AA Teccie (Paul)

Hey Rob, I see where you're going with this one, a canny northener, ha. I'll be honest I'm not sure but will find out n get back to you (obviously the CDs will have Scottish legislative references etc. not English.) Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, I know you're looking for answers "straight from the horses mouth", so to speak (and no reference to David being a 'nag', ha), and obviously it's very (very) early days to say what impact it has had. I would suggest you need to run with the accreditation full term, i.e. 4 years, before really deciding. BUT, it would appear that those businesses who are good at marketing and promoting themselves, or become so as a result of ArbAC, can see tangible benefits and fairly soon in some instances (a S. Wales based contractor told me their projected income this year was around the £1m mark, up from £300k when they were first assessed 2 years ago, and ArbAC has been instrumental in this...obvioulsy tho much of that is in the commercial sector where, clearly, ArbAC+CHAS+SAFEcontractor(now) has greater impact.) Remember also that going through the process of both preparation and the assessment, as David will vouch for, improves your business structure, organisation and arrangements AND, of course, makes you more H&S compliant in discharging your 'employer duties' and looking after your staff (and they you!) Reet, "I'm out of here" (for now) n let you get on with it..! Thanks fer posting.. Paul

Hi Rob, Basically the 8a & 9a, Scottish Versions, are CDs only whereas the 8 & 9 (England & Wales) come with a full guidance note / booklet and CDs. Hence the price difference. Cheers.. Paul

Just so long as it's a bottle n not a 'box', that's a slippery slope to oblivion, ha! Enjoy... Paul

Hi all, I have 2x 'half-price' assessments, saving almost £250* on the initial assessment price (£495*), on offer on a 'first come, first served' basis for 27 / 28 March (2012) for the North London / Home Counties region. This is part of the Local Authority nomination scheme so you will need to secure your Tree Officers support and it is receipt of the form that will secure the place. I'm ready and waiting...but give me a call if you want to know more (tel. 01242 522512 or 07971 995351). Cheers all, take care out there n 'keep warm' Paul ('suthern softie') *+VAT 20%

Hi Stephen, hope yer well! Yer posting 'footer' still makes me laff even tho I must have read it a hundred times. You do need to expand it tho now that we're 'SAFEcontractor' too. Lookin forward to the update..ha! Cheers.. Paul

Yup, sorry Bob...only a week behind! That said if it simplifies things then maybe it's worth doin . Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, just a quick 'heads up' if I may in light of recent rumblings I've become aware of at HSE regarding a few previous 'near miss' incidence. CS32 is no longer 'Medium Trees' but "Trees above 380mm diameter", hence there is no longer an upper size limit on this unit (effectively CS33 Large Trees has gone!) The thorny issue of update / refresher training for tree felling rears it's head here BUT a more 'cost effective' alternative, involving 'up skilling', might be available in many instances. Bottom line if, as with many in my experience, you only hold CS30/31 (SMALL trees) for chainsaw ground units then I would strongly recommend you undertake CS32, and more particularly if your ticket is more than 8/10 years old, again as many are (REMEMBER HSE recommend 5 years for consideration of refresher training...see AGAG 805 below) Thanks all, Paul PS I have included below the NPCT CS32 assessment schedule and a training matrix to hopefully help you manage your training & quals and update / refresher requirements more effectively (hence rather than simply 'tick' the boxes enter the year of attainment.) afag805v2.pdf Qualification+Matrix.doc cs32_assessment_schedule_june_2010.pdf

PUWER 98 (ACOP) Reg. 9 - Training Chainsaw operators 191 All workers who use a chainsaw should be competent to do so. Before using a chainsaw to carry out work on or in a tree, a worker should have received appropriate training and obtained a relevant certificate of competence or national competence award, unless they are undergoing such training and are adequately supervised. For professional users there is currently no real alternative to the City&Guilds / NPTC CoC (cert. of competence). For 'occasional' users, felling scrub/regrowth etc., the Lantra Awards ITA may be an alternative (see Chainsaw Training Courses - Lantra Awards UK). Either way I think he would be well advised to have a qualified (NPTC 30/31 min.), competent and experienced chainsaw operator involved to cut the larger / trickier stuff and 'directly supervise', if only initially til you're happy they're safe, others. Hope the fish appreciate the effort. Good luck! Paul

Fascinating stuff, and what makes this forum such a great place to be (along with my 'fascinating' H&S postings of course...tee hee!) THANK YOU David, and Hama, we learn more every day, keep it coming. Cheers.. Paul

Yup, perfic, n regardless of the typo...how you doin Rob? I acknowledge that the fact they are ARB Approved doesn't give any gaurantee of a good employer but at least it shows they are aware of what H&S compliance is and (hopefully) keeping their employees safe. Conditions of employment, whilst covered by a whole raft of HR regs, and pay rates aren't part of the ArbAC standards and I don't think you'll find many arb businesses out there with the IIP award (Investors in People). Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, just a quick 'heads up'..! The above course is running 'up norf' (YIPPEE!!!) at Tim Kirks place but we need more people to ensure this. Whilst the course is at a basic level, and essentially aimed at none arb people, i.e. highways inspectors / park rangers, nonetheless it can be a useful introduction to tree surveying and inspection if you haven't done any before (and more particularly if you haven't done a formal arb qual, i.e. NC Arb / RFS Cert Arb / ISA Cert Arb.) See Basic Tree Survey & Inspection - Training for further info and/or post back if you'd like to know more. To book simply complete and email the form below to Tiffany ([email protected]). Many thanks and hope to see you there.. Paul aa_training_booking_form_010212.pdf

We've recently approved a number of business 'up north', which is great, and hence it might be worth contacting them. See: North West - Arboricultural Association and North East - Arboricultural Association Good luck..! Paul

Hi there, Here is Mel's reply: "Paul The exhibitor pack will be available at the end of the month. If you ask him to email me I can send one to him electronically when they are out! Mel" Thanks.. Paul

Hi there, thanks for your post. It's actually my colleague Mel(anie) Sutherland who manages the exhibitors/bookings etc. at the ARB Show so I've copied your enquiry to her and will post back her reply. Alternatively you could contct Mel directly, [email protected] (tel. 01242 522152). Speak soon.. Paul

Hiya Steve, I did put in a good word so 'watch this space'. Cheers.. Paul

Hi all.. 3-in-a-row great 'ARB Approved' assessment visits last week, congrats to: 1. The Good Tree Company (Jonathan Finlow) - Shrewsbury 2. Theocus Arboriculture (David Shephard) - Tewkesbury 3. Fairfird Tree Services (Rupert Wilkinson) - Cheltenham All exhibiting high quality tree work and safe, competent and proficient dismnatling skills...well done all! Cheers.. Paul

Hama, would you like to be my 'PR' man, ha! I do really appreciate your vote of confidence, it means a lot, and I hope others share your views and see it as an opportunity....time will tell. Thanks again... Pau

David, THANK YOU for supporting the scheme and giving me the opportunity to view your business at close quarters. The accreditation is very well deserved and in many respects simply confirms the very high standards the business is operating at, across the board. Very well done and I too look forward to working with you and Theocus Arboriculture! All the best.. Paul

Cheers Tony, appreciate yer comments...n I hope not, BUT I also sincerely hope they recognise the scheme isn't just another H&S 'blah, blah, blah' thing as work quality, tree pruning and tree planting standards, are still very much at the heart of the scheme. Cheers.. Paul

Thanks Simon, I hope this does indeed add further value to 'ArbAC' status AND the industry at large continues to support it. Many thanks all.. Paul PS I do still have a few free days in my 'ArbAC' assessment schedule....'first come, first served', ha!

Cheers 'Tommer9'...yer only 'down the road' from, go frit, ha! Paul

So does that mean I'll be visiting sunny Manchester anytime soon...tee hee! Cheers 'Skyhuck', hope all's well. Paul

Hi all, hope yer well. Just a quick heads up to let you know that, alongside the existing CHAS compliant contractor status, 'ARB Approved' status is now also recognised by SAFEcontractor - apparently the second largest (after CHAS), but fastest growing, H&S compliance scheme. Hence, on production of your 'ArbAC H&S Compliant Contractor' certificate, you can attain SAFEcontractor Accredited status too..! Not bad eh, '3 accreditations in one', and all still possible from £495 (+VAT). Give me a shout if you want to know more. Thanks.. Paul

Hi-de-hi.. Natural England are the 'new' English Nature', as was. I reckon yer's r confusing Conservation Areas, which are administered by the LPA (Local Planning Authority), with SSSI (Sites Special Scientific Interest) which are admin'd by Natural England. Cheers.. Paul PS Anything further to add to the confusion...."MATRON!!!"