AA Teccie (Paul)

Mewp?

Maybe he/she has read the advice contained in the public leaflet "Choosing Your Tree Surgeon (Arborist)" that we produce, copy below. TBH I don't think what they're requesting is unreasonable, perhaps 'unusual' and that's why there's an air of suspicion, and perhaps you could ask for the copy documents to be returned at the end of the job...just so you can pass them on to the next enquirer. Dunno, just mi thoughts Cheers, n hope the job goes smoothly.. Paul ChoosingYourArborist.pdf

"Old friends"...but not yet sat on their park bench like bookends (an old Paul Simon song, how sad eh!) Cheers Wolter, hope you get a definitive which will doubtless involve some level of lab analysis. Paul

Hi, I recently heard Henry Kuppen from Netherlands speak very authoritively on OPM but got the impression he does a lot of other stuff too see http://www.kuppen-bomen.nl/ziekte-plaagbeheer/httpwwwkuppen-bomenceasarnlziekte-plaagbeheerinsec.html which may be worth a contact Regards.. Paul

Precisely, n not forgetting that metal band strapped round too, just for good measure

Stand to be corrected here, and think it could be open to legal challenge, but the 2012 regs combined(?) n superseded all previous regs did they not? Therefore the 2 year rule for expiry of permissions would logically apply...perhaps. Further, as mentioned, a 5-day notice is a safety issue thing and technically consent cannot be granted. The words messy n confused come to mind so to safe guard yourself, and your client, I would go back to the LPA for guidance / advice n don't be surprised they say to 'apply for consent.' Cheers.. Paul

Cudda potentially saved upto another 15% had you had that little 'ARB approved' badge on your business Hopin yer well Dan n business is good.. Paul

Needless to say in future everything's being disposed of at the tip yeah, AND going down as a business expense. How the heck did all that come about Kevin, a "can of worms" inadvertently opened or an eagle-eyed tax inspector? I'm staggered TBH n I can't wait to attend my meeting in London tomorrow either Hope you're recovering today...FLIP Tc, Paul

HI Edward, I hope you're well. Just an observation, if I may, but are not the above two comments at odds with one another? You are indeed quite right that the ICF hold the Royal Charter, and can award Chartered Arboriculturist status, a relatively recent thing, but many feel the Arbor. Association to be more of a natural home and we too offer a Registered Consultant accreditation to Professional Members and Fellows. Just a little more info for Simon I guess. Regards.. Paul

The simple answer is YES, in order to accord with 'industry best practice', in effect. Many people I speak to who undertake accident investigations highlight the fact the HSE/courts are always more interested in refresher training events that the specific chainsaw etc. qualifications involved...maybe that's because they don't understand them. AFAG, sorry FISA 805 sets out the relative guidance, as does indg317 (HSE - Chainsaws at Work), and stipulates every 5 years for a professional user. Your insurance company may also have a view on the matter. So, whilst there are a full suite of 'refresher' training courses available, which can be beneficial and clearly then "tick the box", this can be achieved by other means as you describe, i.e. an NPTC / Lantra assessor joining you on site BUT you do need some documentary evidence for this. Hope this helps clarify the situation and, TBH, "once every 5 years"...is it that unreasonable really? (easy for me to say I know but..) Cheers.. Paul

Every 5 years for chainsaws etc. (as a professional user) see FISA 805 UK FISA - The Forest Industry Safety Accord

Not at all...if that happens the 'arrangement' between the two organisations will, effectively, have come full circle. Perhaps Stuart from Lantra will be along soon to update anything more. Cheers.. Paul

Okay, I'm gonna give 'a' reply here...but it might not be what you're looking for exactly so apologies in advance. City & Guilds / NPTC do offer a qualification for brush-cutter operations (see NPTC ) Essentially what you have existing is probably a Lantra 'ITA' certificate (integrated training and assessment, i.e. undertaken by the same person.) Dependent upon what you mean by "cross-over", the C&G offering would have always been a qualification, and of course still is, what you did previously was 'adequate training', not strictly a qualification, but if you did the Lantra training now it would take the form of a qualification, i.e. registered on the qualifications framework (at least I know that to be the case with chainsaw training.) I'm probably missing the point here so what is it you're trying to establish? Cheers.. Paul

Hi Jake, sorry about this but can I trouble you to contact Laura too, or Stephen (Hodsman), in the hope of getting this problem resolved. Again [email protected] / [email protected] or tel. 01242 522152. Thanks, n sorry again.. Paul

Hi Chris, I'm really sorry about this, would you mind contacting Laura ([email protected] or tel. 01242 522152) at Head Office directly and hopefully she'll sort it once and for all The edition referred to for March 2016 is actually the last 2015 journal, i.e. Vol. 37 - Issue 4 (Dec. 2015.) Vol. 38 - Issue 1 should have been with you on, or around, 17th June and Issue 2 on, or around, 8th July (according to the schedule Laura has from T&F...albeit she did say they're often a week later.) Hoping we get this sorted for you and sharing your frustrations Cheers.. Paul

'Jaspidea' maybe..

Hi Gary, yes, you are current, in terms of 'hard copy' journals but the June 2016 edition is apparently available online at Taylor and Frances and that will be with you in the next couple of weeks...I hope. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Gary and Jake, apologies for the replies here but I'm just back form holiday n somewhat bleary eyed...can't imagine why. I'll find out tomorrow exactly WHERE we should be up to with AA Journals but Jake your situation concerns me. Either your membership is at Ordinary level, which doesn't receive the journal, or there's a problem with our new database...REALLY! Will get back tomorrow. Cheers both n apologies again.. Paul

Yep, I do. And (Mr Dempsey...I hope you're well) it does matter both in terms of checking if you need to change the advise / prescription of works AND your method of access may need to change to. I would still stick with a crown reduction, to reduce the likelihood of future break outs, but ideally do it from ground level with long-handled pruners (can't wait to hear what Mick thinks of that ) Cheers.. Paul

Bottom line, and as 'openspaceman' has commented, a tele-handler with a man-basket whilst an option is not generally deemed suitable for treework given the frequency and nature of works involved. Hence it is not specifically referenced in the Industry Code of Practice (ICoP) for Arboriculture...but MEWPs (primarily, and solely, designed as such) and mobile tower scaffolds for hedge work, are referenced. Perhaps the real bottom line is if the contracts manager for the site says "NO" then that's the answer. Cheers.. Paul

Stand to be corrected but I don't think NPTC do refresher certificates 'per se'...one can re-qualify, i.e. be assessed again, but didn't think they offered structured refresher courses (unlike the other land-based training organisation.) Don't forget to look for opportunities to 'up-skill' where possible / relevant, e.g. CS31 (as was) to CS32 to CS34 etc. i.e. felling bigger stuff n then onto wind-blow...all good stuff. Cheers.. Paul

Sounds, and looks, very much like CSCS with references to H&S compliance, CDM Regs, Principal Contractors etc. Shame they don't allow 'deemed to satisfy' (DTS), as do the various safety schemes under SSiP, even if you had to pay a fee for the privilege. Very frustrating but sounds like a MUST TICK box to work on that site Cheers.. Paul

Hi John , not sure of timescales for the certified arborist course yet as still in the process of rubber stamping tge formal arrangements for the Associated Organisation. Hopefully later this year. Keep watching here for any updatss, which I'll definitely post. Cheers, Paul

"Mr Dempsey" as pragmatic as always...agreed (and, of course, shingle could still be an option, if only in that area affected) Cheers.. Paul

Dear 'fellow' northerner (okay, okay, I know I now live in the softie south ) Just a 'heads up' to say I'm at Tim Kirks place (Holmfirth), his 'posh office', on Wed. 9th November talking about the ARB Approved Contractor Scheme...a FREE workshop event with does qualify for CPD/CEUs. I do intend to talk to some LA Tree Officers beforehand to try and get more support for the scheme in the region (please let me have any contacts you may think are worth talking to, thanks.) More info to follow nearer the time but "pencil me in" now...go'on you know you want to Cheers all.. Paul