krummholz

Fair enough - straight up you sound like the other half of the problem in this industry. You have no idea of my level of experience, and experience doesn't always mean you make good decisions. People wonder why we're under paid and under appreciated when the bar is set so low

Often having a nominated rescue climber and nominal rescue kit is a box ticking exercise, and this guy can't be bothered to tick it? How confident are you that he could rescue you if he did have the kit with him? Yes, self rescue is the quickest and most likely way down from an accident, but there's just not a binary of "major trauma= good as dead, no point in rescuing / minor trauma = they'll self rescue". As a first aider and rescue climber you are there to give the casualty the best chance of a full recovery. The "Golden Hour" to administer first aid should me more than enough time for a rescue from someone prepared and competent. It would be a shame if your last thoughts as you were losing consciousness were "At least Old Bill doesn't think I'm a primadonna"...

You could also try air layering as a propagation method. https://www.rhs.org.uk/propagation/air-layering-plants You'd need to come back for the cuttings in more than 4 weeks so you'd need to arrange something with the new owners.

Lantra have an SRT course, various training providers around the country offer the course, some with an aerial rescue refresher (that I assume incorporates the SRT equipment and techniques into rescue). I'm sorry but any boss that dismisses SRT entirely is a Dodo. Fine if he doesn't want to learn or use it himself, but the benefits for his business in making your climbs more efficient and reducing occupational injuries should be clear to anyone who cares to try and understand it. Level 3 Award in Stationary Rope Work Positioning and Rescue - Lantra WWW.LANTRA.CO.UK The aim of this qualification is to ensure that learners are able to safely complete work tasks at height. These...

For sure margins are very tight for most people, and forking out for training for an employee is a big outlay and a bit of a punt on that individual, despite it being a requirement under PUWER. Reluctance or nervousness to put employees through training can mean a holding pattern where workers don't see the business investing in them, which reduces their enthusiasm for and loyalty to the business, which increases the reluctance to give them training. I'm sure this must have been suggested before, but one solution for smaller businesses could be a payment plan. Say you have an employee getting started and wants to get their maintenance/crosscutting/small fells, or they're looking to progress into tree climbing. You agree (with a written contract) that they will take a £20/day cut in their day rate to put that money away for their course. Both courses are the guts of £1k inclusive of VAT (so the employer could swallow the VAT if registered; lets' assume they're not if they're a very small business), so that's 50 shifts to pay for the course, which is 10 working weeks or roughly 2.5 months. Employee increases their earning potential, sees some progression, employer gets more out of their employee and therefore makes more money. Both parties free to walk away after that contract comes to an end if things aren't working out. Out of interest, how long would people expect or want an employee to remain with them to see a return on the investment of paying for training for them? Most clawback clauses I've seen have a sliding scale for % of cost of training provided, ending after 2 or 3 years.

The length of the cambium saver would only be an issue when you're working right up against it at the top, otherwise the effective height of your anchor as regards rope angle etc. remains where the cambium saver is anchored

Where did you get those rings from? Are you based in the UK? I've only found them on a Japanese website If cost is an issue you can get a (non-adjustable) Stein cambium saver for £37 from Gustarts

I'm sure most trainers who run the full course could accomodate a refresher course, have you asked anyone? A quick google turned up Plumpton College's LOLER refresher course running at the end of November LOLER Thorough Examination of Arboricultural Lifting Equipment REFRESHER LANTRA | Plumpton College Online Shop SHOP.PLUMPTON.AC.UK This is a hands-on course that refreshes both practical skills and health and safety guidance as well as demonstrating that you...

"Thank you for your inquiry. We do not build the H-2 with a grease fitting. There is no need. There is nothing to grease. No bearings or bushing. Someone took it upon themselves to "improve" the H-2 by going to a fair amount of effort to add something that does absolutely no good. If you think about it, the spool is locked solid when it is doing what it does best: providing a means of taking wraps and controlling the descent of sections of tree. When the spool is moving it is in the process of taking out slack in the lowering line or raising a piece to clear an obstacle. The action of raising is slow and deliberate by design, therefore no heat is generated, nor appreciable wear on the spool. I hope this answers your question. Feel free to contact me anytime. Please acknowledge receipt of this email. Thank you. Donald F. Blair, president Blair's Arborist Equipment, LLC"

Doesn't appear to be

Is the Grease nipple something you've added in @AHPP? We have a H2 that doesn't have one, just a hole. Can't find any maintenance instructions other than what's on it

Nod and Bens SRT research project has some good info and data on loads seen at different points in a basal anchor system Arboricultural Association - Stationary Rope Technique (SRT) Work Positioning report TREES.ORG.UK Stationary Rope Technique (SRT) Work Positioning report <p class= lead dblue bold >A new research report entitled...

I'd use some Propellar, pack the data sheet with the kit for customs to see. I think as long as the kit is clearly free from mud and organic matter (sawdust, leaves etc), particularly on your boots AND you've given it a scootch with an Arb specific disinfectant then there's not much more you can do? Propellar Arboricultural Disinfectant 1ltr Bottle | Sorbus International Ltd. WWW.SORBUS-INTL.CO.UK Approved Arboricultural disinfectant spray. Recommended by both the Forestry Commission and Arboricultural...

Duncan Slater's article on Artificial Snags is very good and may be of use and interest Snagging List WWW.LINKEDIN.COM Recommendations on the specification of artificial snags by Dr. Duncan Slater Retaining the lower stem of a tree for the...

I'm looking at specing an Arb truck with a tipping chip box, currently looking at Tipmaster. Saving weight on the body is a priority as we need to maximize the (legal) payload. It won't be getting abused and regularly overloaded as we'd need to keep everything kosher. What are folks opinions on ally tipper beds vs steel? I've heard some possibly apocryphal stories about ally beds tearing when tipping but I'm guessing they were massively overloaded? The extra 120kg of payload an ally floor would give over steel would be valuable.