Tony.Price

I have noticed recently a huge increase in inexperienced guys/girls around here obtain basic tickets to set up as self employed with no pears to learn from. This is evident in the work and worrying at best about there personal safety as many reportedly work on their own! It is a shame new people to our industry around hear anyway are struggling to get opportunities to work with professional companies to learn safe practices. I seam to get more and more requests for work experience. I have had a number of learners report that they have been working for nothing to get experience! Good on them for trying.

A few years ago I had a climber fall through a conifer hedge which was reported to the HSE under RIDDOR. The following years insurance renewal declaration asked me to declare incidents reported to the HSE which I duly did. My premium increased by 15%! One year ago I had an employee fall into a conifer hedge and impaled himself on a previous pruning stub (nearly where the sun don't shine I must add). Again I saw an increase of 8% in my insurance. Closer to home but some years ago I was grounding for my Brother in Law. I could hear the saw rumbling away in the top of the conifers and then in the bottom. I assumed that he had severed the lanyard but when I pulled aside the debris I found my brother in Law on the flaw. All of these incidents and others reported over the years provide the insurance companies with data that they base there premiums on for all businesses carrying out such work. I believe that residential tree related incidents are also included in their figures. This is how the insurance industry was explained to me in the ninety's before the fall out. Does anyone have clarification on this. (The brokers I have found over the years do not always give a definitive answer). Regardless to how they work it out if you make a claim on insurance, expect an increase in your premiums.

I agree that conifer hedges are awkward at best providing little in the way of secondary anchors. This should not stop use trying though, after all we can only do what is reasonable. On my risk assessments years since it was commonly noted that a steel lanyard was to be utilized wherever a secondary anchor point was not available in a restricted hedge topping job. Usually passed around several small dia, and already stumped stems 'twice' to prevent it being lifting off (do what is reasonable in the circumstances). We also used a groundsman with rod & hook to direct growth to reduce the use of one hand on the saw (potentially a much quicker method). A three man rescue in my experience gives the groundsman (third man) ample time to back up and ensure the safe decent of his colleagues (I would not expect any less of my groundsman of over 10 years. This has been done by him whilst the rescuer (me) ascends the tree. A rehearsed rescue plan in the work place would elevate any such concerns of time in the installation of a system. Can also be a laugh every so often role playing scenarios. I met a couple of self employed guys only last week that had a great attitude towards our industry. They would sooner (take the hit) work a few extra hours a day and do there work safely, looking out for each other than take such short cuts. If only we all had this attitude, (me included in my earlier years of climbing) our insurance premiums would be a lot cheaper, and we would hurt much less at the end of each day. I understand very well the strains we are all under to be competitive and it is difficult to say no at times especially as we have got away with it so many times. It is only through reminders such as incidents and near misses that the need to say no is reiterated to use; If, we get that second chance! Don't put your self and those around you at any unnecessary & avoidable risk of harm. Many have, and we should learn from their misfortune. Does anyone have any story's to tell?

Best practice as per the Acts/Regulations & ACOPS is the only way to cover your back under legislation. I have experienced a number of incidents with my employees over the years, mostly due to the individuals complacency and short cuts. Thankfully when reported the investigations found all paperwork, training and provisions to be in place, few! Insurance was never a problem and I have had no reprisals. Would this have been the case should I not have had the employees training and interim recorded inspections of their kit up to date? In a court of law I would have been very concerned should I not of abided by the WAH & LOLER reg's among the various other reg's and ACOPS under the HSWA. As an employer and worker with a family to support I have to much to loose to ignore the law, so I en devour to comply, however painfull it is to see another contractor get the job on a cheaper price by ignoring (some times) the legislation taking the short cuts that i could have done, should I not have morals. Remember the bit at the beginning of most training courses, that goes; ACOPs can be used as a guide to best practice in the work place but can also be used against you in a court of law should you ignore them completely! I write as both worker/employer and trainer/assessor.

I have recently tried to employ under 25's and cannot get insurance for them to drive the trucks. This for me makes them un-employable! Frustrating as I have some good guys I can't use!!

I enjoyed their company so much I have booked on the level 6!

Just completed the final week of the level 4 Arb with Tree Life. A very worth while course with a great organisation. I can recommend highly.

I did mine with Dave Dowson at tree life Syston near Leicester. He helped write it! They are putting a course together in the new year.

The course content gives you the info requiered for the test. Revision of fungal fruiting bodies and tree species is required prior to the course unless you are already proficent. Go for it.

Looks like the hook is not ahead the peace in pics 6 & 8! What equipment do you use beneath the hook. It looks like a number of componants and not seperate slings 4T/chains 3T hanging from the hook eye. Do you use a tag line for the safety of the ground crew also to prevent the longer peaces turning into the stick. Just observations from the pics without my glasses. Would be great to know your methods.

Is any one interested in providing a site with a felling licence in place for Assessing/Training learners near Nottingham. Free thinning of a spinney/small wood and a steady supply of felled cut to length timbers for pulp/firewood etc are some benefits. Could also help with free felling in a conservation project. Work is fully insured and standards are of the highest and references available for like agreements. Please drop me a message if you think you can help.

Second that:thumbup:

Yes they are warmer, but it is a bit colder for the next few months. They are a lot tougher as well. I hate the single line of stitching on the patches, getting quite good at sewing now though!

I have recently gone through this system. It has taken me just under 2 years to get on board. It only took 3-4weeks of my time but their is a wait between the courses and assessments. The cost is resonable in you can get on board quicker to regain some of the outlay. I had Verification first, followed by PTTLs (great course) then Lantra technical week, then C&G week and finally several days of Verifications for both C&G and Lantra. I would would advise you contact you local C&G office and ask if they have need of you and also Lantra for further advice. Good Luck.

nice pics:thumbup1:

Great saw for professionals. I see more on these than any other around here. Take all the kit listed on the pre-course hand out and if you don't us it on the course you will after you pass.

Their has been some changes in the competency requirements since then. Operators who undertook training and assessment prior to 1997 may not have covered Take down of Hung up Trees Using Hand Tools element of unit 31. As this is now a compulsory element of the new unit CS31, it is recommended that this be included in any refresher training provided. Candidates will also be required to cover the felling of forward and backward leaning trees under training and either one on the competency test. Pie cutting, letter box cut, double V cut & cuts for taking down a hung up tree have also changed since then. This is not a complete list of the changes/updates Self employment or employed makes no difference. I have posted the question to HSE and will post their response on reply.

I will request the Answer to this from HSE so to give an accurate answer but this is my opinion. You and your employer would be at risk of prosecution under the HSWA Puwer section 9 if you where to have an incident/or near miss when reported under Riddor. HSE would certainly inpose a notice for you to undertake refresher training as a minimum. You where obviously competent when you took the test. When was that.

I agree in part only. Competency certs do not have an expiry date. Certificates of attendance for training are only 'current' for a short time. We are advised 3 to 5 years. It is recommended that all chainsaw operators have regular refresher or update training to ensure they work to industry best practice and maintain their levels of competence. Trainers keep up to date with new and innovative techniques and also are aware of changes to the competency requirements. They are able to help individuals identify bad habits and prevent incidents and improve effiency as a result. In business we have to work to rules! In a court of law the Acops/Afag guides can be used against us if it goes wrong. They also help back us up!They indicate that best practice is to undertake refresher training, then we should do it or face the consequences. As an employer I keep up to date with this as requested by our commercial clients and I treat it as my responsibility to educate our private clients. I am self employed and take advice from AA, HSE & Lantra. I do not take advise from my insurance company as suggested on another post. This will carry no weight in the court and to be frank who is giving the advice at the other end of the phone? The Broker. I agree to moving forward with new skills training but it is not appropriate in all areas of skills. For example: Refresh Medium fell with Tele handler or Climbing/Aerial rescue! I have had great feed back from learners refreshing basic maintenance/felling from guys with 5 years experience since their last. Especially CS38 Climbing and Aerial Rescue. This is my interpretation of our industry best practice. Please comment if I have got it wrong.

Excellent advice:thumbup1:

Lantra training will prepare the learner for the assessment and is a must for employement under Puwer in this industry. City & Guilds do not provide training! It is recomended to refresh every 3 years for a part time operator and 5 years for full time operator. All competent and proffessional employers will not allow machinery to be used by staff if their 'Training' is out of date:thumbdown: If it goes wrong their and your head's are on the block wheather you had your City & Guilds cert or not!

Our Air spade was also from Fletcher-stewart. The conectors provided with our fit all compessors we have hired in. Paul is correct that finding a large enough compressor can be a pain. I use A-Plant with their multi tool compressor. Cost's me £40 + vat per day average incl hoses. The longer the hose the the more wind you need. I allways hire at least 20metres of extra hose so I can stay out of the RPZs!

First option: Damaged tree CS50 fell from ground Second option: Bigger winch:sneaky2: Third choice: Crane, work from hook or lift damage section:thumbup1: Forth choice: install tie of supports and anchors with throw line. Use suspended cradle ancor from nearby trees as climbing anchor and sever with bread cuts at point of failure. Not to complete failure but enough for the winch to finish it off:001_tongue: Fifth option: bring in a machine perhaps long reach 360 with tree shear:thumbup:

Jim Id advise you to do 5 day lantra maintenance-cross cutting and small fell course with City & Guilds Assessments CS30-31 after. Your local Lantra training providers will advise you further. If you do a 5 day lantra climbing and aerial rescue course and City & Guilds assessment after you would be more employable by a tree services as a groundsman which would help you gain much needed experience to further your skills either ground or aerial tree work.

90ft Ash, 80in plus dia stem leant over HV power lines by 18m and 0m in the felling direction. Took some pulling, see the results