John Hancock

I'm up at 5.30, set off to work at 6.30, usually logged on to ArbTalk by 7am. Check e-mails etc, open up the yard and out on the road by 8am. Finish work at 3.45pm Mon - Thurs and 2.45pm on a Friday, But hey, I'm local authority!

I'll stay in tonight and donate what I save.....everyone's a winner

Whats the make and model of the chipper you've been offered ?

Pulled this off the internet this morning. The company is a firm of solicitors specialising in accident claims. Apologies if its already been covered. Our client was using a large, powerful chainsaw at work, to cut a large tree into sections. The tree was around 4ft in diameter and the saw, although the second largest available, was shorter in length than this. This meant that the nose was fully embedded in the trunk whilst cutting. He had only received training on much smaller saws, and only for situations where the saw is longer than the diameter of the tree, which reduces the risk of ‘kickback’ as the nose of the saw protrudes past the area being cut. He had only used this particular saw under supervision for 20 minutes a week earlier, and for a different type of task. Whilst carrying out his work, the saw kicked back out of the wood, knocked off the claimant’s helmet and cut through his visor. He sustained serious facial injuries as a result of this workplace accident. The claimant instructed our solicitors, who have extensive experience in industrial accident cases, to assist him in making a personal injury claim against his employer. The defendants tried to argue that the training he received was sufficient and any additional learning could be done with on-the-job mentoring, however there was no supervision on the day in any event. The Court rejected their argument and found them to be in breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The claimant was awarded a settlement of damages in respect of his injuries.

Pollarding

From an employers point of view I'd value the full RFS Cert Arb certificate rather than the ISA Cert Arb. I've done both, the RFS first and then the ISA two years after. I worked like buggery to gain the RFS Cert, yet two years later I sat the ISA and passed with one evening’s revision. Most people on my RFS course didn't bother getting the practical elements in order to gain the full certificate, this I feel is a big mistake. Get the two together and I feel you have an excellent qualification! Better still.....Get both

We have a number of trees here in Worcester with Meripilus which I'm currently monitoring. I'd be glad to give my input and offer any help required.

Very sad...a great shame.

Thanks for your time BA, much appreciated !!

Hiya Dave, Tom is doing a NVQ Level 2 in Arboriculture at Holme Lacy College, Hereford. Its a two year course which is done on a 'block-release' basis. In the first year the college had Tom for approx 4 x 1 week sessions. These sessions will include NPTC units, first aid training and 'key-skills' training (e.g. Health & Safety etc..) The second year will carry on with the NPTC training and tests (the college pays for these) , not the employer, although if he fails any test then he, or the council will have to pay for a second test. (I've had to do this with his felling). It’s not duel funded, we employ him (first year approx £75 per week, second year approx £95 per week) Personally I think its well worth it as he gets on the job training and alot of the basic NPCT units paid-for. I'm happy as an employer as I get a 4th. member to the team for not much ££££ plus he might get a full-time job at the end of the two years. If it doesn’t work out after the two years you just part company and get another apprentice in September. Cheers, John.

Thanks Monkeyd, cheers Dean......Thought I was the only one up at this time! Keep 'em rolling in !

I've decided to purchase a MEWP here at Worcester. It’s going to be primarily used for tree work but also by the estates team for cutting hedges etc… I’ve had a few on demo (mostly Italian models) My budget is £30k, so I know realistically my max height will only be about 14-15m. I’ve got a Teupen coming on Thurs for a demo and I’m keen to compare this against the Italian models. In the meantime any suggestions and comments would be appreciated.

Thankyou kind sirs!

This was taken in a carpark in Pershore...

This was taken at Westonbirt last year....

Jesus! So he didn't tie in for the cut ! I'm guilty of this too....If I was sat in that position, on that branch with the life-line placed away from the cut I wouldn't have bothered either. Comments like this just create negativity and will put people off posting pictures. I have never studied anyone else’s pictures to that extent and if you see me posting comments and trying to score goals….SHOOT ME.

Excellent pics there mate ! Isn't it odd that our new essential bit if kit these days is a good quality camera !

errrr..... the wood in the background was not chipped because its being collected tomorrow, ok ?

Its on a flood-plane mate, so can't leave it on-site or even chip there! Got some hill-billies coming tomorrow to pick all the wood up. They've had all the Beech too, someone is on to a good thing! (not me though)

Nice-one Mr Ed ! To be honest I run the team as if it was my own business. We're Arbs first, employees of the authority second. I am getting itchy feet though.....I'd love to go-it alone!

The sun came out after a while.....

My-God is was cold this morning! Back on the riverside today, felling a fairly large Norway maple as part of a large riverside development project. The tree was host to ganoderma and there was major dead wood within the crown. It will be replaced.. The climber was Chris Bedford and I had young Tom the apprentice felling it (the largest tree he's done by far!)

Yep, its had it It wasn’t the apprentice and I didn’t bullock him. The p#ss taking he’ll receive for the next few months will be punishment enough! I for one always check the bar tip as I'm logging...you never know what might be there!

Photo done, lunch break had; so back to work. My most experienced member of the team grabs the 066 and starts logging into rings (on the opposite side of the main stem). “What the hell was that noise”?? I ask…. This is what happens when an 066 and a 026 have a fight…Just cant get the staff these days!! :ohmy:

Chainsaw Massacre!! Today’s job, back on the Beech trees. Everything going well, just one tree left which I had to climb and take all the limbs off on the one side in order to fell it. I needed a photo to put up in our reception so called the lads over to pose for the picture. I even put a few saws in front of us for added ‘effect’. Note the position of the 026 on the right…....