AA Teccie (Paul)

Pedantic is sometimes good To quote 'OUR' industry standard, which is a guide of course: "...it should preferably start soon after the tree has become established and is between 25mm to 50mm in diameter at the selected height of pollarding (often 2m to 3m)." Further, it goes on to state: "If the stem has attained a diameter of more than 50mm, but less than about 200mm at 2m to 3m height, pollarding may still be initiated." (It then say about ideally retaining some existing branches if it's this size.) So, do you pollard...or do you 'top', with a veiw to then pollarding/re-pollarding at a later date? I'm not saying you shouldn't do this but what I am saying is we should be aware how our industry standard explains pollarding and, ideally, use the correct terminology with the customer. Too often indiscriminate and damaging (extensive) 'topping' is described as pollarding to make it more acceptable to the client and easier to sell. Just my thoughts.. Cheers Paul

SWL is sometimes displayed on hardwear items, and certainly on machinery, but usually ropes etc. refer back to the manufacturers / suppliers info and the LOLER record of through examination. I'm no LOLER expert, in fact no expert anywhere , and hence I did find this link useful / interesting. Rigging & Hoisting Cheers.. paul

Hi Paul, hope you're well. In my previous life as a TPO Officer we used to identify potential development land within the district through the Local Pla process. This alos inclued TPO'ing signifciant amenity trees and, overall worked quite well. The LPA was very restrictive in it's approach, i.e. TPOing ONLY the most importnat trees, but then not willing to negotiate removals unless very exceptiional circumsatnces. The areas you describe above are usually, in my expreince, dedicated Conservation Areas anyway so trees will be outline protected. Cheers.. Paul PS I do agree with a later post that fore-armed is fore-warned and if stuff is 'on-line' so it's a quick galnce beforehand, fine.

Hi Paul, hope you're well. Not so sure it was immaterial given the partciulars of the case, so to speak, but I do take your point that anyone can enquire. Nonetheless, as a professional, I still think it's best to be open and transparent (within reason of course ) and disclose your intentions to the tree owner...even if you smell a rat. Regarding TO relationships I absolutley agree you need to keep them onside, so to speak, BUT I come across many instances where I feel contractors are perhaps doing a dis-service to their clients by not pushing TOs for TPO decisions after 8 weeks (it's not unusual for me to hear of anything upto 3 months and a contractor very unwilling to push...to be fair, often because they're not aware you can appeal for none determination after 8 weeks...not to be made a habit of BUT.) Cheers.. Paul

Related, we had a previous formal complaint made against an ArbAC who had, inadvertently, alerted the LPA to the possible loss of a large mature beech in a side garden (turned out the land owner wanted the tree removed to develop the land.) The grounds for the complaint was that because the landowner hadn't instructed the contractor, he had no reason / grounds to enquire about the TPO and thereby alert the LPA to place one on the tree. We defended the contractor saying it was 'custom and practice' to do a TPO etc. check and that he could be prosecuted if he proceeded without such. The complainant challenged this saying there was no contract and the contractor acted outside of his remit and wasn't instructed to do 'the checks' (obvioulsy he was aggreived as he now had to negotiate a TPO prior to a plannning application which he didn't have previoulsy.) We again cited the 'custom and practice' and professional duty BUT, throughout, I felt uneasy to be honest and I'm sure if he pushed hard, whihc thankfully he didn't, we would have had to agree teh contractor acted outside of his remit. Hence, we have now issued a directive to all ArbACs saying whenever you intend to check for TPO's etc. you should inform the client beforehand (not that you need toi disclose the possible outcome of such, i.e. TPO placement BUT out of professional duty / courtesy you should inform them.) Something of a conundrum me thinks. Cheers all.. Paul

The 'inaugural event' today at Taunton, and the first of many...I'm sure it will be going well. THANK YOU to everyone as we've been inundated with bookings and Tiff is working her 'proverbial' off, inc. coming in over the Easter weekend, to get them processed and confirmations issued. So please bear with us if you've sent in a booking form but not yet heard back, we'll be with you shortly. TTFN.. Paul

..AND to be aware of the full range options available to them....inc. cranes of course (but not for smaller trees admittedly.) Cheers Pete, and I know exactly where you're coming from. Paul

MEWPs....at least in the worse case scenario, or can you fell it without the need to climb, or can it just be left as a nature stick to break up naturally. Consider the 'other' options first and climb only as a last resort and modify / adapt your working methods as others have said AND, absolutely avoid climbing and rigging dead trees wherever possible, but again if not modify as others have said before. ALSO, sorry, no actually I'm not, it's different if you're prepared to put yourself in a situation as the business proprietor / sole trader etc. BUT it's quite, quite different if it's your employees / instructed 'sub-contractors' AND, in the unlikely event of..., HSE just love hindsight..."the tree was obvioulsy dead and you put a climber in there" etc. etc. PLEASE think very carefully beforehand. Take care out there.. Cheers, Paul

Hi Henri, Have a look at p.5 of the ArbAC standards to see what we would be looking for...in most circumstances (AND copy documents rather than originals as mentioned later.) Hope this helps.. Paul SchemeStandardsUpto5-121113 (1).docx

Darragh, you could consider joining the AA and accessing the Irish Branch for specific information (see Ireland - IR Branch - - Arboricultural Association ) In my, very limited, experience, much of the H&S legislation is based on EU Directives which 'broadly' aligns with UK Regulations...kinda! (Obvioulsy this relates to ROI, NI is very similar to the UK.) Regards.. Paul

Sal, if you can email me directly, [email protected], with your name and venue / date etc. I'll look into it tomorrow and get back to you. Sorry you've had to chase but I know Tiff's been inundated with bookings, which is good but inevitably results in delays. Thanks.. Paul

James, I'm happy to stand by my reply that holders of CS39 + MEWP ticket don't require CS47 as the correct answer. Cheers.. Paul

ME...well, as far as I'm concerned of course Joking apart, I'm pretty sure this is the case as it's a question we've raised before with HSE. The thing about the CS39 is that you now understand the implications of compression and tension wood/branches on aerial sections of the crown...and of course the skills required to use a top-handled saw. Those skills are equally applicable beit from rope n harness or MEWP. The guy using the ground saw only won;t understand this and hence if this wish to prune from a MEWP they need to do CS47. Is 'Mr Graham' around or still digging himself out from deepest darkest, or rather snowiest, N. Yorks to offer an opinion??? (cheers Iain.) Cheers.. Paul PS Was he/she aware you had a MEWP 'ticket' as that's maybe the confusion?

BUMP... Guys, we have had some interest in this 'FREE' workshop, possibly leading to a FREE assessment, but it would be good to have a few more good people come along. Any interest please reply or 'pm' me ASAP. Many thanks all.. Paul

Oops, just realised that was the same one. Try this (or that)...and I must try harder...SORRY! Paul aa_training_booking_form-0313.pdf aa_training_booking_form-0313.docx

Sorry Marc, try this one...hope it works! Paul aa_training_booking_form_141212.pdf

Hi all, My take on this, and it's a question often aimed at chainsaw lanyards and/or climbing irons and other 'bits n bobs' of kit, is that if iot doesn't come under LOLER then it does come under PUWER and hence you may as well consider it to apply. The regime for LOLER is more robust, and prescriptive, and hence if this is followed surely it's better for all concerned....I do acknowledeg tho there is a cost implication, particularly for the winch and the fact it would be an engineering based inspection, and testing, which is more complicated than simply addding it to the list of stuff for the LOLER inspector to check. Cheers.. Paul PS The acid test, would I expect an ArbAC to have a LOLER ticket for a winch? 'No', but I would expect to see evidence fo maintenance and periodic (depenedent upon use) inspection / testing under PUWER.

Hi all, hope yer well Next workshop 'on the circuit' is MWMAC, Rhayader, Powys on Wed. 17th April. Get your Tree Officer nominations in, in advance and hopefully you'll win the FREE assessment in draw at the end of the day. See below for further and / or give me a call (or reply here of course.) Cheers.. Paul aa_LA_ArbAC_Free_Assessment_Nom_Form-0113.pdf

"Why thank you kind Sir..!" Cheers David. Paul

Have a look at the LOLER section here whihc may (I hope) offer some guidance / answer soem questions: Help becoming an ARB Approved Contractor PLEASE don't be put off by the title of the link as LOLER compliance applies equally to ALL climbers/contractors. Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, As happened with the BS3998 'Roadshow' event, we are already taking bespoke requests to deliver this. Hence any approach from the colleges would be welcomed. I'll mention it to my colleagues Simon Richmond or Tiffany Prescott who are coordinating things but don't let that stop you or the college you are at making an approach directly (tel. 01242 522152 or [email protected] / [email protected][/email]) Cheers.. Paul

Thank David, Tiff should be in touch very soon. It is indeed another good piece of work Guy '& co.' have undertaken...and of course I've supported him all the way Cheers.. Paul

Not to be missed... Tree Pests and Diseases UK Roadshow - - Arboricultural Association AA Member £60 (+VAT = £72) Non-members £70 (+VAT = £84), includes complimentary copy of the Arborist P&D Field Guide (RRP £15.) Cheers all.. Paul PS Booking form below aa_training_booking_form_141212.pdf