AA Teccie (Paul)

Answered my own question thanks to a 'G**gle' search, see Hydnum repandum (MushroomExpert.Com) Cheers Tony, Paul

Tony, 'good morning', hope you're well! Why 'Hedgehog Fungus', aftreall it doesn't look spikey at all? Thanks in anticpation.. Paul PS Hope others were thinking this too...or just 'numpty' me!!!

The above, from 'Rover', sums it up quite nicely, namely: Exemptions Not everyone who drives a truck of over 3.5 tonnes gross weight has to have a Driver CPC - but most do. The Driver CPC legislation does apply to part-time drivers, delivery drivers, full-time employees who do a bit of driving as holiday cover, agency drivers and the drivers of specialist vehicles such as skip and mixer wagons. However there are some exemptions, including learner drivers and mechanics road-testing vehicles. The most significant exemption from the point of view of the construction industry is that of the tradesman. For example, a bricklayer or scaffolding erector who drives a truck loaded with tools and materials to a site and who then uses those materials in his own work, will not require the Driver’s CPC. But a driver who takes tools or material to a site and unloads them for others to use, but does not use them himself, will need a Driver CPC. Contact your trade association or seek legal advice if you plan to take advantage of an exemption. The Driver CPC Exemption cards touted on the internet have no legal value. Cheers all.. Paul

The Conference for 2014 is planned to happen 'up north', previoulsy been at Manchester / York / Durham / Lancaster, and we have certainly registered all your interest in Mr McMahon...wonder what he's doing that night? Cheers all.. Paul PS That's also the AAs' 'Golden Anniversary' year, i.e. 50 years...amazing where time goes eh?!

David, thank you and glad you enjoyed it. We'll look at the possibility at future events / conferences. Happy hunting, please keep us posted fo anything partic interesting. Regards.. Paul

Hi Jim, I'll give it a shot.. Firstly, do you have to remove the limbs at all? Is the tree in a target area and if so can the target be removed / diverted? Gonna venture an opinioin now but may be subject to challenge from 'the great and the good' here on forum, but the cracks you refer to are likely to be 'hazard beams' (see Matthecks' "Body Language of Trees") and whilst common place I don't believe they are particularly prone to failure. Secondly, if you do decide to proceed then 'yes' leaving a long stub (advocated in BS3998-2010 in certain circumstances) and teherby avoiding creating a large wound on the main stem, whilst probably aesthetically unpleasing, which would undoubtedly serve as an entry point for decay organisms partic at this time of year when they'll soon be sporrulating. Another point to consider is I believe these cracks can be host to temp bat roosts, so need to be very careful not squash them if so. Hope this helps. Paul

Hi there, I don't believe we took any 'footage' as such but there's some on Grahams' website at Sherbrooke Tree Service | Tree Lopping | Tree Removals | Tree Pruning Happy viewing.. Paul

Hi Rob, good to hear. Maybe inputting to the Northern Branch, who I know are very keen to engage new members, may help in getting more stuff going on. I know a couple of the branches in particular are very, very active with stuff regularly happening and sometimes it is transferrable, i.e. rigging updates / bats / BS3998 / aerial rescue, and they usually do it on Sats at cost of between £30-£50. Contact Jo Ryan ([email protected]) if you fancy getting stuff moving. Thanks for your support...as always! Paul

Congrats to 4 new, small business, contractors in the SE region how have achieved ARB Approved Contractor status: 1. Quercus Tree Services Ltd (Kent) - Howard Simms 2. W.J. Kent Tree Surgeons (Surrey) - Bill Kent 3. David Sutlieff Tree Surgery (Surrey) - David Sutlieff 4. SL Treecare Ltd (Kent) - Steve Launchbury Thanks for supporting the scheme all. Regards.. Paul

Hi all, great to see many of you at Conference this year and here's a (very) quick resume of the highlights (not inc. meeting me of course ;-]) Sunday - tour of the grounds by Rupert Taylor and some magnificent trees. Monday - Prof. David Ball highlighting the imporatnce of 'BENEFITS' in the risk assessment process for public safety and how this needs to be better considered and ensure we do risk assessments, i.e. likelihood of harm, and not just ''hazard assessments", i.e. harm could occur because a hazard is present. Monday - Graham McMahon = mad and awesome in equal measures (but enough said elsewhere.) "Crocodile Dundee eat yer heart out!" Monday - speed briefs, i) Richard Nicholson - BS5837, ii) Peter Annet - AA Reg Con revamped scheme and iii) Tony Lane - Prof. Skills Framework (mainly aimed ay operatives level) Monday - Dave Cashman & Tim O'Hare - basement developments under tree root systems & top soil significance and assessment Monday - Orjan Stahl & Ted Green - contaminated soil removal (inc. around trees) from island off Stokholm & importance of understanding soils and mycorrhizal relations. Tuesday - Brian Crane and Keith Sacre - Berkeley Sq management plan (interesting to see L.PLane heavily decyaed stems by Rig ulm & Per frx) & TDAG 'Trees in the Townscape' document and significance (a 'pan industry' approach). Tuesday - Scott Cullen (USA) looking at the various valutaion systems and giving some evaluation of their application and highlighted the importance of the process as outlined by RICS guidance. Tuesday Awards - Best Trade Stand = Treelife, Best Tech Cert Student = Mark Franklin, Best Prof Dip student = Jago Keen, and AA Award = Mick Boddy. Tuesday - Adam Sandler & Joan Webber - Adam changed from ALB eradication to Davy system of tree survey / inventory development & JW gave update at latest P&D stuff, inc. Chalara dieback of Ash, but reminded us not to forget the old foes. Tuesday - Glynn Percival - looking at systemic induced resistance, akin to human immunisation / boosters, and how this can be used to improve tree response to subsequent disease attacks. Tuesday - Duncan Slater - updates on MSc project looking at forks and attcahments in trees reinforcing earlier research that the 'clever clip' system is correct and previous models are erroneous. Wednesday - Glynn Percival & Bartletts looked at their very strong didgital microscope showing the Camararia larvae on screen down to its mandibles...fascinating stuff. Then a tour of the molecular labs, as they're based there, and demo of air spading and tree spraying. For further info, where available, papers will be posted on the AA website soon. Thanks all.. Paul

Morning all, hope yer well. Firstly THANK YOU David for starting the thread and thanks to all who've contributed...good stuff. To answer a few comments: Graham McMahon - curently in Italy for a few days then off to Scotland for a 'drive around' to inc. Isle of Skye and Fort William. A fantastic, very polite and unassuming guy, who apparently still loves getting up to go to work everyday...and I saw why (not sure about the 'Huntsman Spiders' tho!) Conference Tues. Evening - it was possible to just attend for the BBQ and Graham's talk and costs were from £22. (In all honesty, said rather embarrasingly but I know I'm amongst friends :-), I didn't realise this was an option either and I'm real sorry for that and not bringing it to your attention...the 'Genghis Khan' treatment for me eh?) Stuff 'up north' - as David pointed out the 2010 Conference was at Manchester and the Conference, in particular, is not a South-East'entric' event. Next years is Exeter and hopefully 2014 'up north'. On the last point, and I know it was terrible weather that resulted in the cancellation (at a significant cost to the AA), but we did try to run the 'ARB FEST' in Leeds this year and of the 100 places we had available only about 40 sold and of that approx. 50% were Midlands / South / Wales based. So we did try and it wasn't to be. Thanks again fer yer commnents n keep um rollin. Cheers all.. Paul

Firstly, I hope your 'friend' is okay and soon recovers...and returns! As you are aware there is no requirement to wear a chainsaw jacket (see AFAG 301//401) unless of course your site specific risk assessment dictates otherwise (easy to say but in reality highly unlikely to veer be applicable whilst climbing, whihc of course would/could restrict movement and increase heat stress / fatigue.) In my expereince, most/many accidents are down to poor work positioning techniques and often involve untrained and/or inexpereinced guys. The main area where chainsaw jackets may be used are in MEWP work I would suggest. Cheers Paul

Chainsaws definately come under PUWER 98 (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs. see Help becoming an ARB Approved Contractor and scroll down the page.) Remember PUWER is a massive set of regs which covers all aspects of equipment / machinery use, from selection and suitability, to maintenance and inspection, to information and training (inc. certs of competence.) With regards to chainsaw stops, and spikes, and ladders maybe, IF they're not checked under LOLER, and to be quite honest I don't know if they should be, they should be under PUWER so you may as well include them anyway. Cheers.. Paul

David, THANK YOU (said on behalf of the industry and other ARB Talkers) this infomration and the way it is presented is simply fantastic...and not forgetting our fav 'HAMA', in combination your FUNGI info is moving our (inc. myself) awareness and understanding on 'leaps and bounds'. Keep it up boys. Paul

Hi there, These reports can be complex and can, potentially, expose the author to significant liability issues. Hence appropraite PI insurance is paramount, inc. for these types of report (check the small print.) In all honesty, unlike perhaps a tree condition report, I would suggest these are better left to the expereinced consultants...which of course you may be. Cheers all.. Paul

Morning all, Interestingly Bartlett's showed various P&Ds under a digital microscope at conference yesterday, fascinating stuff I have to say, inc. this. The outcome was a combination of factors, both biotic and abiotic, but often combined aphid, mites and seridium. So no single causitive agent. They advocated treatment with a contact insecticide, under licence, and also considering 'good husbandry' things like soil decompaction and mulching. If anyone's interested they do now offer a 'P&D' diagnosis service AND as part of the report they advise on suitable treatments. Cheers.. Paul

In my experience, as a former TPO tree officer, sometimes decisions are taken away from you where there is strong local interest and a political will...I think it's called 'democracy'. Hence you may wish to consider an 'appeal', not to be undertaken lightly tho as at tax payers expense, but this can sometimes have the effect of being a 'check and balance'. You have 28 days from receipt of the decision notice to appeal (see Planning Portal - Tree Preservation and Replacement Appeals) and remember, unlike previously, you can only use the reasons cited on the application to support the appeal (you cannot 'add meat' via an appeals notice.) Haven't read the detail to be honest but what you describe is, in (large) part, the reason I left the TPO officer role....I simply wasn't cut out for it finding myself trying to defend previous poor planning decisions often involving retention of inappropriate trees (not to say that's the case here of course!) Good luck..! Paul

Hmmm, interesting. So, the current position, as I understand it, is that you have been paid for a contract you have not yet fulfilled, i.e. you haven't done the stump grinding to the original trees, but you have completed additional works, i.e. a variation to the contract, with no payment received. Whilst I understand your reluctance to do the grinding, I would suggest you are contractually obliged to do so to the original trees (but not the additional two.) I would also suggest you send an invoice for the other two trees removed citing it as a contract variation instructed on site (hopefully you gave a price to the cleint before commencing works which, ideally, should have been noted on your copy of the quote and then signed by the client.) I would also include a quote for grinding out the remaining two stumps. Hoping my ramblings, whilst perhaps not what you wanted to hear, offer some help / guidance. Good luck..! Paul

Hi there, your 'mechanics' skills could/would be a much welcomed addition to many tree surgery companies as there's always some vehicle/machine breaking down and being mechanicaly minded often indicates a good aptitude etc. Also being 29 (I remember it well...well actually not so well now, boo hoo) may help, i.e. maturity. Good luck and give Andy Gentle a shout as he says. Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, The HSE LOLER guidance states: "What is a 'competent person'? The term 'competent person' is not defined in law but the LOLER Approved Code of Practice and guidance[2] (paragraph 294 on competent persons) states that: 'You should ensure that the person carrying out a thorough examination has such appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the lifting equipment to be thoroughly examined as will enable them to detect defects or weaknesses and to assess their importance in relation to the safety and continued use of the lifting equipment." This clearly highlights the importance of someone having suitable industry experience to undertake the inspects of arb kit and, similarly, I would suggest an industry based training provider may provide more suitable, 'tailored' training. On a number of occasions I have observed inspections undertaken by none industry expereinced persons and it often leaves much to be desired. Good luck.. Paul

When we stepped into the main marque on the Sat morning we were greeted by a rotten stench, basically the mud we'd stirred up on the Friday whilst trying to set up was releasing a putrid odour, there's no way we cudda sat in there. Plus as Hama said the chairs wudda been well buried within 10mins of sitting on them...and then, just to cap it all, we got stuck in the mud on the way off the site. All in all a 'good effort' but must try harder next time. As Ed said I was completely gutted and again apologise to all you guys. Will post back when we've reached a decision about when 'ARB FEST II' will happen...'watch this space'! Cheers fer now.. Paul

Hi Christopher, ABSOLUTELY...please 'watch this space'! Sorry for any inconvenience. Cheers.. Paul

Guys, REALLY sorry to everyone affected but basically we couldn't even set the event up, let alone welcome you and host the presentations doing justice to the presenters. The main marque become flooded, and I mean flooded as a quagmire, as we attempted to set up and the lighting engineers and generator contractors were getting stuck in the mud trying to access the site...'unbelieveable!' On behalf of my colleagues here at the AA again I do sincerely apologies for any, and all, inconvenience caused and it was a decision taken with a very, very heavy heart! PLEASE watch this space for further updates and I so look forward to meeting with you in the near future. Off to dry out...cheers all. Paul

..you askin?....I'm dancin....NOOOOOoooooooo!!!!!!! Tee hee..

Rob, you might wanna bring a 'ground sheet'....just in case! Thanks fer yer enfusiasm...good stuff. Paul