kevinjohnsonmbe

This might be a "hospital pass" Paul, but if I remember correctly from the Cornwallian workshop, you did say that AAAc status was dependent upon (old speak) CS41 where ever any rigging was involved - and that makes absolute sense. So if that's AA's position, it might be assumed that HSE would take a similar stance (appropriate training for the task) if things went wrong and ended up in an incident / accident / investigation. So CS39 would be the relevant training up to the stage of 'free dropping' limbs, but put a rope on the limb and you should have a 41 trained bod on task. I wonder how many folks are rigging without the 41 ticket?

I've got the Kanga prices somewhere, if I can find them I'll post for comparison. Vermeer is booked for demo need to get Kanga booked and then make a decision.

S450TX £15,750 S725TX £17,500 S800TX £20,200 All plus VAT and delivery charge £170

Been watching yr vids on YouTube John!!

Thanks Jules, I thought there would be a bit more to it! Would you say the note on the FC page could lead to misinterpretation?

I've got the Vermeer S450TX coming on demo week after next Ian. I saw on another thread you had the 9 rather than 7" tracks. Adds a bit to width but reduced ground pressure I guess??

This is a bit off topic, but just re-read that FL exemptions page. So, if you have planning permission (granted under the Town and Country Planning Act) or in other words - TPO consent - then you don't need a FL??

I may be reading that wrong Chris, but if a National Park is classified as a public open space that would qualify as an exemption from the requirement from felling licence no? Felling licences exemptions (England)

Result!

Sounds awesome Bob, I like your pics too. There's youtube footage of wood burners in these tents. Looks like just the job. Did yours come with the flue flange already installed or did you do it yourself? From what I can see on youtube there appears to be an arctic variant which comes with the roof flange installed. Good call with the carbon monoxide detectors! I used to work up that way and would head out to Glencoe or Fort William at weekends, beautiful country!

There are quite a few different surplus outlets if you google / ebay "9x9 wolf command tent" I've used Anchor supplies website: Search results for: '9x9' ebay store: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Anchor-Supplies-Limited?_dmd=1&_nkw=9x9+tent Prices vary according to grade. Expecting delivery next week so will post up pics of it on the 110 and any relevant +/ - points I can think of. There are also quite a few youtube vids (various levels of wathcability!) which give a good overview.

Nice vid Adam. How long were you on it start to finish? Did the ground team wade in and sort out the pile on the floor at the end? Footpath and road look to be within a couple of feet of the drop zone for some limbs / chunks. That would have made me nervous in case of a chunk bouncing out into the road.

Much appreciated David! Been reading since Sunday!!

Ti, it strikes me from your personal and professional posts that you have a moral compass..... The mantra, "If it don't feel right, it probably ain't right" isn't a bad one. If you need the income it's sometimes necessary to navigate by magnetic North rather than true North. It must be troubling you enough to post it up here? Use your compass mate, it'll see you right!

Anybody used a set up like this as a field / site shelter? Just ordered for delivery in time for a job later this month. Hoping it'll provide some flexible / welcome shelter on site.

Keep going Paul! It's still on the horizon although probably more of a personal achievement goal rather than a business one. I'll explain why that's relevant maybe if you're at that safety day?? Thanks for the updated booking link, I did PM a TY but your inbox was full so not sure if it came through. Back to this thread, I got to thinking, with all the "chip site needed XX location" threads, are people generally aware of the need to be registered as a waste carrier and completing waste transfer tickets for all these chip loads? I dare say the AA approved outfits are. Just a heads up - there was a purge of spot checks locally from a combined VOSA/Police/EA team. Pick-ups and tippers full of brash and chip were key targets!!

The link doesn't appear to give any indication of the company turnover / profit or personal wealth of the individuals involved - or indeed, how much they profited from an illegal operation. Without that it's impossible to make a judgement call as to wether it was a heavy fine or not. The rules is the rules - that's democracy! That company were either ignorant of the rules or choose to ignore them. They got caught, they got fined. Part of the problem with democracy is you don't get to choose which rules you want to abide by. It's not difficult (nor particularly expensive) to get the correct permits, registrations and exemptions. We're all victims of our own poor choices

Extract from the FC web page linked above: "...we and other plant health authorities across the UK are taking steps now to consider how the UK can best prevent, or minimise the risk of, its entry to the UK..." Mmmmmmm, let's hope someone has the sense to revoke the EU free trade rules that prevent an import ban until the problem is established in the country seeking the ban (just like CF). I'd hate to think these great minds haven't learnt a lesson from that, although, to be fair, CF did make a sudden unexpected appearance in the UK. Oh no, that's right, the relentless march West across Europe started in '89. Talk about civil service / QUANGO inertia.....

Stunning!

That sounds like a recipe for potential disaster..... Did he end up trying to ride the team while cacking himself and all at high energy levels??

There was a particularly gobby trainee who found himself zipped up in a kit bag and placed on top shelf of the pallet racking with only head out of the bag and left there for a good while before anyone checked on him. When checking, he had somehow found a broom on the shelf, was holding it through the kit bag, had shuffled to the edge of the rack and had propped himself against the opposite rack. About 15' above ground level.....! It didn't work! After the installation of a 2 part foam dispensing machine for packing sensitive aviation equipment, he was boxed, packed, banded and loaded on the freight truck and send 40miles to the next depot. Caused a bit of a stir at their 'goods inward' shed. That's all 2nd/3rd person for obvious reasons.....

I was really disappointed that the resolution took such a hit David. I've taken a couple of screen shots, first one was like a honeycomb effect - first thought was wasp / tree bee nest, not sure if this is a symptom of any particular decay fungus that causes this type of structure?? Second one, was the black bootlaces of doom but doesn't show up in sufficient detail in the video. No fruiting bodies nearby to give any further clues. I don't know what a melanine plaque actually looks like, since you mentioned it I googled it and was offered a vast array of camping plates! Found this extract of an email exchange between some 'tree legends' on UKTC archive "...And Armillaria species shield off their vulnerable dead wood decomposing hyphae with melanine plaques and surround their hyphae inside rhizomorphs with a melanine layer, that protects the hyphae against attacks of toxins or acids (Quercus robur/petrea, Castanea sativa) produced by the living tissues of the tree. RE: Ganoderma applanatum/australe on n.maple - implications Do you have any pics of melanine plaque?

It didn't! I tried to upload a go pro vid direct. Ive had to do it via youtube but as a consequence it's lost a lot of definition which is really disappointing, it was crystal clear before loading to youtube. [ame] [/ame]

Yes, it's possible to go round and round the 'what ifs' roundabout. Sometimes it can even be useful because the first solution might not be the best. That has to be seen as a positive outcome of the RA process? Agree the issue with beacons. Where there are multiple vehicles on site (motorway works for example) the RA probably says beacons on. The cumulative effect of 30 vehicles LEDs can be more of a distraction than a benefit and I've often wondered why the site safety dude can't see the problem - that's just poor understanding / lack of dynamic assessment - blind adherence to the RA regardless - as Gary says earlier, just because it's got a RA doesn't make it safe. What cannot be disputed though, is the action of riding in / on the back of the truck is contrary to the RTA. If it was analysed and assessed as the best option, then a suitable platform would be needed and compliant with PUWER probably, but it's totally illogical and would surely never be seen as the best option....? I can't believe anyone would actually advocate riding on the tow hitch / back of the truck as an appropriate action? It could have resulted in a ticket from a traffic copper, it could be viewed by the general public to the detriment of the company reputation, it could have resulted in the tow hitch rider falling and being dragged along the tarmac out of view of the driver. None of those "coulds" could of happened if that action was identified as inappropriate, staff were trained and supervised appropriately. Perhaps the bigger concern could be that, despite all the accreditations and the full time suit looking after safety and well being, there are still behavioural issues that could indicate a broader / systemic disregard for safe working practice? Working smart and safe should be an entrenched ethic, a habit, a positive choice. If that ethic is absent or deficient in one area, it's a fairly safe bet that it will be absent in other areas. I would not work with people that aren't 'tuned in.'

I'll just have a quick stab at that Steve (and fill in some detail that wouldn't have been apparent from the vid clip): The local environment: It's a busy rural 'B' road, 60mph speed limit, blind bends and an offset crossroads, 4 farm entrances onto the road within close proximity, slow moving ag vehicles, livestock on the road, the road alternates between 2 way and single file traffic. There are frequent road traffic accidents (ranging from minor bumps to serious vehicle leaving the carriageway multi vehicle and agricultural vehicle incidents) on this stretch due to excess speed, mud on road, concealed entrances, non 'priority' marked changes from 2 way to single file traffic. The hazard: Generic vehicular / road hazards - vehicle / pedestrian workers at risk of collision with other road users. Means by which the hazard may be reduced to an acceptable level: Work force to travel inside the vehicle using appropriate seat belts (that's a bit of a 'given' since the behaviour shown in the video might be seen as to contravene RTA section 14 Road Traffic Act 1988 and 26 Road Traffic Act 1988) Vehicle to display dipped headlights and amber beacons to raise visibility to other road users Driver to check front and rear for moving traffic prior to deploying workforce Driver to check work force embarked in vehicle and seat belts in use before moving off. So, that took me (a regular Joe) 5 mins including my one finger typing, that company employs a full time 'expert' suit to do their RAs.