Dean Lofthouse

But then you would have to do a risk assessment and method statement before each and every journey

On quite a few occasions I have planned to do a tree a certain way then changed after starting the job For example, I went on site to dismantle a tree and ended up being able to fell it as the wind changed direction. It is nothing more than you supplying the customer with the means to haul your ass through the courts should the unthinkable happen. The risk assessment should cover the job adequately I still think MS's are an insult to your intelligence and that of everyone involved

So why do we do training and qualify if you have to talk step by step through your actions like a complete and utter idiot ??

Like the title says; Do you find method statement an insult to intelligence, training and qualifications. I have just filled one in for a commercail client and found it rather embarrassing. I have one tiny sycamore to take down and three 8ft elders to clear. So far I have dedicated around one and a half days to filling in paperwork and providing paperwork I basically put down that I would fell the syc and clear the scrub They emailed back and asked me to put a "bit more detail as to what methods of cutting down the trees you will use and method of securing the operator of the chainsaw while carrying out the work." I agree with risk assessments but find unless you are involved in a complex bridge building project, then method statements are an insult to your intelligence. A tree over a busy dual carriageway - yes A windblown storm damaged tensioned tree hanging over the M1 motorway - yes But cutting down a box standard tree and three little elders is just plain rediculous I'm hoping to get more work off this company otherwise I am seriously out of pocket Im off to make a brew now I will pick up the kettle, place under the tap, turn on the tap and fill kettle to required level taking care not to spill, turn off the tap and place kettle on the base, boil kettle and pour hot water onto teabag in cup taking care not to spill or over fill. Leave to brew for 60 econds and put in some milk, blow before sipping tea

If you are going to join a guild, group or assossiation then join one that specailises in arb is what I reckon. They have emailed me too and probably every tom dick and harry (no offense to Toms, Dicks or Harrys) in the country, they say there entrance requirements are strict, how strict is a BIG question IMO I wouldn't want to have to pay a membership fee to only have to jump through very very small profit generating hoops if you get my drift

He didnt even check to see if the door was open before he smashed the shite out of the window, very poor coppering

I love this article from the Huddersfield examiner, you need to read it right through. Will hit home to a lot of people. But he speaks his mind and he tells it how it is IMO:001_smile: Huddersfield Examiner - Views & Blogs - Columnists - Barry Gibson - Barry: Fed up of speed camera moaners

I'm still working out all the controls on it Geoff, metal detectors have come a long way since the early days, ground balance, sensetivity, noise cancel, discrimination pattern and channel change ?? I've sussed out most of it, I just need some practice with it now

The police will have been in possession of the facts, it was his car and he was an elderly (possibly) confused gent. Some of the elderly can be stubborn but it is a case where the police officers discression should have been used. There was no need for blues and twos, the guy wasn't speeding and he pulled over and complied eventually. All they had to do was follow him and use a bit of common sense. The elderly gent could have suffered a stroke or heart attack and I would have laid the blame firmly with the policeman braying the shite out of his drivers window. He should have drew baton and threatened to hit the window if he didnt switch off the engine and open the door, instead he just laid straight in, bad coppering in my opinion

I'm sure there would be a local Arbtalker would volunteer to show you the ropes so to speak in the lichfield or Midlands area ??

Thats exactly what I thought until I looked in the manual and it said 30

The small one does 3" which is handy to carry round when you are pricing just to see. What I meant is the big one didnt pick anything up deeper that the little one missed. The little fella did ok Once I cut a disc off then I scanned the flat side of the cut to see further inside if you know what I mean

There's no holes there tommer but its very easy to drill type stone, I'll go down the resin route. ukminch, it's a 2550 which is down in the manual as a 30hp, it plays with the splitter no problems, I just wish sometimes I had a more powerful loader, it lifts a bulk bag no problems but thats about its limit. I know I have a huge chunk of stone hanging off it in the picture but I cheated it to lift it by lifting up on the main rams whilst lowering the bucket rams, the bucket rams are really powerful so when the main rams overload valve comes in I can still lift on the bucket I couldn't tell you what the SWL is of the loader as I cant find the manual

The one I got was off ebay Robert, it is what they use to find wall ties in brick walls, I just googled wall tie detector. I put the name of it in google after I bought it to see if they were still sold and nothing came up. I bought a £500 metal detector after that reckoning I could find a haul of gold to pay for it then I would have one for nowt. Its ended up where I haven't found any gold and the expensive detector hasn't found anymore metal in the stem that the little detector didn't pick up. Tom, dont you scan the trunk after each cut ?? They only detect about 3" deep in wood but if you scan after each slab it's job sorted

I had a digging bar as well Tom, loosened it with that then scooped it out with the snappers, ended up with about a third of the post buried, there's going to be a 14ft and a 16ft gate hanging off either side so I will leave it to settle in for a few month I was going to "lead" in 4x hinges but my mate said you are better using resin now, much easier and quicker

Managed to cut this metal riden butt up with my little hand metal detector finding all the metal, marking it and cutting a route through. Saved me hours of sharpening

Digging through shaley rock as well. We were putting it in not taking it out

Dont make things complicated, just a double rope system You will have more upper body strength than most on this forum and the distance you are pulling yourself up is very short. Have a cambium saver permanently installed and leave a thrownline through the rings tied to the tree. You come along, pull up your drt system and get into the tree. When you have finished come down, unhook and tie the throwline to the eye of your line before you pull it down and leave the throwline for next time.

You must have had a tub of butter with you ....and if thats 4ft your a midget

Once an anchor point is put in and with your upper body strength, I reckon you'll be able just to pull yourself up on a normal system. I tried it the other day in a big beech, only using my arms and keeping my legs still and found it quite easy pulling up. You will have good upper body strength and you will only be pulling up half your weight on a standard double line system

Was there a stub sticking out on that tree Mark, you look to be quite enjoying that lunge

My chipper is new for old Stu, they asked me how much they were new, I think I paid about £18k for it 3 years ago so now with stirling weak I reckon they'll be quite a bit more so guessed at £21K I couldn't be bothered ringing round to be honest but the liability insurance part is the same as NFU, it just the machinery part which is dearer with £500 excess. The mewp I only valued at £10k as it is and that wont be new for old as I bought it back of the insurance company after it's little stumble I think on renewal next year I will allow more time and shop between Arbinsure and Trust Its my fault really for leaving it till the last second

I rang them at 9am to to tell them about the endorsments and to up the liability from 2.5M to 5M, they said they were going to get on to the underwriters about it and took my mobile. Bearing in mind they knew my insurance ran out today they haven't rung back yet. In the mean time I rang Trust, did the proposal and quote over the phone, emailed all my serial numbers to them and received all documents via email. I'm paying a lot more but I now feel more confident about payout on claim.

PL, EL and equipment Just re-insured from NFU to Trust The exclusions on NFU made the policy unworkable for a tree surgeon: We will not pay liability arising from: 1. Felling of any tree exceeding six metres unless its distance from any public road, railway, building or structure equals or exceeds its height 2. pruning or felling of any tree exceeding 10 metres in height, within ten metres of any public roadway, railway, building, structure or over head cable My premium with them was £1308 PL £2.5m EL £10m Tools £10K Chipper was down as trailer (dodgey) on seperate policy at near £400 Now I am with Trust @ £2400 with no restrictions and loads more enhancments on their insurance such as rehabilitation for injured employees with private health care and all new for old policy PL £5m EL £10m Tools £10K Chipper £21K Mewp £10K Cheap insurance has a risk of non payment in the event if you do not scrutinise the small print

Nice job Andy