AA Teccie (Paul)

Oh yeah, and circa 2.7m clearance over cycle-ways. P.

Hi Bob, sorry for delay. AS I understand their is no 'statutory height' in the Highways Act 1980, as such, but a general duty to keep the highway safe and unobstructed. It is then down to the individual highway authorities to determine what height this is, which often varies dependent upon type of road and usage etc. However, generally, in my experience it is 5.2-5.4m over carriageways and 2.2-2.4 over footpaths. Cheers Paul

Hi Simon, there is no 'absolute' here and it will often be dictated by the commercial clients you work for and what their expectations are. However, it is nonetheless quite useful to have some stuff at hand to use / refer to in the event of an incident / accident and/or just as a point of reference. As an industry benchmark, to some degree, and said as the scheme is recognised as such by HSE (and of course as we dual-accredit with CHAS,) I have attached the ARB Approved Contractor standards (small business) below and what you refer to as the H&S 'pack' is broadly covered in Module 1 (sects. 1.1.1 and 1.1.2) I would suggest. I hope this to be some help. Cheers Paul Standards-less-than-5-employees-FINALv4(131220).pdf

Guddo, keep me posted but please be sure to let Polly know too ([email protected]) cheers Paul

bish, bash, bosh....or rather BUMP (for the thread.) We still have places available, a lovely venue too (Ashton Court) with some magnificent tree around. "go onnnnnnn", you know you want to As a matter of interest, the AA 'Find a Tree Surgeon' website, which increasingly many LAs are linking to, is now averaging circa 5,000 hits per month... "don't miss out!" Thanks, n hoping to see you there! Paul

...and location, i.e. whereabouts in the country you are? Paul

To all Bristolian, and SW based, 'Tree Surgeons'...for one day only THURSDAY 4th Sept. I will be at Ashton Court to answer all your questions about getting ARB Approved...with CHAS, AND now with Trustmark too! See here http://www.trees.org.uk/training-events/Training/ARB-Approved-Contractor-assessment-workshop_37 for further info. This preparation workshop is FoC, AND you get to choose yer own lunch , so please do come along. Again, whilst the ultimate focus is getting businesses ARB Approved, actually getting businesses more compliant and improving standards across the board, is what it's all about too! Hoping to see you there (please email [email protected] to book on.) Thanks all.. Paul

"I'll do my best" Thanks Jules. Paul

Hi there, if the LPA have TPO'd the tree they have determined it does have 'amenity value.' Whilst sometimes subjective, as with many things, they often use, for instance, the Helliwell System to back this up in a more objective way. SO "yes" it is necessary for the tree to have amenity value. The what decides if a place is public thing is open to interpretation but could, for instance, include an internal forecourt area to which many have access / views. Hope this helps. Pual

Jules, thanks again for your valued contribution here and your underlying concern. At the end of the day the terminology, which has already been debated, will doubtless be so further at Trustees when it goes for final sign off where there are far more educated people than I and they can refer to the AA solicitors if any concern is voiced. I've just done a quick Google search on 'affiliate membership' it appears, in general, to suggest a non-professional level of membership (inferring "work in progress" or transition as you say.) Further the AA website will make it clear that 'Affiliate Contractor' member has demonstrated a basic level of compliance by documentary evidence and is not to be confused with 'ARB Approved Contractor' etc. etc. As with any member, inc. ArbACs, they are bound by the AAs code of professional conduct and ethics which does, in effect, give a degree of comeback, or certainly the right to complain, to any aggrieved client / fellow professional (and AA member.) At the end of the day my aim will be to quickly shift Affiliates to ArbACs anyway, thereby minimising any exposure. Thanks again.. Paul

Many thanks Steph, I hope you 'et al' are well. Paul

Great, many thanks Tony. Paul

Hi Jules, thanks for your post here and the comments. The term 'Affiliate' has been hotly debated but seems to follow other organisations, particular under SSiP...but I do take on board your commnets (in partic the fact the initials will be the same...dependent how you use them, i.e. ARB Approved Contractor = ArbAC, and Affiliate Contractor Member = ACM??? ) The time-bound issue is pertinent and the initial proposal is 2 years. This is mainly because a business has to have been trading for 2 years prior to presenting for assessment. Thanks again and please let me have any further thoughts along the way Paul

Thanks for your concerns here, and it is a very valid point. However as the application / assessment will be 'desktop' we should be able to facilitate it. Obviously the more Affiliate Contractors, and indeed Approved Contractors, come on board the more justification there'll be for additional resourcing. Cheers. Paul

Hi Sam, Nothing for definite yet but I do hope to get the proposal approved by the Association's Professional Committee on 3rd Sept., "fingers crossed," thereafter it will go to the next Board meeting to be ratified. Hence I'll keep you posted as / when things progress. Thanks for the post Paul PS ARB Approved Contractor is always available don't forget!

Walnut Leaf Blotch maybe? See https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=693 Regards.. Paul

Hi there, The next 'ARB SHOW', delivered by the Arb Assoc., and specifically 'arb' will be next June (2015.) The next show covering 'arb', and much forestry / countryside / crafts etc., will be the APF as others have advised. This is a much bigger , but hopefully not better , show than ours and is very popular. I'll be at APF so come over to the stand and say 'hi' Cheers.. Paul

I know what I think as it's a commercial activity, n it won't be popular Cheers.. Paul

Dissecting red diesel rules - 10/02/2014 - Farmers Weekly APOLOGIES if this has been posted previously and I'm "out-of-touch"...again! I'm not going to venture an opinion, "who dares?" , and as far as the ARB Approved Contractor Scheme is concerned we place the onus on the contractor to ensure the vehicle is legal and registered etc. appropriately. We are not the regulator, and nor should we be, the DVSA and Police are there for that (n often I don't reckon they know either ). Cheers all.. Paul

Not a problem engaging external advisors / consultants BUT unless they are industry specific, and unless you're simply seeking their post-nominals for tendering purposes , make sure you are actively involved in the process and that the documentation presented is relevant to your business size, type and works undertaken. Too often I see businesses making commitments in writing, i.e. in policies and procedures, that they don't follow through in practice and which are often not relevant / applicable. Potentially this could come back and bite you on the...posterior. Seeking the views of others is important Cheers.. Paul

Oh dear...sooner than expected, i.e. 3rd September in Edinburgh, see Professional Tree Inspection Refresher Hope this isn't too late Paul

Hi David, An increasingly important consideration for managing tree stocks and a refreshing change from the "fungal induced hazards" approach...albeit dependent upon location and targets etc. etc. Great photo's best.. Paul

Have a look here A competent person and, joking apart (not really ) looking into the ARB Approved Contractor Scheme will give you a better understanding of what's involved, AND from an industry specific perspective. IF you're simply looking for someone with lots of letters after their name who you can cite as your 'external' H&S advisor have a look on the HSE website at Occupational Safety & Health Consultants Register | OSHCR . Cheers, n good luck.. Paul