lawranced1

does anyone know why/when the teaching of snedding changed? Learnt in the course this week about snedding but the method that we learnt from what was in the book and wat we were told is different from the afag 303 guidelines? I know this is probably a geeky question just wondered why it would have changed!!

I didn't have to do snedding on either my 30 or 31 assessment!? but had to do the training for it.

Speak to the DNO let them decide if you could do it or not, they have a stataury undertaking to remove vegetation from OHL. even if it is not in direct contact, regulation ESQCR 2006!

I've always used Stihl Hedge cutters, both short arm and long reach would anyone recommend a cheaper alternative?

did they get any for tree cutting

Second successive RoSPA Industry Award Win!

Jun 22, 2010

Connaught Environmental's (now Fountains) commitment to safety and operational performance was confirmed when it won the RoSPA Foresty Sector award for the second year running at RoSPA’s annual awards in May.

Fountains has an outstanding safety performance record, formally recognised by RoSPA for the first time last year. Its work across its infrastructure, utility and in its forestry operation is a great example to its peers and the RoSPA award acknowledges safety management systems that the business has in place together.

Richard Haddon, Fountains chief executive, said: “It was great to receive this prestigious award in 2009, but it is even better that the determination and effort of our employees to maintain and exceed excellent standards has been rewarded with another win in 2010. It is also a testimony to the support and encouragement of our customers and stakeholders and a great all round team performance.”

Richard Haddon (pictured centre) received the award from RoSPA’s chief executive Tom Mullarkey (left) and vice-president Lord Brougham & Vaux

The RoSPA Awards are not just about reducing the number of accidents and cases of ill-health at work; they help to ensure that organisations have good health and safety management systems in place. Competitive awards go to the best entries in 23 individual industry sectors with Fountains winning the award for the Forestry sector, which covers forestry, arboricultural and grounds maintenance work.Forestry is a particularly hazardous sector combining the dangers of working at height with the risks of using equipment such as chainsaws. Right across Fountains' operations there is commitment to improve safety and take nothing for granted.

Mike Bridge, Fountains compliance director said: “In every operational area of Fountains it is important to have systems that help keep people safe, but it is the behaviour of our people and the working culture we create as a business that is central to reducing the number of accidents. Right across Fountains we share ideas, experiences and systems to make safety a priority for our own people, our customers and the general public.”

watch this space!

Multiple Wins for Fountains at the HR Technology Impact Awards

Jun 08, 2011

Turning a very challenging year to their advantage, Fountains walked away as winner of two prestigious awards and received a highly commended for a third at the HR Technology Impact Awards held at The Belfry in the West Midlands last night.

The awards are held annually by the MCA, a high profile association of public and private sector organisations set up with the aim of improving techniques in human resource management. Co-hosted by well-known Scottish comedian, Fred MacAuley and MidlandHR Managing Director, Iain Moffett this year’s awards rewarded excellence in HR across nine categories with entries from a pool of over 380 companies.

Scooping the Outstanding Strategic and Project Planning Award as well as the Best Outsourcing Award, Fountains was recognised for their impressive vision and management of a complex, vital project to a tight timescale.

Ellie Kenyon, Fountains’ group HR director, commented: “Moving a payroll and HR administration function in six weeks was a real challenge, but was essential in order to successfully separate from Connaught. Fountains is an exciting business with a loyal employee base that has stuck with us through a very turbulent time. We needed to ensure our Human Resources function could provide an outstanding service to its staff in order to maintain the ‘business as usual’ environment crucial to a successful transition.

"It was extremely difficult but, with the support of our business partners in operations, the MidlandHR team and great project management, the transfer was smooth. Fountains is going from strength to strength and these awards truly recognise the effort and commitment given to taking care of our staff. I am delighted with what we have achieved and proud to lead a team who strive to be best in class.”

I have replied to your message, the 'Blue machine' is looking for subbies at the moment what are you setup for? what experience do you have?

Always looking for more! have one new contractor due to start soon.

"the blue machine" love it!!!

Try Fountains

Fountains: utilities vegetation management, integrated infrastructure services and forestry

Explosives on a potentally live tree? doesn't sound like a good idea! or have i missed something? Also surely it is better to cut a tree near the network rather than blow it to pieces. what damage could be done to the network? Honestly can't see it happening in the UK.

Us: Hello Mr Farmer we work on behalf of the DNO we would like to remove your tree.

Farmer: ok will you be using a good old fashioned chainsaw?

Us: no, will will blow to pieces!

Farmer - no chance! jog on!

UA 5 now booked!!! any advice anyone?

how far will you travel?

The air ambulances are truly priceless, we never know when we will need them in this line of work! maybe we should setup a fund to donate!?

There was a MEWP onsite which they had to use to assist the rescue.

he could of bleed to death in 4 minutes! amazing response from paramedics and the rest of his team!! God was on his side!

BTS Tree Surgeon Serious Injury

Published on Wednesday 20 April 2011 0-1:42 Fenland Citizen News Paper

AN eye witness has praised emergency staff who saved a tree surgeon’s life after he suffered horrific injuries to his neck.

The 21-year-old man was working 25 feet up a tree on the Thorney Road at Guyhirn when he slipped and inflicted deep wounds to his neck and arm with a chainsaw.

The man, who has not been named, had blood spurting from the wound as he dangled in mid air until his colleague managed to lower him to the ground.

He was still conscious when paramedics arrived and asked them if he was going to die - but thanks to their expertise he survived.

Anthony Lockier, in whose garden the tree stands, said the emergency services were called and by chance an ambulance was only moments away from the property when the call was made.

“I can’t praise the paramedics enough. They saved his life. They were less than two minutes getting here and I think that was what saved him,” said Mr Lockier.

The paramedics managed to staunch the bleeding until the Magpas Helimedix team led by Dr James French and EEAST Critical Care Paramedic Dan Cody could arrive via helicopter.

They sedated the victim, who was working for BTS cutting trees and vegetation away from over-head cables under contract to the power company.

He had been working on a Horse Chestnut cutting the branches off and was close to completing the task at around 3pm on Thursday when the accident happened.

The Magpas team also ventilated the patient before packing his injuries with Cellox - a specialist gauze used to treat troops in Afghanistan who have suffered major injuries.

A spokesman for Magpas said: “The Cellox had only recently been purchased following a donation of £1,000 from Wisbech firm Truckweld.

“And it was thanks to this ‘miracle’ dressing that the man was stabilised and the bleeding stopped so he could be airlifted to hospital.”

He was flown to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where he underwent immediate surgery to repair the blood vessels in his neck.

Fortunately he came through the vascular surgery and was well enough to be transferred to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, London, for nerve repair to his left arm the following day.

The Health and Safety Executive have launched an investigation into how the accident happened.

The Magpas spokesman said donations such as that made by Truckweld were essential in helping to fund the charity’s life saving service.

And Mr Lockier added: “Without those paramedics I am certain he would have died. I can’t praise them enough.

“You don’t realise how brilliant they are until something like this happens.”

well done to the guys that carried out the arieal rescue!! saved his life!!!

The insulation is there to protect the cable and nothing else!!!

Fountains: utilities vegetation management, integrated infrastructure services and forestry

they are looking for arborists all over!

anyone know how the injured climber from thursday accident is doing?

Anyone working for fountains USA on here?

If your willing to travel have a look at the fountains web site - Fountains: utilities vegetation management, integrated infrastructure services and forestry

Anybody working for WCE? what is going on overthere keep hearing different stories!

it is for fountains in the Essex maybe Cambridge area.