samiad

For my Level 6 Diploma in Arboriculture's independent research project I looked at how well known BS3998:2010 Tree Work - Recommendations was and whether it was being adhered to. One of the things the results showed was how different the NPTC questions regarding BS3998 were from the standard proper and how little the NPTC questions actually related to BS3998; so I would hazard a guess that your NPTC tickets won't have given you sufficient training in the BS3998:2010 Tree Work - Recommendations respect.

 

But as has been mentioned by Btggaz and Paul, BS3998 doesn't apply to felling and BS8545 applies to planting; for your future professional development I'd suggest you got a copy of BS3998:2010 and work your way through it, alternatively Tree Life do a concise version for £30.00 (I think) which is very good.

Nice one il set about getting a copy of that then. Interesting study youve done there. Ive worked in various sides or the tree game. Domestic stuff,railwork, powerlines and in my experience the nptc stuff is all thats ever asked for. Worrying that the crossover to the BS is lacking. It suggests that allot of people, myself included might be doing substandard work whilst under the impression that were competent!

Im down for doing some dismantling and felling and a couple of small replants on a Mcalpine site and the site manager has asked to to confirm im carrying out work to BS3998. Ive never had access to this sacred tome but so long as im working within what my npc's cover me for does that mean im working to BS too? Just making sure im not signing my life away!

cheers

sam

I did ISA then went through L4 (the old tech cert version) and then on to L6. L2 will not teach you to write tree reports to a high standard. Its more aimed at being a knowledgeable tree surgeon. L4 will equip you for doing mortgage reports and risk surveys. L6 is more targeted at bs5837, subsidence, and writing strategic documents although you will touch on 5837 and subs at L4.

 

I would go this route and do it with tree life. They are top class.

sounds like level 4 is where i'd like to be at long term. how demanding did you find it time wise and stepping up from isa level? i like the idea of attending classes but also working on tools and doing some online. seems like a great setup down there at treelife.

And is isa not recognised in the uk? Just looking at colleges and the only one in the north i can see is myerscough and they seem to be offering it online so might be in same boat.

The ISA cert arborist is ok but has big limitations in the fact that it is self taught - read, memorise, repeat - and the exam is multiple choice, i would suggest you seriously consider the RFS cert Arb, it's also level 2 but you will 'learn' more and it is recognised in the u.k. It also has the extension possibilities of the full cert arb status if supported by a selection of n.p.t.c. Tickets - most of which you may have already.

Interesting, ive never heard of this path il look into it! Cheers. You know any places that teach it?

thought so cheers. wont break the bank either

Hello there

I have a small tree buisness self employed and ive been doing ok for the past 5 years having just a pile of nptc qualifications and a degree in ecology from a while back (not particularly relevant in most cases but looks good to clients). Ive been made aware recently though of the limitations of what i can actually do with those certs. I want to improve my knowledge and arb theory and would like to be in a position where I have nothing to worry about liability wise in terms of written suggestions and advice for tree care, tree hazard asessments etc. I not looking to go down the consultancy path whole hog doing 5837 tree surveys etc but i'd like to be self sufficient with the work im doing and confident that im covered. I was hoping to get some advice on my plan from you lot!

Plan:

1.Get membership this week with ISA and buy learning materials, start revising and training.

2.Take the test to become ISA certified in April (im told ths counts as a level 2 qual in arb?)

Part of me hopes this will do but if not then im considering either treelifes level 4 arb course starting in oct or myerscoughs arb level 5 online final year direct entry. What would your pick be there? My gut says the treelife course wil be better and i'l learn more but the degree is level 5 and will cover me for more on paper?

Obviously this is all going to take a few years but im just after some guidance.

cheers

sam

cheers chaps. less pain more swelling tonight. dont need no fancy dress at this rate, im sorted for haloween! sam the swell hand!

Which gloves were you using? The Ripeur gloves are great protection from natures needles & in case you're interested there's a thread about them on arbtalk, somewhere. Cheers, steve

I was wearing anti vibration gloves for drilling. No protection on back of hand really. Il check em out!

Its probably because its swelling is right on a joint that it is more painful than usual. My worse experience of was getting a blackthorn go 1cm straight up in between my finger and finger nail!

I have a phobia of stuff stabbing under nails!

Yes i like my tropics holidays so im up to date

Nice one chaps

It feels different to the usual itchy throb you get.docs is shut over the weekend so il do some soaking and plaster and then if its not improved by monday il get down. If i feel any pain spreading up the hand im going hospital!

Been on an awful site clearance clearance job and ended up spiking my knuckle prettt deep with a thorn yesterday.Feels very painful and is a bit swollen, its only a small puncture wound and i cant tell if anythings still inside (dont think so). Anyone got any top tips? Its to grip, hurts!

Surely if your just giving advice, and not guaranteeing the overall future of the tree, I mean I give advice every time I price a job! Didn't think you had to have ID insurance

I'l let you know what my insurance company say but it certainly wanst reasuring upon initial impressions!

So i just finished on the blower and sure enough I'm not covered to advise my clients on pruning trees!i need to pay up an additional premium if im to do that and even then commercial clients can then make up a maximum of 10% of my consultancy. Ive asked if they can check with the underwriters which qualifications would they require of me to be able to be covered for general advice.im finding it all a bit worrying. Makes me wonder if something was to go amiss with a tree ive offered free advice (but not surveyed) and then pruned in the past am i now in the dangerzone?!

Whos your cover with hodge if you don't mind me asking

Cheers for the advice. Good stuff. I interpret cs40 the same as you. Its enough to offer some general advice but not enough to carry out surveys. Do you think its enough to put a schedule of proposed work together for free (im talking routine stuff here like ocassional thinning/deadwooding, removing epi etc? Feels like i should be able too but perhaps not in legal terms! Im with arborisk,going to call them now to see what they consider consultancy. Im based in manchester. Good call though on hooking up with a consultant. Needs to be done. Il look at doing one of those courses soon. Myerscough do a bsc online in arb. Ive got a bsc in ecology so maybe with some bridging modules they'll let me on! Maybe the lantra one is the way forward if not.

Cheers

Cheers. Yes i suppose i could get a consultant to do a survey then do the work. Just seems a bit much for a few small trees which i suspect will be in fairly good health.Where do you draw the line on this kind of thing? If ive done cs40 prune trees does that allow me to give any advice at all without leaving myself liable?cheers.sam

Hello there

Ive been asked to give some advice and carry out some work on some trees growing around a green in a residential area. Im going to meet up and look at the job in the next few days but wanted to get your top tips first. Can i do this sort of thing if im not insured as a consultant?Im aware that even though i do some reading and have some years of practical experience, my advice might not stand up i court if a problem occurred in the future. The management company are an important source of work for me. Im worried if i turn the job down they'll look elsewhere. Do you think some General pruning advice and a maintenance plan for the trees is something i could offer as a man with some experience and a brace of cs qualifications or am i not allowed?!

Cheers!

cheers for all that, good info and reassurance/stuff to watch. The rope is abseil rope used in rope access. I do a bit of that and can get allot so been on with that until I have enough cash for a proper beast of a lowering rope! I had a thought though of doubling the abseil rope up and tying everything on a bite. Got a big pulley that would accommodate both ropes. Could i double the strength of my system if the gear below is upto it? would a port wrap work with 2 ropes going through it? il do some tests and make another vid.

strange that, I've clicked public. Ah well you've reassured me anyhow. you can do it but nothing too big? il practice my knots! i take a while on timber hitch and find it tricky to get bowline snug. is a good way to tie it on loosely the run all slack out from the knot and trace back to pulley? I'm on the beginners guide to rigging thread before pub in a minute! cheers chaps!

Ive been working with a rope access/sailor guy who was becoming frustrated with me fiddling with timber hitches and running bowlines. He suggested I just use a screwgate karabiner, marked up for just this purpose and then to run the half hitch then just clip back to the rope. Had to admit its faster by a way, especially if your a bit slow on the rigging like me. He reckons its good for all light to medium weight work but I've had some near misses rigging just recently and wanted to run this by you guys. What do you think?

tree station! I assumed theyd only take their own but il get in touch with them. Never crossed my mind even though i was working two minutes down the road!

cheers!

kev im in mossley, not too far from huddersfield. Where do you reckons a decent repair shop up this end?

nice one chaps!

Ive filled all my local spots! Looking for places anywhere as im working all over manchester. Been paying a farmer to drop them at his!