Syd_B

On 01/09/2019 at 22:31, TIMON said:

 

Evening Paul.

Can’t help wondering how ‘pragmatic’ the insurance companies will be in the event of a claim?..

Funny you should mention utility companies. (I wonder if this is where it’s come from?)
I recently heard about a utility company insisting on their climbers using two points of connection at all times (3 when cutting).
Apparently it was because they’d had quite a few climbers falling out of trees. (?!)

The worrying thing about this (IMO) is that some guy in an office, responsible for safety issues a knee jerk reaction (3 tie in points) rather than a systematic investigation tackling the real causes of why their climbers were repeatedly falling . Surely there must have been something fundamentally wrong in their basic climbing/working practices? By introducing the new policy they have merely ‘covered over’ why it was happening in the first place and not addressed the real issues.

Surely the HSE would be serving the industry far better if they could establish the specific causes behind these accidents and address the issues through training and implementing better work practices, rather than just saying
“We don’t know why people fall out of trees so you’ll just have to use another rope”

Sorry for the rant,



 

 

After talking to guys from NW Electricity and a few Utility Contractors I was under the impression that Utility cutters were forced to use 2 ropes as a feedback from the  pylon climbing side, and that there were changes in their regs as the results of accidents, and as the Utility Arb guys were working for the Electricity companies then the regs were applied to them, Rather that this was as a direct result of Arb accidents(Utility or otherwise)

Hi Axle, deffinatly eddie(I have his business card somewhere), but it was the 2015 Arb show in Westonburt.

Ironbark, cheers pal, PM coming your way

Hey guys. I saw eddy at the Arb show in June and he mentioned that Stihl or Husqvarna had sent him a letter stating that there was no issues with warrantee on and using Aspen 2 in a new saw.

Has anyone got a copy of that letter I could have a proper read of?

ATB

Syd

Isnt that now illegal? I remember some one saying that they couldn't get something replaced because the twerp got a lawyer to stop the deductions.

The same happened to me Peatff, and I was stuck doing agency & security work for a few years afterwards, despite being told I would get the NVQ3, but cest le vie, if it had worked out I'd never have found arb.

Echoing what the others have said, my feedback from doing the odd few days is "Your a good grafter and your switched on, but we need a driver"

:banghead:

 

do they climb?

I would have thought not after that statement, I know in their introduction they said nothing about arb, so I'm fairly confident they do not know sweet FA about the industry!

I think some people seem to just have a compulsive urge to say absolutely anything about everything

Yeah, I agree, I did a t one point leave the apropiate AFAG climbing guide (running on the assumption that they would dismiss the Arb/ISA books, but the HSE would be harder to dismiss) open on the apropiate page in front of them, and didnt even get a sorry or thank you.

if i remember the petzl hats have a 10yr life span ,

BTW, The same person also said we should wear a ground helmet up a tree because climbing helmets were only for rock climbing. I get the feeling they are an Admin bod that want to flex their muscle! Still wrankles though.

Just done the right thing and checked H&S website

3 years from date of manufacture guys so we're pretty much needing to buy fresh kit regularly.

Funny, I always thought 3 years in service. 3 years since manufactor is a lot less, in september I bought a husky lid that said 2011 on the clock/dial thing, that means 1 years service life, whe its advertised as 5!

Thank you Yaffle

I thought it was 5 years too, but I think the reason I was so miffed is because of the way she accused me of being wasteful, a new TV every time sony put a new advert on the telly is one thing, a few bits of PPE every year tho?

There are people out there who insist changing them every 3 years - regardless of what the manufacturer says.

 

If you feel your ear defenders aren't up to scratch I'd say change them, you only get the one set of ears after all.

Thanks spruce.

Before the due date if its knackerd.

 

It's generally down to the individual to make the call, unless its gone past the date, and if you have an accident and its one past the date, would an ins company cover you???

That was exactly what I was thinking, the visor is pretty much fine, but the lid has had bangs(nothing major) but its also fell of bonnets and stuff has been dropped on it, but it LOOKS fine, the muffs are scratched to buggery and filthy as hell, at the end of the day, like you say, would your insurance cover you if it fails? £30 is pretty cheep compared to being a cabbage!

Hi Folks.

I've just been on a 5 LANTRA H+S course ran over 3 weekends, and had this little gem of an exchange with one of the other candidates.

Me "I replace my ear defenders/goggles/forest helmet every year because its only £X,....."

Candidate "You replace it every year because its only £X, you're whats wrong with society, the west is too consumerist and everyone has to have the latest models..Rant..rant!"

Me "No, its because you cant tell if anything is damaged without expensive diagnostic kit, and I dont want to find out by the PPE failing! PPE is there to do a job, and cost you a great deal compared to a new skull/hearing aid etc."

Tutor "Anyway, blah blah"

I kind of respect the tutor for changing the subject, but more than a little annoyed that someone else thinks that me buying new PPE is the reason the environment is getting fooked up.

Has anyone else come across this, or agree with the other candidate? or do you agree that you should replace your PPE whenever you think it might be time to bin it, regardless of the manufacturers guide lines?

Max_Lawless, Thanks for that, though I got your message at sill oclock this morning. Dane, thanks, I've PM'ed you.

Hi Guys

A few months ago (when I clouldnt get the funding) I saw loads of sdverts on the sidebar & Banner for business start up training packages, now it looks like I've got the funding they have disapeared.

Dose anyone know anywhere that offers CS30/31/38/39, Chipper, stumpgrinder as one complete bundle? any help would be great.

TTFN

Syd

Lord Honda of big cord:cursing: was disgruntled that a oily smoking earl. earl 2 stroke of little cord should be going around that he was better than him.

now lord Honda being one of a quiet disposition was not having this.

so challenged Earl 2 stroke of little cord to a duel.

having thrown the gauntlett down. he waited for the earl to take on the duel who could cut the most on a tankful of fuel. but to no avail Earl 2 stroke has not taken on the lord.

will he take on the duel that Lord honda wants or will he carry on making a noise and smoking.

i wait to see.:biggrin:

You run out of the tablets again mate?

I normally go in a "crutchless batman suit" and a pink pak a mac, on a push bike!

 

seems a bit quite at the Mo?

Seems like you've deffinatly got the "talking point" nailed down then.

I've asked many people about this over the years and their answers collate to something like-

1. If you turn up in an expensive looking car - 'youre making too much money'.

2. Turn up in a banger of a works van - which lay-by do you live in?

3. Turn up in a decent works van or car - 'lets see what he has to say'

Pretty much what I thought, thanks for the info guys.

Hi Guys

What do you wear & drive when you go out and price up a job? Do you rock up in your tatty unimog with attached chipper & box wearing your chainsaw kecks and scruffy boots & T Shirt, or do you arrive in a gleaming Audi wearing an Armani Suit? Two extremes I know but they demonstrate my point.

I know a professional image is important, but how do you put across as being a professional without looking like either a scruffy tramp or a yuppy?

Cheers guys

Another silky question, can you replace the female belt clip from one model with one from another? I use Gomtaros and zubats, and changing the clig on my belt mid way through a job is a pain in the derry air.

Good on you pal, Well done.

what about goats? give them a couple of weeks.

I've got 200 acres of mixed woodland.....Only kidding.lol

A local community farm use raptors, but I don't remember what type off the top of my head, they claim it works pretty well.

Well done jack.

Guys, I'm just in the process of applying for a Level 3, I've allready applied for Plumpton, Pershore, Merrist Wood, Newton Rigg, Capel Manor, Reese Heath and Myerscough. Are there anyt others that I have overlooked?

I've always used a blade on a strimmer, but taken off the guard (use good eye protection) Start at the top and work down in sweeps till you reach the ground.

Yup, what he said. They are still a pain in the rear though.