he says it would invalidate his insurance if we had an accident. Be great if it has as I would love to give it a go.

Stan

Seen the TA 3 and not impressed for the extra dosh it doesn't appear they have put any thought in to improving the design much I couldn't see many value for money amendments so will stick with my TA 2 for now !

So if you get your climbing line hand spliced does anyone know how that effect the CE cert? Is it still covered and if we are all going to splice our own kit how can a LOLER ispector know whats good and bad ? I thought they needed tracable evidence of testing etc? Fk em I ain't going to pay for all my kit to be tested by anyone if they are gonna cut all my splices off !

The AA were instrumental in averting an insurance crisis about 5 years ago. They worked with others to set up the Arboricultural Liaison Group, with reps from all the main industry bodies plus Lantra, NTPC, the HSE and the main insurers and worked hard to ensure that premiums didn't shoot up to a point that priced all the small contractors out of the market. It was a lot of behind the scenes work, but had it not happened I suspect that an awful lot of the smaller operators who complain about the AA wouldn't be trading now, or not legally anyway.

 

They actively promote higher standards of tree care and in my experience work hard for their members. I'm a member of both the AA and the ICF and have to say that though it's nice to have the letters after my name that being an ICF member brings, they do very little else for me. OK, you've probably guessed from that that I no longer lug saws up and down trees, so my interests may differ from many here. But something that might relate a bit more to others needs is this:

 

I'm trying to pull together a directory of accredited tree surgeons that combines AA approved and ISA certified. The AA have been extremely helpful, and as a result all the AAACs are listed at http://www.findtreesurgeons.com/. Getting anything out of the ISA, even if it has clear benefits to their members, seems to be like getting blood out of a stone.

So is "FINDTREESURGEONS.COM" another thing for hard working arb companies to subscribe to? No return, no teeth, no bloody use? bit like ISA membership !

The AA now seem to offer everything a working arborist needs from cradle to grave. They do need to instigate and police their membership and approved contrators listing to ensure quality is maintained and they need to instigate their own goverment recognised kite mark then they will offer everything the UK arb industry needs.