AA Teccie (Paul)

Ooops, sorry Steve Thanks for going 'direct' to Polly. Look forward to meeting you there Cheers.. Paul

The hazards associated with BTM are very similar to those of OPM, in terms of urticating hairs causing irritation of skin, eyes and bronchial system etc., and look how much attention they get. Not to be overlooked, or ignored, if encountered steer clear or get out the full spray suit PPE to protect you. Thanks for posting and alerting others and hope "the lads" are soon feeling better Cheers.. Paul

Hi Steve, you can book on line or alternatively email Polly direct '[email protected]' to reserve a place. Thereafter she will email the course 'joining instructions' which will include the venue details (sorry I'm away at the moment so can't find out the venue in advance and, as it's a new workshop location, I can't 2nd guess it either.) I will post it when I find out. Cheers.. Paul

Hi-de-hi, hope you're well. Good point here about the CROW Act 2000 which is also very relevant. However I think the WCA 81 is still current / relevant and that it is the act that contains the licensing and prosecution powers. I don't think the CROW Act has superseded the WCA but supplements it covering other aspects and has maybe updated some of the associated schedules of wildlife etc. species. As always I stand to be corrected here, not least as it's not H&S related Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, apologies for delay in replying I've been 'on the road' for a couple of hours. Basically come along and find out more about the ARB Approved Contractor Scheme and what's involved in getting accredited. We also explain the opportunities to join the CHAS and Trustmark schemes as part of the same process. Essentially it's also an opportunity for tree surgery /arb contracting businesses to find out what 'compliance' means and how to identify, and then 'plug', any gaps in your systems. Plus, ultimately, looking at the worksite inspection of dismantling works along with a range of completed tree pruning etc. works to check quality standards and the underpinning arb knowledge. PLUS of course you get to meet me There's no cost involved so worth a taking the day to come along if you can. Hope this helps.. Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, time to form an orderly queue for your bookings to join me in Newport Please see ARB Approved Contractor Preparation Workshop for further info and remember it's FREE...and you get to see meeeeeee! Thanks all and hope to see lots of you there. Cheers.. Paul

Quick thoughts: Natural England are the 'statutory authority', in effect, for SSSIs so familiarise yourself with them see Natural England - SSSIs : Introduction the Local Authority may also have an interest. Find out why the area you are working is designated and make sure you take account of this is your method of work. REMEMBER there are many plant species, and rare fungi etc., which are legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Consider minimising your impact, both practically (soft-felling / dismantle as opposed to straight felling) and environmentally (bio-fuels etc. and maybe electric chainsaws???) Don't forget about biohazards to with various diseases, phytophthora etc., and disinfect tools. Sorry, off to meeting now I'm sure others will add more. Good luck n hope it's lovely environs to work in Cheers.. Paul

My eye-sight isn't what it was (pardon?!), and I think the shot is a little out-of-focus but it is possibly emergent Oak Processionary Moth (OPM)? Probably not.. Paul

Not sure where you're looking...OR I have got the wrong show See The ARB Show - Arboricultural Association Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, as mentioned before, as far as the EA are concerned your 'arisings' are GREEN WASTE and it has 3 separate entries in the Euro. Waste Catalogue...intriguing stuff. (the previously mentioned 'virgin timber' exemption is not applicable were there is any greenery, including green shoots and buds etc., in the load...EA National Policy Team Advice.) Hence, if you are transporting it, you need to register as at least a LOWER TIER operator = £0.00, OR, if you anticipate having to move the occasional fence panel, or arguably stump grinding arisings, you should register as an UPPER TIER operator = £154 for 3 years. Personally I would go for the latter for £51.33 per year and have it covered AND simply get a 'nod and a wink' at the next roadside 'pull' where the EA are present. Obviously, 'compliance' is my middle name so I am bound to say this...but I do believe my interpretation here to be correct and this is endorsed by the most recent EA guidance below (see p.4). Cheers.. Paul PS Don't forget about the T6 and S2 exemptions at the same time if you want to be 'whiter than white' if you're i) treating (processing/chipping) your waste, and ii) storing it on a site for which you are responsible...all good stuff eh?! Who_should_register.pdf

Nope, Show closes 5pm Sat. and all will be invited to leave the site...in the nicest possible way. Camping will be available Friday night as usual with the "Paracetomol n Revive" round about 8.30am Sat. Cheers all, n hope to see you there..! Paul

Nope, not generally, I think the 1999 Regs. changed this...so only if TPO'd. Trees in conservation areas – exceptions 15.—(1) Section 211(a) (preservation of trees in conservation areas) shall not apply to— (a) the cutting down, topping, lopping or uprooting of a tree— (iii) by, or on behalf of, a local planning authority; Cheers.. Paul

Hi all, We still have some places left on this 'FOC' workshop so please get in touch to book a place ([email protected]) See here for further details ARB Approved Contractor Preparation Workshop Thanks all n hope to see you there Paul

OMG...not my strong point at all but just a thought. With a new/unknown customer, could you poss. send an email immediately before the one with the quote attached, asking them to add you to their SAFE SENDERS list and, thereafter, check their 'junk-mail' if the following email isn't received. Good luck...and/or schedule in a date 3 days on to give them a courtesy call just checking they'd rec'd the quote and do they have any further queries? Cheers.. Paul

Remembering BS3998 is 'guidance and recommendations', the content, including the above, is a start point for planning works. The standard does give scope to 'vary' from the recommendations but only where a clear justification is determined. Hence, back to Skyhuck's post, we don't know what this is. Nonetheless we can speculate where there are things to be discussed and learned..perhaps. Cheers.. Paul

Terminology is interesting, often subjective and personal. I would describe that as 'lopping', i.e. in the mid-upper crown region and involving inter-nodal cuts. 'Topping', for me, would have been much further down the stem. Either way, it's certainly not BS3998 compliant Paul

I now understand what "Elcas" are after Googling it, and adding UK Armed Forces because it kept directing me to some Evangelical 'something' Church of America Previously this was difficult to access as training had to be at level 3 or above and NPTCs etc. were mainly at level 2...hopefully with the 'QCF' citing many at level 3 it is now easier. Or does it still require an 'academic' theme maybe? Anyhow's as I'm completely out-of-my-depth (nothing new ) I'll leave you, and others, to ponder. Good luck with it.. Paul

Hi Iain, (another) good initiative to aid an increasing number of enquirers to the site Just a thought, does it justify a separate forum maybe? If so perhaps Steve could help. Cheers.. Paul

Unfortunately, and sadly (being a northerner too, albeit immigrated now to S. Devon ) there are no further ones planned 'up north'. We're in Loughborough next Wed. 7th May if you're anywhere near the M1 and fancy a trip down we start at about 9.45am. Failing that IF there were half-a-dozen or so contractors interested I'd happily 'take a trip' to deliver one...perhaps at Tim Kirks place near Huddersfield. IF this is you, i.e. a contractor based in the north wanting a workshop please email me directly [email protected] Thanks.. Paul

Cost is variable dependent upon business size, which it wasn't previously, i.e. ALL businesses paid exactly the same:blushing:. Hence a 'small' business, i.e. less than 5 employees, can become ARB Approved for £500.00 (+VAT ) whereas a larger business, i.e. 20 or more employees = nearly £1,600.00 (+VAT). Thereafter the 'average' annual cost is similar, i.e. £500 & £1,600 (+VAT) respectively, and interim sized businesses vary accordingly. (These don't include the CHAS & Trustmark annual licence fees which are £60 & £30 respectively...but you don't HAVE TO become either if you don't need/wish to do so.) See Become an ARB Approved Contractor for further info. The cost above are only the 'direct' cost of the assessment and membership etc. and do not include the indirect cost of getting the business in a compliant position...but it should really be that anyway. Hope this helps...post back for more:thumbup: Thanks all.. Paul PS In terms of value for money, to be quite honest the accreditation has never been better value than it is now...particularly for small businesses.

Hi Tom, firstly 'congrats' on getting ARB Approved, I hope it (the accreditation) and we/I serve you well. We will be writing to all ArbACs soon giving you the opportunity to register with Trustmark. Hence "watch this space". Thanks Paul

That is exactly what I am 'working towards' by getting the ARB Approved Contractor (ArbAC) strategically placed alongside others (CHAS/SSiP & Trustmark in particular) which, at the moment, have greater currency and recognition. Far more people / H&S 'bods' from other industries are aware of 'ArbAC' because of the CHAS / SSiP relationship we have. "With the best will in the world" this would never have been achieved by 'ArbAC' alone without a massive (and I mean tens, maybe even hundreds, of thousands) cash injection to advertise it far and wide which we simply don't have. MY ultimate goal is for every reputable and competent tree surgery contractor in the land to have the 'ARB Approved Contractor' logo on their van and then, just maybe, we will be seen as the CORGI/Gas safe' equivalent. (I know that's a legal requirement but most consumers aren't aware of that, they just know the logo and associate it with gas heating and boilers etc.) At least what we currently have is just ONE process leading to 3 separate accreditations I know but, simplistically: 1. ARB Approved = industry standards and competence for tree work 2. CHAS/SSiP = H&S credibility ('compliance') in commercial sector 3. TrustMark = trustworthy-ness and reliability in the domestic sector All we need now is for the industry to get on board so we can achieve critical mass to have greater collective recognition and a bigger voice...d'ya think I should run for 'PM'? Sorry for the verbose post all...but thanks for the opportunity:thumbup: Cheers.. Paul

Thanks Rob, I'm just hoping others think the same and decide to go for approval, that way, as an industry, we can further marginalise the 'un-scrupulous' contractors out there. Cheers.. Paul

Come along n find out, ha. intro to the scheme and insight to whats involved on assessment day n how to acheive compliance. a must really if serious about getting arb approved. hope to see you there, cheers paul

James, sorry for delay here. 2 july at capel or 5 nov in kent cheers paul