AA Teccie (Paul)

..as I said, 'some' would and modify how they work, but what's to say todays not the day it fails...unlikley...BUT! "I have"...loooooooooong time ago, but wouldn't now as the world's a different place and MEWPs have moved on from the old Council lighting wagon. Hope yer well.. Paul

'WorcsWuss' just about sums it up nicely, AND, I would suggest, even if a fall was unrelated to a TIP because of KD the HSE/courts would still relate it back as poor judgement / negligence. In the commercial world, I'm sure 'some' would take the risk, particularly if the tree has to be removed / reduced and you can't fell it or access with a platform, but in so doing they also take the chance...I wouldn't (that said I do recognise that in so doing they would modify how they climb / dismantle / rig, if req'd...hopefully not, but they're unlikley to have this written down in the form of a method statement so if anything untoward did happen the HSE/courts would see it simply as climbing an unsafe tree = no, no!) One of the key factors to educate learners in is assessing risk and thinking outside the 'tree-climbing' box towards other 'safer' methods of work (where appropriate / necessary). This sounds like an ideal opportunity. Cheers.. Paul

There's been much in the press recently about how 10% of the national workforce are "under-employed"...maybe this is an example of one of life's balances? Paul

You're welcomed, glad to be of service! Cheers..

No worries, "my pleeeeeeasure!" Cheers..

Hi there, just thinking that one through. You really need to add it in at the quotation stage, and ideally bring it to the clients attention, i.e. "Please note terms and conditions overleaf"...or similar, as then, by accpeting, they are effectivley agreeing to the Ts & Cs. Hope that makes sense Cheers.. Paul

(All +VAT) The standard rate is £155, discounted to £95 for AA members (Associate and above.) However, if you were able to provide a venue, and 'BYO' lunch perhaps, I'm sure we could negotiate it down a little further. Cheers.. Paul

Yup: 1. 27 Feb @ Easthampstead Park (Nr Bracknell) 2. 8 May @ Lantra House (Nr Coventry) 3. 17 Jul @ Easthampstead House (as above) 4. 18 Sep @ Lantra House (as above) 5. 30 Oct @ Shuttleworth (Bedfordshire) OR "any time, any place, any where" if you can get a min. 6-8 people together. Cheers John n enjoy NZ .. Take care out there.. Paul

Hi all, hope yer well. For some guidance on 'Ts & Cs', an issue often discussed here on the forum , please see a new entry (at the bottom of the page, purely as it was the last thing entered) at Help becoming an ARB Approved Contractor These are principally aimed at small businesses working in the domestic sector and may not be adequate / suitable for commercial contract work. Hope it helps. Cheers.. Paul

So c'mon, who'm I gonna see at Ilminster (lovely venue a Dillington House)...might even bring you a Christmas Card...n 'mince pies' of course! Looking forward to it Cheers.. Paul

In H&S speak, the first port of call is always to combat the hazard at source, i.e. use a flail (impractical largely) and next is 'reduce' the hazard, i.e. replace 'old' trimmers & blowers with new ones whihc have much lower vibration magnitudes. PPE include AV gloves is always a last resort and as has been pointed out HSE don't recommend them. Still, if only to keep the hands warm and you can get a comfortable and secure grip, then 'gofrit.' Cheers all.. Paul PS For further info see http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/index.htm and don;t forget the requirement for 'Health Surveillance' for people 'at risk' (select that section and scroll down to bottom of the page for the 'initial screening questionnaire' and take yourslef and your staff through this...any problems / concerns = OHS not the GP!)

Harry, thank you for your post and good to hear you found the course useful. Cheers.. Paul

Conan, thanks for your post...I must confess to being a bit lost within it tho I'm more than happy, in fact I'd love, to do stuff 'up north' (the 'mother land') but sadly we very rarely get the min. nos. req'd to make it viable. In this instance the min. nos. 6-8 would be req'd...presumably you are saying you're just the one, i.e. no additional staff etc. Do you have colleagues / compatriots who may be interested? Cheers.. Paul

Trees are a 'material consideration' in the planning process regardless of whether or not they are TPO'd / CA'd etc. Hence if there are trees on the site at the time of application (???) the LPA (Local Planning Authority) are quite correct to ask for an arb report. On receipt the tree / planing officer should determine whether a TPO would be appropriate, if not aleady in place, but in so doing should have a recognised procedure for so doing, i.e. Helliwell System (or variation of). Regardless of development proposals, if the tree doesn't make the (TPO) grade then it shouldn't be protected...SIMPLES! Paul

Hi David, hope you're well. Not quite, however 'your' industry code of practice dictates that you should have a physical divide / barrier when both a cutter and operator are in the same bucket. Failing that, production of a detailed Risk Assessment / Method Statement explaining what other measures you are employing to achieve an equivalent level of control should be undertaken and the size of the bucket / distance from cutter is a good starting point (as is method of working, i.e. operator stays with the controls and perhaps the lanyard used ensures this, as is PPE, i.e. chainsaw jacket for the operator unless he/she is chainsaw 'qualifed' and maybe anyway if you have one etc. etc.) The above 'suggestion', whihc is the norm when you are veering form published guidance, will only ultimatley be deemed acceptable or not in the event of HSE intervention. Hope this helps. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Tony, hope yer well. Is that a 'philosophical' question you pose...VAT does apply to H&S products, does it not? But the 'H&S' aspect of the course is incidental, effectively it's the delivery of a service and as we generate income above the VAT threshold of £77k p/a (I think) we have to charge it...sorry! Paul

Hi Tom, Strictly speaking 'Operatives', i.e. those enagaged in placing signs & cones etc., need an 'O6' streetworks qualification, and 'Supervisors', i.e. those checking they are correct, need an 'S6' qual. See Street Works Qualifications Register - Qualifications There is some debate currently as to whether all contractors need a 'streetworks (photocard) licence' or whether evdience of training, whihc many existing arbs have by virtue of City & Guilds Unit 02 & 10, should suffice. If you ahve neither then safer to get the licence if you're working on the highway. Cheers.. Paul

Hi there, Not at all, it's a good place to ask and it's absolutely your business if your interested and/or engaged in that work. My recollection is, that during production of the guidance the AA had a rep on the technical panel, may have been Giles Biddle (I stand to be corrected here...as always.) Hence the reference / influence, probably. Further I think the guidance was produced prior to the ICF offering 'Chartered Arboriculturist' status. However, I would suggest the two quotes below from the document could be interpreted and applied to either an AA Reg Con (which Giles was at the time, and still is) or ICF Arb. Perhaps a key factor, and I say with without the knowledge of the ICF process, is to recommend a status whihc has to demonstrate competence in the particular subject area and I know the AARC process does that in relation to trees and buildings...but ICF Arb may do so also, I don't know I'm afraid. "The services of a specialist arboriculturalist may be helpful for the identification of the type and condition of trees that may affect building work. This includes trees both on and adjacent to the site." "Dead trees and dead hedgerows should be removed. Unstable trees should be made stable but where this is not possible they should be felled. If in doubt, advice should be obtained from a Registered Arboriculturalist." Hope this reply helps...if only a little Cheers.. Paul

REMEMBER £95 (+VAT ) for AA members, otherwise £155 (+VAT) Cheers.. Paul

Hi Sam, thanks for your post. Whilst I acknowledge there is some RA information and templates freely available on the AA website, the 'deliverables' that come with this workshop include much more infromation and many more generic risk assessments, plus some other 'bits n bobs'. In reality, as witnessed on several occasions, many contractors out there have copies of the fuller RA system but very seldom really understand it and rarely maintain/update it. The workshop explains all this...and more. In terms of what makes it 'special'...well, I deliver it In all honesty Sam, and yes this is said in (large) part as an industry H&S professional, ANY and ALL training in risk assessment, and this is just one day, will benefit you as either an operative or an employer (including a person who engages the services of others, i.e. sub-contractors), and particularly the latter. It will also do your intended ArbAC attainment no harm too as (too) often there are problems with businesses and risk assessment. Cheers.. Paul

Hi Dave, hope you're well. I'll happily run the course in Cornwall, if you can drum up a minimum of 6-8(max. 12) people to listen to me. Do you know Tim Scott-Ellis, might be worth speaking with him as he seems to make things happen down there. Hope to hear back soon. Cheers.. Paul

All, an event not to be missed , joking apart, and to quote a fellow ARBTALKER (who shall remain nameless for fear of retribution) "a workable solution". Where: ILMINSTER, Somerset (Dillington House, very nice too!) When: 13th December 2012 (Thursday) Who: Me, thee n hopefully many more. How much: £186 (£155+VAT) or £114 (£95+VAT) if you're an AA member. See Risk Assessment for Commercial Arboriculture for further info. Hoping to see you there.. Paul

Oak Mazegill maybe (Daedalea quercina???)

Hi Henri, As 'Mr Shutler' ("thank you John, hope yer well!") has pointed out the standards are 'further down' the Become an ARB Approved Contractor page but, for ease, I have attcahed a copy below. There really shouldn't be anything in there to give cause for concern, but please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any (concerns) or questions. Also, as a small business contractor, if you can get the support of your LA Tree Officer, or equivalent, and they are prepared to 'nominate' you, you could access this promotion and possible save yourslef the £495(+VAT) initial assessment fee. Thanks for your enquiry n hope to 'hear back' soon. Cheers.. Paul SchemeStandardsUpto5-161111v8-4.doc