Paul Jenks

I sometimes have to throw pegs a groundies to remind them to look up when entering the drop zone. If I was injured I'd throw the saw at them. Though they'd probably think I was pi**ed 'cos it wasn't sharp and send up another.

You should train your staff and clients to bring out the tea at the right time.

We've just had this issue. The shaft that goes through the centre of the bottom feed roller broke the welds that hold it to the roller. Thus the shaft rotated but the roller didn't or did under no load. It's worth checking the keyways too as these sometimes shear. It's not too onerous to get the rollers out but you do have to to do a spot of cutting and re-welding. Make sure the fillet weld to re-attach the shaft to the roller is not too proud or you'll not be able to get it back in. While it's in bits check the bearings and the bolts that hold them in as the main bearing bolts can work loose you end up having to oxy the disc off. The other bolt to check is the captive one that holds the plate around the top hydraulic motor. This one tends to fail every 12-18 months.

Unless you do them quite a bit they are annoyingly complex. Stihl changed the design a few years back, value engineering, and they break as soon as you take them into the tree. Recently the typical break points have been beefed up a little but they still go. I've got a handle and side casing assembly from my first 200t bought in 1996. It's done countless saws in that time and the handle and break mechanism work fine. it's even got the date sticker intact to prove it.

Points well made Rob. I've done a few in the past. Sometimes you get some work, sometimes someone else gets the work, sometimes you get told to go away. Such is life. I think if you dis-associate yourself from actually touting for the work of removing it it's easier to approach tree owners and do the good citizen bit.

Tickets are ok. IMO. But we regularly take on guys who have no tickets. A proven wish to get on both with the job and with the rest of the team is more valuable. Once they have proved themselves we are able to get them using the machinery under supervision. Then we pay for them to take their NPTC Quals. I know it can be a pain in the derriere from time to time not having a qualified person on hand to carry out a task without supervision but some of the qualified people who come to try out with us I'd not be comfortable allowing them to pick up a chainsaw let alone start it.

Best bet is to have a chat with an accountant. They usually don't charge for the first visit as they want your business. Ask some questions to get a bit of clarification on the subjects discussed above but don't sign up with him/her. Generally the first round of answers you get will lead to a whole raft of other questions. These you put to another accountant, and so on. Once you have a good idea of the pros and cons based on professional advice you are more prepared to make a decision. Be aware though, just like tree surgeons accountants come in good and bad varieties.

I think there are pros and cons for most of the mainstream machines. When they are used commercially and predominently by staff they all break and shake to bits. The key measurements are downtime and through put. The parts on a Schlie are heavier duty and therefore cost more, they should but don't always last longer. With throughput the key advantage of the Schlie is the lack of pre-processing as the feed shute is so wide and well configured. I do prefer the higher revving TW and Jensen but try feeding arm loads of ivy into them for a few minutes and I look back to the halcyon days of dicing down on the back of the truck. The machines are designed fundamentally differently although the concept of their purpose is the same. The Schlie relies on the momentum of the wheel to cut the branches, hence a heavier disc, whilst the smaller machines, (weight not capacity), rely on the grunt of the engine. A well looked after machine of either make should perform for years but of the 3, similarly abused ones, a Schlie will hold more value than the others. Ask any finance company.

If there is any sign of dog mess it goes on the RA and the pooh tax escalator kicks in:thumbup:. It doesn't matter how well you get the newest member of the team to clear it up :lol:there is always a bit that gets missed.

Judging by the proximity of the wall I'd say there might have been some structural root cutting too. Prognosis is not so good but as was said before a bit of decompaction and maybe mycorrhization might benefit. Bloody big tree to have dying and possibly de-stabilized right next to your house.

In response to the very accurate method statement produced for every job. I know of very few jobs where I could outline the precise way a reduction,dismantle,lift/other randomn tree butchery will be carried out. It's pretty well always generic. Sometimes things turn out more complex and sometimes much more simple. We state that sections will be lowered using LOLER certificated rigging equipment with SWL commensurate with the size of sections being lowered where necessary by competent personnel trained and certificated to carry out rigging operations. The where necessary is very important as often it's not necessary. It may be safer, it may be easier on the climber but not always necessary. The option is there and so is the provision of resources and the client is shown that it's there but we don't have to use them. As I said in an earlier thread we are just commissioning a server based SSRA that each operative fills in seperately and the software cross checks the individual hazard analysis and highlights any discrepancies. This ensures each operative knows all the hazards and importantly the controls.

I sort of agree with much of the comment on this thread. As an employer we have lots of responsibilities to both our clients and employees. We also have a responsibility to the company. SSRA when used correctly not only highlight hazards and hence risks but engenders a culture of awareness to hazards and how to control them. We all take risks in what is an inherently dangerous arena. I know I do. Also I know there is more risk crossing the road than some tree operations. However I, as an employer, have a legal and moral responsibility to provide a safe environment for my staff to work in. We acheive this by training, safety checks on equipment and vehicles, Safe work practices, adhering to WAH regs etc etc etc. All this is woven into the SSRA so that we do the best we can to protect our guys. A good working document like the SSRA takes years of modification and constant review to maintain its effectivness so it is not a static piece of work. Staff should have a working knowledge of and some input into its development so they understand it and use it. Yes it does cover the companies arse but it also looks after the companies greatest assets. Most method statements are just a detailed methodology of what we all do day to day. Once you've written one you just adapt it for the next job that requires it. Every now and then someone helps you get a bit more detail into it or guides you to present the detail in a different way. It keeps the document alive and current which is no bad thing.

There is so much information on the internet that to think not publishing your address will somehow obscure your whereabouts from would be thieves is living in dreamland. For small operations keeping low key can work but once you start dragging a chipper round with a 4x4 or van with greedy boards it's kind of obvious what you do and people follow you. Once you have signwritten vehicles, website, yellow pages etc your'e on the map. Making your place a bit riskier to get into is the most realistic preventative measure. Knowing they're doing it is not much help as even if you manage to stop them once, if they are serious they'll come back harder and with more resources next time, IMO. Jump through the insurance hoops, ensure site and yard security is culture with your workforce and hope.

If you think there is a good potential for roosting bats, and there probably is speak to Natural England and find a local friendly bat guy. Get them on your side, they'll usually pop over just to have a look as they get sooooo excited when they do find bats. A survey on a small tree like this shouldn't cost more than £50. If the tree owner decides to use another contractor inform the bat man and quote the current legislation and judicial sanctions for disturbing bats to the owner.

Between £20 and £40. There should be a number on the side of the bearing so you can either quote that to your local dealer or just unbolt it and get the replacement off the shelf.

I'm with Mozza and Hama. It's a willow. Beat it into shape and it'll come back. Make sure you write to the client to explain that the vigorous regen will need management in the future and if the tree attains anything near the size it is now it may be as prone or more prone to failure. I did one this summer that was split down the middle from crown break to ground level. Good haircut and bolted it back together. It's the only feature tree in the garden. Good as gold, it's come back great, client is delighted and they know to call me back in a year or so to give it another pudding bowl.

I always knew rally drivers were nuts but those spectators were fooking crazy. Just like the public when you're trying to dismanle trees in town centres.

Especially as we would all, as professionals, use a teaspoon to remove the tea bag rather than dip our fingers in to catch the tiny corner poking out of the brew.

As I intimated earlier IMO making entry and exit more difficult is the key. My old man has always said a lock will only keep your friends out. Make something like Fort Knox and you'll invite unwanted attention. Low key but really solid barriers to entry that are easy to put in place by your staff but look and are seriously time consuming and/or noisy to overcome means crims may think twice before attempting to break and enter. Location can play a big part in risk too. Places with just one entry road, i.e. down a long track, can be safer as there is a greater risk of a crim being trapped. Most people who work in this industry are fairly tough and fit as the nature of the work dictates and we all work pretty hard to get what we've got. I'm unsure whether I'd be keen to go down to my yard late at night to respond to a possible break in, mind you it's a bit of a drive from my house and they'd probably be gone before I got there. Do what you can to deter casual theft but if organised crime gangs want your stuff, let them have it.

There aren't many readily affordable security systems that cannot be overcome by a committed criminal. My theory is to make your own place much more obnoxious and time consuming than somewhere else and hope they realise that's the case.

Sorry to hear about that Debbie, Lorraine told us yesterday. We had a couple of vanloads of the fookers casing us on a site in the middle of Oxford a couple of weeks ago. It's difficult to know how to respond to theft other than making it as awkward as possible for the perps, without endangering yourself or your staff. Most clued up thieves know where all the big operators are based so if your'e targeted on site and manage to stop them 'they know where you live' as it were. Until it happens it's difficult to know how you'll react when faced with someone trying to grab your stuff. It doesn't appear that our police force is too happy to involve themselves in these issues so starting a scrap in the middle of the street or your yard isn't likely to turn out favourably in the medium to long term. Of course if the insurance pays out and you get a new suite of saws and a chipper the perps may come over again when security becomes a little lax after 6-8 weeks.

Usually about 0.75-0.8 cubic metres

I was going to comment on the employment side of things too. It sounds like you do regular work for the estate and as such, as I understand it, technically, you are employed. It would certainly be worth talking to or communicating with the Dept. of Employment or a local HR company to find out the exact situation. However if you are happy with the current arrangement with the estate you should do this carefully so as not to upset the apple cart. I agree with Rupe. If the foreman is issuing works orders then he has ultimate responsibility. Not a great deal of help if your'e injured though.

It all sort of hangs together until you look at the points for different trees. Cobblers

I haven't read the article. It's an interesting point about the split personality and professional recognition. Certainly topics for discussion rather than bullet point comment. Currently it is a challenge to see who is leading the industry. It seems to be being pulled in different directions with no clear definitive leaders emerging. I think it stems from the fact that trees are such an immotive subject at so many levels it is a challenge to embrace all the stakeholders views.