AA Teccie (Paul)

Hi 'quick reply', sorry! i have seen many with both CS40&41 attained at the same time, i.e. they did the pruning assessment prior to the dismantle/rigging. May need a 'flexible and cooperative' assessor but I beleive it can be done. If not, and provided you have good pruning skills anyway (and to be quite honest, and it doesn't make me happy, many arborists either don't or very seldom get chance to display them anyway coz street tree 'pollarding' etc.) then CS41 would be a better 'career' move. In sourcing a trainer, if you're gonna do the training beofrehand (not compulsary), then make sure they are current and aware of HSE Rigging Research doc. (see RR668: Evaluation of current rigging and dismantling practices used in arboriculture) by asking them what 'standards' they use, alongside NPTC assessment criteria whihc is a minimum requirement, and check out what kind of kit they have / use. Good luck, n enjoy! Paul PS HSE view is that CS41 is, in effect, mandatory for those undertaking dismnatling and rigging operations.

Hi Melanie, Coming at it from a differnt angle, perhaps no surprise a 'H&S' one, there are specific requirements / 'duties' on employers relating to pregnant ladies, in particular to develop a specific risk assessment (see HSE: New and expectant mothers - The law) and in so doing I'm pretty sure it would come out with a conclusion of "no climbing", regardless of how well or confident you felt. If that was the case, and you proceeded to climb without your employers knowing and, 'God forbid', something untoward did happen, there may well be problems in trying to claim on the EL insurance, or indeed personal accidnet. Doubtless some will be dismayed at my repsonse here, and to be honest I quite understand why ("nanny state" n "bl**dy elf n saftee" etc.) but I think it's importnat you are in possession of all the facts to allow you to make an informed decision...whatever that may be. Take care n 'good luck' with everything. Paul

Has the nose bleed stopped yet? Hope you're well Ed. Paul

I would suggest anywhere 'north' of the Midlands, but, in all honesty, I'm not sure at this stage we, at Head Office, could readily facilitate activities in Scotland (not least as there is a fairly active 'Scotland Branch' anyway see Scottish - SC Branch - - Arboricultural Association.) Just my thoughts..thanks for responding. Paul

Arguably, once the landowner has been 'informed' by the LPA (Local Planning Authority) that the actions of vehciles passing over the roots is causing damage, and I would suggest 'direct damage' such as root bark scuffing / removal / breakage, then any subsequent 'damage' could be construed as 'wilful' and a prosecution could follow...possibly. I 'advise' the above as a precautionary not as a TPO expert by any means. Take it there's no altrenative site away from the TPO'd woodland, or in an area which would lessen the impact...just a thought. Paul

I'll adopt a "watching brief" here. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do respond tho...not least as I'd welcome any / every opportunity to revisit the homestead. Thanks all and look forward to seeing/hearing your responses. Cheers.. Paul

Morning Tony, hope you're well (sorry this one 'slipped under my radar' last week.) Quite, a very astute observation, which I share. Best.. Paul

Mark, very nicely 'summed up'...wish I had that skill, as I'm sure do many others:biggrin: Cheers.. Paul

"Watch out for them there bears now!"...oh and that 'Dothistroma' and that Great Spruce BArk Beetle and that Pine Weevil / Lappet Moth....no where's safe!!!! DOn't look up only down...n straight ahead.

Hi Mark, Hmmm, an interesting question you pose. Simplistically, 'the standard' for refresher training would normally be set by a recognised standards / training / assessing body, i.e. Lantra / City & Guilds (NPTC) / AA etc., as appropriate, and indeed refresher training can be delivered 'in-house'. The trouble is, if the 'proverbial hits the fan', proving it took place, when, what was covered, who dleivered it, why they wre competent, who received it, did they understand it etc. etc. (in other words this route can be fraught with difficulties and hence the LANTRA / NPTC etc. route is preferable.) With reagrds to CPD, this would, I think, be recognised as contributing towards keeping an operative current but wouldn't necessraily be veiwed as a suitable alterantive to actual refreshre training. The previous references to 'First Aid' training are interesting, and useful, but not, I would suggest, directly relevant. What I mean is, it is useful to do FA refreshre training every 18 months I would suggest, i.e. 'mid-term' of your re-certification period, because (hopefully) you don;t use thos skills daily. However you do use the chainsaw daily and hence refreshing in that, 'per se', may not be really benefically, BUT doing so with a different application, i.e. larger trees or wind-blow, would. Hope this helps and 'alopogies' for my poor spelling and grammar as this reply is rather rushed. Cheers.. Paul PS IN direct answer to your question, it is the HSE or Judge who will decide at the end of the day whether your CPD was adequate as refresher training but I have some concerns...but I do encourage CPD, too!

Hi David, in all honesty I think the breif is very wide and general, i.e. to improve the 'business' of the Association, perhaps that is the key word and why they went for someone outside the industry but with proven business etc. skills. That said, and to contextualise what I've said, Karen is looking forward to working in the 'not for profit sector' and has a a considerbale and impressive skill set to bring to the party...so, much fun to be had. Now, in the nicest possible way, go and have family time...enjoy! Paul

Gents, APOLOGIES here if this has been addressed further down the thread and in advance for what is going to be a long(ish) post. The 'law' here is a combination of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 ('HASWA 74'), which places a general 'duty' (responsibility) on the employer to provide 'adequate training' to employees for the particular tasks they require them to undertake, i.e. using chainsaws. Thereafter, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs 1998 (PUWER 98) 'Approved Code of Practice' (ACOP) requires that 'chainsaw users must also, i.e. in addition to 'adequate training', hold a 'certificate of competence', traditionally an NPTC (now becoming known as 'a licence to practice', whihc I thik is a good thing.) Further the PUWER ACOP, which has a 'semi-legal' status, says that were tasks change and / or where there are advances in technologies and techniques, or words to that effect, then 'refresher/update training' should be considered (my recollection here is that it doesn't say you must, but responsible employers will). The AFGA 805 Sects. 35-38 (see below) says 'refresher training', following guidance in HSE INDG317 (also below) should be considered every 5 years as a minimum. In practice, and this is a view recognised (not endorsed) by the HSE, through the ARB Approved Contractor scheme, we like to see refresher training undertaken in combination with skills advancement, i.e. CS30/31 to CS32 to CS33/34 etc. or CS39 to CS41, which is both more cost effective and, importantly, beneficial to both the operator and employer. I recently assessed a contractor who had done 2x ‘CS30’ refresher courses in the last 10 years...”why?” In terms of financing it, simplistically employees = employer and self-employed = themselves. In practice I would hope a more flexible approach can be adopted, particularly in the current climate and remember the employer costs are: 1. Course costs = £750? 2. Wages = x3 days (say £250 inc. overheads) 3. No productivity = x3 days (say £450) TOTAL= £1,450.00 ... a lot of money. Hence, me personally, I would be prepared, IF it was ‘advancement training’ (CS30/31 upto CS32) to take at least some of the 3 days as annual leave to ease the burden on the employer and to benefit me and my future. These days it’s often about compromise. SORRY such a loooooooooong post! Take care out there guys! Paul indg317.pdf afag805.pdf

"Here, here"...my sentiments exactly Ben. Thanks for your post. Paul

Hi Mick, hope yer well. 'On the contrary', the current CE has considerable "background in business", albeit not arb, but the skill set the Trustees were seeking when appointing didin't require that, Karen's got numpty's like me to familiarise her with the industry. Personally, and no reflection whatsoever on the 'outgoing'/gone Director/CE Nick Eden who did a sterling job with the AA culminating in it achieving a long term aim in purchasing its own premises, but I think it's both quite refreshing and exciting to have a new CE with 'no previous'. As Ben pointed out in the following post, the previous incumbent (Nick Eden), did have 'previous', as a forestry contractor - tree surgeon - LA Tree Officer.

Good morning David, hpe you're well. The 'CE' is an employed role taking over from Nick Eden who was always referred to as Director but was actually CE also. Unlike AA Chairman which is voluntary and changes, generally, every year at the AGM the CE role is permanent. Hence I hope Karen's office will last a long time. Thank you for your best wishes..."aye, aye!" Paul

I'm very pleased to announce our new Cheif Executive, Karen Martin, started work today (read more here Arboricultural Association appoints new Chief Executive - - Arboricultural Association) Regards all.. Paul

HI all, just a quick overview. The 'old' training and assessment landscape (we know and love), i.e. Lantra Awards / NPTC, is/has changing/changed and both organisations are offering 'recognised' training and assessment opportunities, as I understand it. Hence, the previous rule of 'NPTC', now technically City & Guilds but retaining NPTC as a brand name, as the industry norm for "certificates of competence" is/will be no more. One good thing though, not to say widening the market place to competition isn;t agood thing anyway (but it does confuse things somewhat), is that the certificates will be referred to as "licence to practice" whihc will hopefully better clarify to 'first-time' holders their significance, i.e. they don;t / shouldn't confer competence (one their own.) Hope this helps, apologies if not! Cheers.. Paul

Hi Andy, hope you're well. Whilst, in principle, I whole heartedly agree that an industry Code of Conduct/Practice would be very useful, in practice there is very little infomration around to inform this process (said after having scoured various FC / FERA / other websites for the past two hours). Hence I think we are currently in the realms of: 1. Familiarise yourslef with the symptoms 2. Be vigililant when out n about 3. Report any infecetd Ash trees to FC / FERA 4. DO not remove infected material from sites, containment. 6. Disinfect tools, equipment and vehicles (FC recommend 'Propellar', for Phtophthoras too.) Also familiarising yourself with the FC Biosecuirty Recommendations, see below, would be useful (PLEASE don;t be put off/discouraged by the title, it's useful and easy to understand...coz I did ) Thanks.. Paul FC_Biosecurity_Guidance.pdf

'Manual of Wood Decay in Trees' see Manual of Wood Decays in Trees (20% discount, i.e. £16 not £20 til end Wed.) This is not an AA sales plug, it's a genuine recommendation as it was only when reading this book I really started to understand the different decay types and processes, plus other good tsuff too. Good luck with the course. Paul

Yup, afraid so. If you are either working on, or affecting safe use / passage of, the highway such that you puts signs out, you should be 'qualified' as either an Operative (the person placing the signs) or a Supervisor (the person checking the signs are correct) under the 'New Roads & Street Works Act 1991' and carry the appropriate photo-card (licence) see Street Works Qualifications Register - Qualifications The DfT have just completed a consultation regarding the lcience issue and whetehr evdience of training, i.e. older City & Guilds quals. etc. should be adequate. I think the outcome will be dependent upon the nature, duration and frequency of the works but as yet unknown. Begs the question whether it's worth placing signs if you really don't have to...but of course not negelcting your 'duty of care' to others. Life's neva simples eh?! Have a good weeknd all.. Paul PS No mention of MEWPs here....good eh!

Hi Mick, thank you for your post and comments therein which I do acknowledge. I'm not a H&S boffin (I hope) who is naive enough to say use MEWPs on every occasion but I do feel compelled to prophesize their virtues and 'argue their corner' when most argue against. However in so doing I don;t wnat to lose face, so to speak, so I will think carefully about what you've said. I also come from an angle of knowing many businesses, and granted whilst they are small businesses they are mainly running at least two teams but actually one is "one man and his dog" who has an old BT (I think) Merc Sprinter van-mounted with 15m lift which he is incredibly proficient with AND uses in combination with climbing, (sorry, went off track there) who actually own MEWPs and they are so incredibly useful and versatile...if you can get them to the tree (which is your very point!) Do you know what tho, wherever we can we should embrace technological advances, not only because H&S Law says we should, but because it can prolong our working lives and means we stay fit and healthy for the in between times (said from one who has significantly reduced grip strength thanks to minmal AV systems on old chainsaws whihc impacts on me daily...do you play a violin by any chance? ) Cheers.. Paul PS Is it okay to be one of your 'poster boys' or whatever you said !

Hi Al, I acknowledge, particularly on a single job basis, that financial justification can be hard but I also think its sometimes a 'mind-set' thing too and costs are an easy way out. Direct costs are easy to factor, but what about the indirect costs in terms of safer working often means greater efficiency, means less 'wear and tear' on your body / knees = longer productive industry time, means reduced likelihood of accidents through fatigue = no loss of income etc. etc. I know its easy for me to 'Pontifract Cakes', sorry pontificate, whilst sat in a nice warm office and wearing my H&S hat but we do need to look to work smarter and incoporating MEWPs etc. at the work planning /costing stage will start to improve things for everyone. Cheers.. Paul

Know it's a work planning issue and maybe out of your control, but was a MEWP or CRANE considered? They're great tools and it means you don;t have 'knackered knees' syndrome at age 30 (n they can often result in a 'safer' system of work being adopted.) C'mon fellas think outside the "grin n bear it" box n believe me, and doubtless many other testaments, doin stuff like this on a regualr basis will take its toll! SORRY, this sounds like a bit of a rant...but it's honestly with your best interest at heart. Tc.. Paul

Albere, thanks for sharing your, very painful, experience. I too have previoulsy had a similar expereince and it is bl**dy awful the pain is acute and you just can't escape it...thankfully tho no long term damage and I'm sure/hope you'll be the same. Forgive the seeming pun here, but with the benefit of hind-sight, safety glassess (costing from a tenner upwards, and yes £50-60 for a really decent, fashionable, pair) are a very worthwhile purchase but getting in the habit of wearing them is the hard part...doubtless though your expereince will help. Thanks agian and best wishes for a speedy recovery. take care out there.. Paul

Hi 'Wolfman', This one may be of interest...Professional Tree Inspection 3 Day Course ? Training Hope you're well. Paul