AA Teccie (Paul)

Edward, an interesting supposition, albeit incorrectly so. I speak as someone who personally greatly benefitted from working my way through the study guide early in my career which significantly increased my very limited 'arb' technical knowledge, as it was at the time. Further, I recently attended an associated training course delivered by Andy Summerly (Treelife) and observed the benefits to those attending, both tree surgeons / arborist and supervisors / managers who had no prior arb quals (and indeed myself as a refresher.) I stick by my guns here Edward that, at the craftsman level, ISA CA is a great learning program to supplement the suite of chainsaw / tree climbing qualifications (L4 & L6 are equally great learning opportunities, but for later ones career maybe when / if one wishes to progress to Tree Officer or Arb Advisor / Surveyor role etc.) Regards, Paul

Google 'Powered pole pruner' (ppp)...a very useful tool in many circumstances, and trained / knowledgeable hands

"...but I'm not convinced about the content" Hi Chris, can you expand please...is it because it's American based? (in reality probably less than 10% I would suggest and the rest is common, USA / UK / EU...oops .) I truly believe the ISA CA is an ideal educational supplement for craftsman arb level where some has attained their practical skills quals, e.g. Lantra or NPTC chainsaws / tree climbing, to give a better understanding of trees and their requirements etc. Cheers, Paul

For tree surgery kit there is a specific LOLER course / qualification offered by NPTC or Lantra (see https://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemedetail.aspx?id=99 or https://www.lantra.co.uk/course/level-4-award-thorough-examination-arboricultural-lifting-equipment ) It is an assessed course and quite tough by all accounts (but not mine/me as I haven't done it.) Cheers, Paul

It's not hard as such but it is time consuming and the level of detail is, to some extent, probably dependent on what level you're planning on getting accredited, or maybe self-certifying (which is of very little value commercially.) If it's with a UKAS certification body (CB), e.g. BSI / NQA / DNV / BM Trada, it is very involved as needs to satisfy external audits at a high level. If 3rd party accredited, but non-UKAS, then less so. Most businesses I'm aware of engage an external consultant to assist and direct the process. The important thing, IME, is to ensure the procedures reflect the way you work / operate rather than the other way round as then it becomes negative, i.e. having to produce evidence for audit for the sake of it. Hope this helps, a little.. Paul

Simplistically, if works are taking place 'overhead' then no, as climbing helmets are principally rated for side impacts, but if nothing overhead, and you have the correct ear defender SNR if you're chipping...and as mentioned before the chin-strap is fastened so as not to present a snag hazard, then 'yes.' Paul

Ideally documented on the 'emergency arrangements' section of the site risk assessment but "yes"...HSE have previously acknowledged the same. Paul

As Jim said...BUT it must be 'direct' supervision, not cursory!

Hi all, as heads up for the next workshop event to get an insight to the AC Scheme, what's involved and how it might benefit your business. For further info and booking please see https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=35964019-0348-4309-B93F-DF5543D08F4E Hoping to meet you there.. Regards, Paul

..and ideally by a professional tree surgeon.

A long shot, as it's discretionary powers and many LAs don't adopt it, but if it really is foreseeable and you've made all reasonable attempts to resolve it, and can demonstrate / evidence such, the Local Government Miscellaneous Provisions Act (Sect. 23 - Dangerous Trees) may offer a solution...ONLY MAY! Perhaps you could also quote this to the tree owner to encourage his reasonableness..

Scissor-lift n poles poss? Perhaps remind the tree owner your client is prepared to meet the cost of him better meeting his "duty of care" responsibilities / potential liabilities...given there've already been failures and therefore it would probably meet the "foreseeability test" Good luck..

I agree, entirely, but many of us are speaking morally and responsibly here, and rightly so, but the guidance as to when is a subcontractor effectively an employee, as far as EL insurance is concerned, is open to interpretation / challenge. I guess the acid test, perhaps, wuddav been to report the accident under RIDDOR and hope the HSE investigated the matter. Cheers Jim, hope you're well (n Jo.) Paul

Thuya...pretty sure

Can I frame that one Mick?

Presumably the first claim will be on the landscaping firm's insurance who, in turn, will seek to claim on yours...probably. And this is a public liability insurance situation, which isn't a legal requirement (here in UK anyway) rather than EL. which is. Fingers crossed either way..

Perhaps the phrase "a grey area" wasn't the best turn of phrase, maybe "open to interpretation" would have been a better one. Do I need employers’ liability insurance for all the people who work for me? You are only required by law to have employers’ liability insurance for people who you employ under a contract of service or apprenticeship. Whether or not you need employers’ liability insurance for someone who works for you depends on the terms of your contract with them. This contract can be spoken, written or implied. It does not matter whether you usually call someone an employee or self-employed or what their tax status is. Whether you choose to call your contract a contract of employment or a contract for services is largely irrelevant. What matters is the real nature of your relationship with the people who work for you and the nature and degree of control that you have over the work they do. Hence, as I mentioned, that is why we make EL a condition of the scheme, which has been challenged several times.a

Something of a grey area potentially, as I understand it, and hence under the scheme we make it (EL insurance) mandatory regardless. Tbh I think it would be a legal case to determine the situation but I think it would be a civil rather than statute case, i.e. EL Compulsory Insurance Act.

In fairness to NR, unless the tree root causes damage, they don't have to act to remove it or prevent future root encroachment. Again a cost factor, and never 100% successful (I'm lead to believe) but maybe a root barrier could be installed along the boundary to reduce the likelihood of future problems.

Whilst the leaf on the sucker would seem fairly definitive, and that should probably be enough, you could have a root analysis identification undertaken by, for instance, https://www.jcaac.com/tree-root-identification/ to reinforce the issue...the drawback being cost of course. What's the concern, potential future (direct) damage to the wall...the tree probably won't live long enough to do so? In principle, regardless of it being NR land, the 'common-law right' to cut back to the property boundary, which applies to both above and below tree parts, i.e. branches and roots, exists. That said, clearly if in so doing tree stability is compromised and subsequently fails causing damage (clearly not the case here) one could find oneself in rather a sticky position

Pension planning becomes relevant and interesting ..

Thanks for supporting Arb Assoc (AA) here. Regarding the article supplied, very interesting, but relates to 'tree' risk assessment, i.e. likelihood of tree failure etc., whereas the OP was relating to Health & Safety / operational risk assessments to protect workers from hazards...possibly including tree failure of course. thanks again Paul

Sure others will "offer up" but an alternative could be to join the Arb Assoc as an Ordinary / Foundation Member (£65 per year which can be paid as monthly DD) and you can access the 'Help for Arborists' resources on the website, inc. RAMS docs. See https://www.trees.org.uk/Membership/Membership-Grades/Foundation for further info. Cheers, Paul

Shame, a nice tree...in the wrong place "see above" PS Check for usual TPOs etc.

Hi there, pop a postcode here and several should appear in that region https://www.trees.org.uk/ARB-Approved-Contractor-Directory Regards, Paul