Andy Clark

You'd do well to remember DB, that the AA are nothing more than a trade association...... they are NOT a governing body. As such you have a choice whether to join or not, and this should not affect you standing as a professional Arborist. If you're looking for a non political way of proving professionalism, i would strongly recommend that you look towards ISO 9001:2008 accreditation. ISO 9001:2008 - Quality management systems -- Requirements

No mate.... more of a "defender of the faith". Lawyers get paid! lol And what's wrong with "cool" being used in the same context as "H&S"?? Are you saying that I should be changing my bedtime reading to Mills and Boon or Razzle ??

"This time next year Rodders...."

P.s..... if you p.m me your postal address, i can send you a copy of the fountains risk assesment book. (although I didn't actually say that out loud, so mum's the word.)

It's gonna take me a while to add what i've acumalated over the years chap...... but watch this space. I might have to e-mail you a couple of them direct, as they may be a bit... ahem.... sensitive.

Oh yeah, course it is stevie....... BUT, (sorry mate, there's always one) the whole point of this thread is to help Mr B build up an Arbtalk database of H&S docs. So, surely it doesn't matter if you have a goodun OR a baddun..... just add what you've got. If someone else finds it usefull, then you've done your bit. Look at t from the bigger picture aspect...... what if everyone on here all sends in what doc's they've got, which would thereby allow the creation of the worlds biggest and best H&S policy! How cool would THAT be???

Gents, the phrase "Quit pro Quo" springs to mind. Another would be "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." The point of this thread is for people to add, not take. If you need a doc or two, then how about helping others in return, by adding what doc's you do have. "Every little helps", said the boy who wee'd in the sea.

No, course it doesn't CB. What it means is that you should work towards a point whereby you put measures in place to make sure that when something (eg a saw, as you mention) gets broken, it DOES actually end up getting fixed, rather than just put back on the shelf, only to get taken out the next day to curses of "I wish I'd fixed that poxy saw". But it's not from the "Convenience" standpoint of having a saw that works, it's from the H&S point of the possibility of someone else ending up being injured as a result of the damaged saw. Put it into the context of the stop bar on a chipper, or perhaps an even better example would be a break light on a transit. We all know how often they get broken, and we all know how frustrating and costly it is to have to keep replacing them........ but what are the implications that arise if/when it goes unfixed for weeks on end? I think CB, that it needs keeping in context. Small companies do still need to be compliant, but would obviously not get judged or treated in the same manner as a large company, as for them there is undoubtedly no excuse for being non compliant with the full extent. And let's not also forget that it's not only members of small companies that use this site. If some of the bigger boys wanna add their docs that relate to the list that i've added, then surely you're quids in and then have that policy at your disposal?? At the end of the day, to my best knowledge no one in this country has ever been prosecuted for trying to do the right thing, where as prosecutions for negligence though, are pretty much 10 a penny these days. Why? Because people try and play the system. POINTLESS! No point in even trying to thesedays, as you WILL loose; perhaps even moreso as time progresses, awareness is increased and more prosecution cases come to light. Anyway, as i've said, the list itself is not up for debate...... it's there to be a guide as to what docs to add.

Tony, Do you have any more info re DCLG consultaion of the TPO regs?? Admitedly i've not heard of that, and considering the changes already made last year regarding the submission of evidence, i'd be keen to see what they now propose.

Gents, I've admittedly only skimmed through the pages of this thread, but I think it's fair to say that the original point seems to have been lost. I think what Stevie B was trying to do, was compile a set of comprehensive H&S docs, to ultimately be used as an online resource for peeps to access and use when required (in much the same way as the generic Method Statement can be found on the AA site); subsequently asking people to post the physical docs on this link. I understand that many of you see this as committing "commercial suicide", and are perhaps a bit reluctant to give away work for gratis, that may have taken hours (if not days) to write and compile, but what I will say is this....... How any of us Arbtalkers have already benefited in some way/shape/form from the info that already exists within the sites hallowed pages?? (Quite a few of us, I'd wager!) Is it then really to much to ask, for a small amount in return in order to carry on the trend of the site providing assistance to others?? I mean, consider this...... would you have still benefited, if the particular info that you found useful had not have been posted?? (probably not) So can we please keep this thread on track, and keep it in-line with the purpose with which it was intended. Either add a doc, or shushh. (before Mr Bullman caves his skull in with the repeated "banging it against a brick wall") There, rant over. Below is a basic list of all H&S docs that uk Arb companies should have. It's not exhaustive or limited, so if anyone has any others, can they please add to the list. • Current Health and Safety Policy Statement, with a clearly defined Management Responsibility Structure. • Risk Assessment Policy in accordance with The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Method Statements Clearly defined Risk assessing procedure (Site Specific/Generic) Review (Frequency and date of next review) • Hazard Reporting and Investigation Policy in accordance with RIDDOR 1998 Clearly defined Reporting Procedure Investigation Protocol • Accident and Incident Reporting Policy in accordance with RIDDOR 1998 Clearly defined Accident and Incident Reporting Procedure Non Employees/Members of the Public • Control of Hazardous Substances Policy in accordance with COSHH 1998 COSHH and Pesticide Safety Procedure and FEPA Requirements COSHH Assessment Procedure Spill and Contamination Procedure • Fire and Explosion Avoidance Policy in accordance with DSEAR 2002 Appropriate and Identified Fuel/Substance Storage ATEX Zoning Fire Safety Training/Designated Fire Marshall Defined Smoking/No-Smoking Areas Fire Extinguisher provisions • Personal Protective Equipment Policy in accordance with the PUWER 1992 and Noise at Work Regulations 1989 PPE Requirements and Issue procedure Independent LOLER Inspection/examination procedures for PPE Issue Climbing Equipment Requesting re-issue/replacement procedure • Tools and Equipment Maintenance Policy in accordance with the PUWER 1992 and Noise at Work Regulations 1989 Defect Reporting Procedure Routine Maintenance Schedule Independent LOLER Examination/Inspection Procedure for Lifting and Lowering equipment Maintenance Responsibility • Working at Height Policy in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005 Ladder usage MEWP usage Work at Height Avoidance • Waste/Green Waste disposal Policy in accordance with the Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 Woodchip and Log Disposal procedures Recycling Waste Carrier Registration Waste Transfer operations • Working Adjacent Highways Policy in accordance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 Working on Highways Use of signs and cones Marking out of worksites (Chapter 8) The list is not perfect (but that's not the point, so please don't start diverting the thread again), but it serves as a good source of guidance to the basic requirements, and over the course of the next few day, i'll be adding "edited" versions of the docs that I have. Let's keep the ball rolling eh??

:thumbup: My thoughts entirely Tony. Seriously though peeps, opportunities like this don't come around very often, so lets all spread the word, and lets get everyone having their ten penneth. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace!"

Try this link to the consultations homepage, if the other gives anyone any jip......... Industry Consultations Page

Folks, Not sure if anyone's posted this under another forum; if so, then apologies for being repetitive. Th Arboriculture Association have recently begun industry consultation as part of their review of the Approved Contractor scheme. Anyone wishing to have consultative input into the review, should do so at......... Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor Scheme Review

Not necessarily the biggest.... fountains are probably similar in size, if not slightly bigger now they've linked up with Connaught. fountains also do just as much work for Network Rail... so you might wanna drop both them and Tilhill a line, and see about getting on their subby lists.

He does it here also.... Arboriculture: Chartered choices | Log in to Horticulture Week I especially like his comment re "'waste water engineer'!

Met the Queen Mother and Alan Titchmarsh, back when I was doing my apprenticeship. The company I was working for, built a show garden for the Hampton Court garden festival....... Alan Titchmarsh was escorting her maj around all the gardens on judgeing day, and we all had to do the bow and handshake thing. Similar sort of era we did a job at Stanley Kubriks house..... he wasn't in though. Worked at Geoffrey Archers house in Cambridge many years ago....... His in-house Gardener was a..... well, "She" had a really gruff voice, and hands like shovels! Turned up to top a big conifer hedge in Barnett about 7 or 8 years ago..... the hedge was on the dividing boundary fence between 2 rear gardens...... went round to neighbours to ask if I could drop the odd bit in their garden, and who should open the front door?? David Ginola. He had really REALLY shiney hair!

Nice one! Have you ever looked deeper into rec. climbing at all?? If you're interested, there's an org. that's solely for rec. climbing Tree Climbers International , and also a couple of companies down south that specialise in offering it to schools, youth groups, corporate days out etc..... Mighty Oak - tree climbing in cornwall Tree climbing adventure activities - Goodleaf Tree Climbing, Isle of Wight

Jojam, Officially, the LA have to disclose info regarding public services...... I'm sure it's something to do with the freedom of info act (or something similar), although not sure of the specific clauses etc.... Try applying formally in writing, asking for the name of the contractor, or a copy of the approved list, maybe even ask for the successful tender price..... and chuck in a strong threat of reporting them to the Local Gov. Ombudsman if they refuse again.

SF, you will also need to make sure you have adequate professional indemnity insurance...... Ideally you'll need a minimum of £500,000.00 cover.

It was your rather confusing and contradictory comment that I was 'rubbishing', not your 'extensive experience of mulching'. My apologies.

Nice one chap.... a good find. A very confusing article though, to the un-educated...... worded as though all this "Tree Management" stuff is something new. Especially the comments re the HSEs outlook on it all. Sorry, but has HSE SIM 01/200/05-Management of the risk from falling treesnot been around for a little over 2 years now?? Comments such as - 'Eden believes society suffers when, as now, approaches are polarised between "inspect everything and chop down anything suspicious" and under-reaction, which he describes as "a head-in- the-sand attitude".' are surely miss-representative of the standpoints laid down in the SIM, such as 'Duty holders should not be encouraged to fell or prune trees unnecessarily' I think the article raises and emphasises the point that it's not particularly the legislation/guidance that is the problem, more so the industry uptake of what's available. Echoing Mr H's comments, it all sounds a bit "behind the times" to me.

You're more than welcome Ed...... would you like me to highlight the major contradiction in your posts too??

Rubbish!! Mulchers such as he Ahwi, do go someway below ground level, and mix the wood mulch in with the top soil...... A decent driver will leave most sites looking like a nice freshly rotavated field. The two bods i'd suggest you have a chat with are Kevin O' Rourke at Acorn tree Services, Site clearance services Birmingham West Midlands UK (he's on here as rt400, so you could drop him a pm) or Max Barton at F.R Barton and sons www.FRBarton.co.uk - Ahwi RT 400 Mulcher

I think the following statements taken from the site, puts paid to many training and certification arguments that've been on here over the years..... 'Tree-climbing operations must only be performed by people with suitable training, experience and expertise, holding a Certificate of Competence relevant to the task they are performing. It is important to note that a Certificate of Competence is not a measure of experience. The inexperienced must be adequately supervised.' 'People who do aerial tree work you should have the National Proficiency Tests Council ( NPTC[4] ) certificates of competence including: * Climb trees and do aerial rescue (CS38) * Use a chainsaw from a rope and harness (CS39) * Sectional felling (CS41)'