AA Teccie (Paul)

I missed that Kevin (or did I, having just re-read it.) However my post was in a general context as it's often a mis-interpreted issue is refresher training. But, as you say, some organisations, including BALI / CSCS and FISA, interpret it in a literal sense and we are currently in discussions with them to try to negotiate acceptance of other, evidence based options, including 'in-house'...not getting very far so far tho Best regards n hope you're well (BTW x2 Cornwall 'specific' ArbACs now ) Paul

Taken from FISA 301 (previously AFAG 301) para. 34 (full document attached.) In general, proficient tree workers who regularly practise their skills in the presence of colleagues and employers will require training less often. However, advances in technology may justify specific update training, and certain trained skills such as first aid and aerial rescue will need specific, regular practice and updating. For chainsaws, INDG317 Chainsaws at work recommends that refresher/update training takes place every three to five years. This can often be incorporated as part of training for more advanced skills. It is important to record and plan for refresher/update training and the employer must record the structure of the training received by the tree worker based on the type of work undertaken. So, in summary, refresher training is an industry 'good practice' thing, considered every 5 years. However, if, for instance, you purchase a tracked-chipper, having only ever previously used towed chippers, machine specific training should be undertaken and whilst ideally this may be with one of the main 2 organizations it can be, and more often is, 'in-house' (but be sure to record this including what, where, when and who.) . Regards Paul FISA 805 Training and Certs.pdf

Dear Collective, Please join me at Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park to find out more about ARB Approval etc., including Affiliate Contractor Membership and Utility Approved Contractor. For more info and booking please see https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=315C0B87-4438-4F48-AE58-043B4F08AC0E Hope to see you there Paul

Dear Collective, Please join me at Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park to find out more about ARB Approval etc., including Affiliate Contractor Membership and Utility Approved Contractor. For more info and booking please see https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=315C0B87-4438-4F48-AE58-043B4F08AC0E Hope to see you there Paul

Dear Collective, If you fancy a trip to Myerscough College to find out more about ARB Approval etc., including Affiliate Contractor Membership and Utility Approved Contractor, please do join me. For more info and booking please see https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=FFFA1F6B-C486-4701-8FD7-C2889FF4A8F7 Hope to see you there Paul

CR 20% (linear) = 2m off the end of a 10m radial branch, simplistically...still looks to have exceeded that. CR 20% (volume) = 0.8m off the end of a 10m radial (approx. and extrapolating from the BS...which may not technically be correct)...certainly exceeded, and significantly. In my view they've CL'd over the house and then tried to balance the lower crown on the opposite side. Whilst the spec on the application could have been / should have been better / more definitive could the LPA involved have better 'conditioned' the consent to achieve a more certain outcome (said without having seen either documents so pure speculation.) Paul

The EAC is gathering moment, albeit slowly, in several European Countries, as is ETW and ETT (less so) and the previous agreement the ISA & EAC had for dual-recognition / deemed to satisfy, in effect, has lapsed. So, in Europe I would suggest 'Euro. Tree Worker' to be the best option...the problem is accessing the exam in the UK is nigh on impossible so maybe ISA Certified Arborist is a more viable / accessible option. There, has that helped...not much really, sorry. Paul

Hi Owen, I hope you're well. Regarding the AA 'Registered Consultant Scheme' it's worth considering this course https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=4983005B-4F2E-40F9-944B-EA1DD642EAC9 I do have some involvement so by all means ask away and/or give me a call. Best regards, Paul

Don't forget 'your' industry specific SSiP accreditation option with ARB Approval - means you can then access CHAS / SMAS / Safe-contractor etc. without further assessment. Constructionline is a little different, but accepts ARB Approval for the H&S compliance (as an SSiP Registered Scheme) and many ArbACs are also Constructionline registered - a client driven requirement (that said, FC SW Region have just tendered a tree surgery contract where ARB Approval is required...'or equivalent.') ARB Approval also offers access to Trustmark, a government backed consumer focused scheme, and is the only 'Tree Surgery' trade option. To find out more try to get to one of the FREE ArbAC Prep. Workshop events see https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events for more info. Cheers, n sorry to hijack the post Paul

Hi Mark, hope you're well. In my experience 'fence-lines' are seldom accurate as property boundary markers...and a very protracted, and often non-definitive, situation can often ensue trying to accurately determine such. The Highway Authority have a responsibility for both their own trees, obviously, and private trees within falling distance of the highway, i.e. duty of care to users of the highway, albeit ever case where an incident / damage occurred the 1st defendant, the landowner, rather than the HA, has been prosecuted. Sorry, waffling around the subject really but it may be worth putting a challenge in writing to the County Surveyor disputing ownership...hopefully they may then have something / plans more definitive they can present. Good luck.. Paul

BUMP!!! If either the 'new' utility approved contractor scheme is of interest / relevance, or the 'Affiliate Contractor Membership' (an opportunity to demonstrate actively "working towards" ARB Approved Contractor) please come along to find out more. Hoping to see you there Paul

Sorry Gary, wasn't meaning to be flippant here, just trying to suggest a way to progress things. I admire your perseverance and doggedness and, in all honesty if I were "in your shoes", I'd be the same. Your point about the LPA always being right is something I encounter through the scheme and assessing contractors knowledge of the TPO system where the only source is the TO / Planning Dept. Whilst many / most LAs are under-resourced these days there's very useful guidance on the planning portal they could / should refer to. Hey good luck..."Citizen Prentice" Tc, Paul

Hi Gary, the phrase including "brick-wall, head and banging" comes to mind here. Of course you are correct but it's not happening and seemingly no degree of "stamping and screaming," however justified, will help. Does your client, i.e. the tree owner, not have a copy of the TPO plan / schedule? Paul

Thanks James. I've never felt so "luuuuuved' before on ARBTALK as yours is the 5th <3 (heart) members have sent me recently Sorry, "Friday frivolities" and it's only Tuesday (that's what a heavy morning of SSiP meetings and debating highly technical stuff with 'Certification Body' members does to / for you ) TTFN, Paul

Nominate a competent individual for all 3 companies, and agreed as such, get said person (as site safety coordinator) to produce the SSRA / RAMS and then everyone, and all companies, "sign up" to it. Perhaps, for their records, they should subsequently be supplied with copies.

I'm sayin n'more as I know I'll get tied up in knots...pardon the pun

Sometimes "silence is (truly) golden" eh? ...perhaps I need to review the scheme standards Hoping yer well.. Paul

It is unfortunate that as many tree owners actually put little value on 'their' trees correspondingly they're prepared only to pay low for tree surgery / arboricultural work. As an industry sector which is under-valued, in both a fiscal and a professional sense, we need to be very careful we don't contribute to such by doing work cheaply (I know everybody has to "earn a crust" etc.) as doing so is perhaps a short term gain(?) but longer term pain, i.e. isn't sustainable. I'm not commenting specifically in relation to this post, or maybe I am actually, but £150 seems very / too cheap to me for the provision of an insured, skilled, professional service. Equally, without really knowing anything about the site, £450 perhaps seems a little steep. My ten-penneth. Best.. Paul

Hi Kevin, it is a complex area which I don't profess to fully understand. Hence I often refer contractors to manufacturers data, e.g. https://static.stihl.com/security_data_sheet/downloads/GB_MS.pdf and the attached is quite an interesting (related) read from the HSE...in a certain context! Also don't forget the 'Health Surveillance' (HS) requirement of the regs which the HSE place a lot of emphasis on http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/advicetoemployers/healthsurveillance.htm TTFn, Paul vibration-exposure-monitoring-qa.pdf

"IF" driver CPC is applicable, e.g. the person delivering logs using a +3.5t vehicle, the requirement is for 35 hrs over 5 years, i.e. 7 hrs per year...not too onerous (and it includes a range of different courses inc. H&S / first aid.)

Hi all, the next FREE workshop is at Barchams on Weds. 7th March so please try to get along and join me. See https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=69FACB8B-0D3D-4B7C-8F92-7AD421BB628A for further information and booking. Best regards, Paul

Oops, thanks Gary (thankfully it wasn't too late to edit the original post...phew) Hope you're well Paul

Thanks Amy . For more information and booking, please see: 1. ArbAC Prep. Workshop - https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=BA7A5FBD-444C-4C68-977F-4212BBB9A379 (this is a FREE event.) 2. BS3998 Seminar - https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events/Course-Detail?id=7144A50C-D042-41A9-9FA8-F47FAA69B6B6 (this is a priced event, £145 for AA Members and £205 for non-members.) PLEASE support these events and help us justify further ones in the future. Thanks in anticipation , Paul

It's often a process of elimination starting with the tree...sadly usually a much cheaper option than level monitoring over a period of time to better determine the actual cause (which of course may be the tree.) Albeit exceptionally, but we I managed the tree stock in Cheltenham we had a similar situation but in reverse, i.e. (street) trees at the front causing damage at the back...and LPs. Cheers, Paul

1. ARB Show (Westonbirt): 11th-12th May 2. National Amenity Conference (Exeter): 9th-12th September 3. Other events / training courses (see https://www.trees.org.uk/Training-And-Events ) (APF (Alcester) 20th-22nd September ) Hope to see you there