Frank

This is exactly my thoughts. Thank you Bob. "although legally they can". Why is this so? I'm not trying to change anything. I couldn't actually give a rats arse about anyone elses habits or work ethics or practises. I only work with people I KNOW are competent. I was merely opening up a healthy debate as I've been a bit bored of Arbtalk lately. I like watching newly qualified "arbs" working and then remarking " are you sure they said you passed?" haha winds them up a treat. My thoughts are that the NPTC certs give you a provisional license and then your employer will give you the apprentiship, teaching you the why's and wherefores. However the current system allows a landscaper to do 3 weeks training and then add "tree surgery" to their sign writing. Enabling them to be fully insured aswell.

Not me. But potentially someone could have an accident and the only guy on the ground had only passed his climbing ticket the week before and had forgotten how to tie a blakes hitch or how to get his legs through the harness properly.

Thank you. A very relevant point. Impossible to dictate though. 6 months solid, 5 days a week? 6 months of half a day here and there or what? Shame though.I was on them same lines.

No. I'm not sure if you don't get my point at all or if you do get it and are just far cleverer than me. Haha the driving test has nothing to do with this. The driving test is a natural progression in life, it enables your lifestyle to change and have a broader spectrum of things you can achieve or do or see. If the driving test was incredibly hard then a few people would be put off even trying it, but the vast majority of us would still have a go. My theory was that if NPTC units were made harder then our industry would become more specialised and there would be more Highly skilled tree workers around. Far more have a go heros wouldn't even try and become "fully qualified tree surgeons" in 3 weeks.

I disagree first aid should be a seperate thing aLtogether. My point was more about how someone who has had essentially a crash course in climbing can be classed as an aerial rescuer.

Ok Huck. So why?

After a conversation today I got pondering about NPTC units. Are they too easy. I know they are only certificates of competence to show you safe working practises, almost like a provisional license if you like. What i got to thinking was........ Would it help the industry and up the skill level of tree work in general if the NPTC units were alot harder to pass and required more training / revising etc? Surely this would stop the general consensus that you can become a "fully qualified tree surgeon" in a matter of weeks. I also got to thinking about the health and safety side of our industry. Shouldn't the aerial rescue ticket be a complete training course in it's own right and only obtainable by really competent climbers as it seems to me that all you need to be covered by your insurance is a competent second climber on the deck. Yet in the event of a serious accident, what exactly would a fresh faced, newly certificated person actually be able to do? Some cases would be different but in most cases I see "new" climbers as still being nervous and unconfident in a tree, yet they can still be classed as the competent rescuer in the event of an accident. Make of this what you will. Discuss.

yorkshire.

Ordered yesterday but the bridge for my seqouia wasn't in stock. The nice chap on the phone said he hopes it will be in on Monday and then order can be despatched same day. Fingers crossed. Looking forward to theses freebees. Mmmmm free. Oh and I hope there is some F.R.Jones stickers to put on my van.

Taking a while to upload ain't it.

Veering towards the imorii. Anyone have any input on the Yale Limelight.

Yeah loads.

Yeah I've heard bought it for ages but never seen it for sale.

Where do you get that cord?

To be honest the 11.1mm blaze is too thin I think and only feels really comfotable in gloves. I like the sound of the new ropes that have the feel of 13mm but the characteristics of 11mm.

Yeah, maybe just check one of your previous orders?

I wish they made camo coloured ropes. Or even better "real tree" camo ropes. Mmmmmmmmm

yeah loads.

I'm bored of Yale Blaze and it's hockling characteristics. Want a change and there seems to be a good selection at the moment. Plus I've been told that colour matters aswell and orange doesn't go with my outfits.

Might have a play 2moro. Just swapped to that rig for my lanyard and really liking it.

No I won't buy your un-loler'd main use rope. Haha

Oh add to that list the Samson Velocity.

Is that your lanyard or do you climb on a swabish?

I buy rope for size, weight, flexibility, and for want of a better word.... Whippyness. Do I need to start colour coordinating with my crabs and hitch climbers etc?

Any comments on the new Yale Limelight. Is it just Blaze with a refreshing citrus colour? Or is there any other characteristics to distinguish it? Thanks in advance. Trying to decide between Poison Ivy, Imorlii, limelight or more tachyon.