Loler UK

level 1 irata guys arn't qualified to work or rescue each other unsupervised let alone rescue you! in brief: level 1 can only work supervised by level 3 level 2 can do basic tasks planed by level 3's without direct supervision level 3's can plan and supervise operations and other technitions, do advanced rigging, rescues and have an in depth knowledge of the relevant icops, best practice etc irata training does not specifically cover tree climbing or many other types of operation (eg horizontal anchor lines/ certain stretcher rescues etc) there is lots of additional training that irata technicians will undertake dependent on the task specific requirements of their operation, it is up to the level 3 in charge of the site to identify when further training is required. our nptc's specifically cover tree climbing and rescue, that's not to say that we may not also have to undergo additional training to undertake certain climbing operations/ rescues, anyone trained or assessed on a haul or counterbalance rescue by an nptc assessor? hopefully the day never comes, but when it does you want to be well trained, practised and have the sufficient equipment to carry out an aerial rescue, the heat of the moment is not the time to cobble something together, try out a technique you read about/ saw at a trade show etc The man (or woman) in the white wig will need to be convinced that their was 'adequate rescue provision' this means proof of: correct planning, adequate equipment provision, trained and well practiced practised staff. IRATA trained technicians are NOT trained in Ddrt rescue or to climb/ rescue on/from a single anchor line but on and from 2 anchor lines

but the platform would require cordoning off in the area/s immediately under the tree, if you could send me your details at [email protected] i'll pas them on to a couple of link up contractors i know in your area, let them know the brief and have them get in contact with you if they think they can help, they'll probably quote the job for free but require a deposit/ commitment from you before they start co-co-ordinating things with NR, the plus is they do LOADS of work for NR on that very same line so have working relationships with the relevant NR managers etc

well without a test case being fought on rather dubious grounds claiming that it is not "a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged" disputing that as per Moore v Gooderham 1960/ R v Thorpe 85 that the device could not cause more than trifling and trivial injury (i've had a few goes on these devices and would not want to be hit by one at close range, i'd expect broken ribs, or worse a fractured skull/ death) i understand it as this: Best case scenario we call it an air weapon, that way it can be up to 12ftlb without requiring a licence (FAC), sellers would have to comply with legislation regarding the sale of air weapons and you would require the permission of the land owner, projectile not exit the boundaries etc etc all that governs air weapons, if it's over 12ftlb then you could apply to have it put on your/a FAC, then you must abide by the limitations of your fac with regards to where it is used. Perhaps you'd be so lucky as to get a reply saying the device did not require a FAC ergo you could argue it was not a firearm, I doubt the reply would be quite so though worse you say it is a spud gun type toy, now you're limited to 3ftlb, great for installing lines in small apple trees though!!!

Hi where are you based? It might be an idea to speak to some link up approved contractors in your area, also have you spoken to the station operator? You may find that with the involvement of one or the other or both you could come to a more affordable solution. From the photos it appears perfectly achievable to remove the trees without a possession (closing a train line) and without requiring access via the platform but i would find it necessary to cordon off the platform which will require both network rail and station operator involvement. A local link up contractor (approved to work on the rail) may be able to mediate with NR & the SO far more effectively than you. Your other option would be to employ an Arboricultural consultant to mediate for you if they are asking you to remove or reduce them as they perceive them to pose an unacceptable level of hazard/ risk in their current form it may be that your consultant disagrees. I've dealt with some nasty 3rd party disputes over the years, usually working for network rail/ one of their contractors so i suppose i'm a little poacher turned gamekeeper. If you get to the point of disagreeing as to them requiring immediate removal/ reduction you may find them much more open to compromise regarding cost etc. where are you based? i might be able to recommend a link up contractor in your area with experience in these matters, or a consultant with 3rd party tree railway dispute experience. If you seek your own consultant ensure that they have sufficient experience with railway disputes as many will not. Unfortunately either way id estimate you'll be looking at around £350 for an appraisal and some mediation/ co-ordination but this COULD save you allot in the long run

I'm lolering in Suffolk next week, give me a bell on 07835029923 and i can book you in talk you through the arrangements etc

alternatively, if you're finding it 'not easy to come across' an examiner you could do what all my linc's clients do and drop me a line, that said i'll next be in lincs when i get back from skiing sooo... early April

Tipper bed no, tail lift yes. One's primary function is to lift the other to carry. I don't suppose your tipper has a tail lift? very rare to have both but i've seen an LDV once that did have, or maybe a swing lift crane? Just to clarify it doesn't matter whether a lifting device pushes, pulls, whatever if its primary function is to lift or suspend then it's subject to loler (with a few exceptions, very few), a scissor lift MEWP works in the exact same way as many tipper mechanisms.

how come? oh, i see, this ski year/ season i knew what i meant

With most arborists having an affinity for the outdoors and a pragmatic approach to risk I'd guess allot of us are skiers? I'm off skiing for 8 weeks this year and will be driving out with a mate to Serbia where I'll be guiding some groups from the UK skiing. On the way back we plan to visit some resorts en-route in Austria and maybe Germany can anyone recommend some? preferably relatively high altitude (for Austria) with good off-piste possibilities, got some touring set-ups but don't want to schlep too far, ideally hop off a lift, a few minutes or less on skins then hit some long lines all the way to the lowest lift/s. we'll be sleeping in the van so not bothered by accommodation/ facilities etc it's all about the snow! So far I've been recommended Solden but am looking to find somewhere a bit further to the east to break up the journey thanks in advance, Mike

Well said. I think that per head of population our mass shooting rate doesn't look too rosy i can think of 3 in my lifetime and I'm in my 20's. Gun control doesn't stop people from doing horrific things. I the states it's statistically acurate to say that almost all shooting crimes are carried out by illegally owned guns and i don't think that we can compare our situation to theirs, amendment aside the situation over their is very different. allot of people that i hear ague for tighter gun laws in the UK actually go on to readily admit that if they/ their wife were able to own a handgun in their home legally for protection purposes then they would won one! go figure! Our gun laws in the UK are pretty proportionate I think but there are undoubtedly those who win and those who loose, a friend's neighbour said that my friend had threatened him with a gun, the Police arrived and took his whole allocation, some of which were family air looms, others to which he had various forms of attachment and some that were useful tools he used across his land. This allegation although completely false and never proved prevented him from renewing his FAC and he is devastated. Gun crime has risen since dunblane, many would argue as a direct result of the knee jerk reaction that followed that awful event. I for one would find it much easier, quicker and cheaper to acquire a fully automatic Zastrava Illegally in the UK than i would a fac for a large bore centrefire hunting rifle. In 2012 to 2013 2256 recorded gun crimes were committed with unlicensed pistols vs 288 shotgun & 43 rifle and of these some were owned illegally but id don't have the exact figures but you get the idea 2256! will be nearly 10x that committed with legally owned guns! It recently took a reporter with no local links or experience in purchasing illegal weapons just a few hours to buy an fully automatic assault rifle with ammunition in Amsterdam, just a few hours after arriving in a foreign city! I'm sure that there is room for improvement in tweaking our gun laws and licencing process but arbitrary restrictions are unlikely to prevent anything, if anything certain aspects could be a little more relaxed or maybe more centralised/ some more rights to appeal a decision. The illegal ownership of handguns in the UK is far more prolific than pre-dunblane and they are now far more available than they ever used to be. Contrary to popular belief it is still possible to own handguns legally in the UK but only under certain circumstances. Guns are legal in the UK, it's a shame in my opinion that we lost the sport of pistol shooting, it created allot more problems than it solved. The key to ensuring people have a responsible attitude to firearms is education, introducing kids to firearms responsibly at a young age, in my experience, instils a healthy respect and discipline that lasts them their whole life.

avant malfunctions whilst lifting log, drops log, log rolls onto road or over someone, consequence not good. avant malfunctions whilst lifting log, drops log, log rolls around an empty yard no consequence

Confusing to some extent. The new acop document seems to make it clear but this forestry guidance seems to muddy the waters somewhat. However: Taking the paragraph: "Thorough examination of lifting equipment is to protect both operators and people in the vicinity of lifting operations who may be at risk if the equipment suddenly failed. Assess equipment and working practices for the risks involved and decide which items have to undergo thorough examination." This may be interpreted along with the following talk about roll protection etc to suggest that providing there's no/ little consequence to the lifting equipment failing or tipping that a thorough examination would not be necessary. I would however suggest that in practice this is seldom always the case in relation to a timber grab, even if most of the time it is operating in an environment with huge exclusion zones, never within the vicinity of a highway ro other persons/ property etc this will not ALWAYS be the case. Either other persons, vehicles or property could be seriously damaged in the event of failure and even with roll protection, the design of many cabs, seats and seatbelts etc means the operator could still come to some serious harm. also kevin is right in suggesting that inspections under puwer aren't so dissimilar and may also, in reality need to be done by an external contractor anyway In the case of an avant i'd suggest going back to the consequence of a failure coupled with it's primary function, an avant can run a great number of attachments which primary function is not lifting, but if your primary use is that of lifting perhaps it would be wise. Roll bar or not i'll always remember being catapulted from an avant when working for a firm in Hampshire back when i was a fresh faced 17yo, somehow i landed on my feet some 2.5m away from the machine, the laws of momentum on heavy machines shouldn't be underestimated, one to many fatalities on mewps from this issue.

It has nothing to do with the control location/ cab construction, the acop even specifically reference a front loader on a tractor. A timber crane including its grab are covered by loler and must be subject to a thorough examination every 12 months, or in accordance with a scheme drawn up by a competent person. I've know hiab examiners charge from £75-£350 to examine a timber crane. Enquiring with a local mobile crane company may be the best way to find a reliable examiner.

Everyone i spoke to with a mobile mill said it was too big/ too heavy for them to mill, some of the saw mills said it was too big for them! i've decided just to alaskan mill it, got it back to my yard for £125 which i was happy with, there were people happy to collect it for free and mill it them -selves but i decided i fancy a project, thanks for everyone's help.

it's on a fairly steep bank so milling on site isn't an option, i measured it precisely today it's 110cm in diameter at its widest point on the base, 90cm at the top and 670cm long, here's a picture:

I'm based right next to junction 14 of the M5 9as is this job) and have an ash stem that needs transporting to my barn and milling. I have free access to an alaskan mill but was wondering if there's anyone local on here/ anyone that knows of someone local that'd be able to come to firstly transport the log and secondly mill it with a mobile band-saw for me and what the cost would be? I can arrange transport with a local haulier but ideally i could do with someone with a large hiab with timber tongs and preferably that same person would have the mobile mill, the whole job lift & milling being about half a day. The stem is currently about 6-7m long and about 1.2m in diameter but can be cut down to a couple/ few 2.4m lengths if needs be to fit it on the transport/ keep in within the hiab's limits. ring me on 07835029923 if you're local & interested, many thanks, mike

No reasonable loler examiner, expert rigger, design engineer or sales rep from any reputable company would claim that their knowledge and understanding of PFP equipment and its degradation isn't ever expanding and evolving new research is being carried out all of the time and much of it in-house, confidential and un-published, knowing what i do of numerous manufacturers they may often be researching the same things, at the same time duplicating research but such is a capitalist system. If an examiner steps outside the manufacturers recommendations then he/ she certainly has lost one ally if it came to defending their decision, allot of weight is indeed transferred on to their shoulders. This should not be done lightly. Unless I've missed something in my reading, the LOLER regs do not offer any suggestion of a default number of years, in fact there are manufacturers that suggest shelf & service life's that exceed 5 years so id be very interested to hear where this "5 year rule" that Craig describes as "default" comes from? I know that for the purpose of the Basic NPTC and when training people to initially become examiners it's best for them to stick well within the manufacturers recommendations detailed in the instructions etc but i've had dialogue with nearly all of the major manufacturers of our equipment across the globe and they've unanimously agreed that in certain circumstances (for example my scenario above) there is no reason that equipment couldn't have a 'service'/ shelf life that exceeds their initial recommendations but anyone making these decisions should do so only on evidence based reasoning. It is only from reviewing/ carrying out evidenced based research and having had dialogue with experts in the production industry that in CERTAIN circumstances i may make the decision to recommend/ allow equipment to remain in service longer than a manufacturer recommends. I treat every one of my decisions on a case by case basis, equipment in security sealed, uv proof, rodent proof dry containers that's never/ seldom been used that is in an exceptional serviceable condition may well be in service past the recommendation that's found in the user instructions.

By diff lock I guess you mean the central diff? or you'd require lockers in the rear axle/ both axles? A land rover defender, older discos etc have an option to lock the central diff where as most jap 4x4s don't have a central diff so are always locked when 4x4 is engaged. Some vehicles are supplied or have an option to be supplied with diff lockers in the axles. A jimny with the rear seats removed will give you the best off-road ability excluding deep tyre ruts, they're also nice an light to free when they do get stuck, they can also be bought very cheaply of already modified for off road use, its narrow stance willl also allow it to squeeze where most 4x4 vehicles wont

So, more specifically an age related defect which may not present it's self as visible is that when a steel-core flip-line's core cycles to failure close to/ between crimps, the visible condition of the sheath does not reliably offer an indication of how often it has been used as if only ever used in dry, clean conditions then even a flip-line that has been cycled many, many times over the only indication that this could be the case is its date of manufacturer and/or purchase. Furthermore there is little/ no visible indicator of how corroded the core may be beneath the sheath. Most synthetic fibres degrade in sunlight, the worst offenders are aramid fibres which are often used in their neutral beige colour which offers little clue by fading unlike (for instance) red dyed polyester or nylon fibres, again other than age and the users account of the items use & storage there may be little to visibly determine the items deteriorating condition. The users account of usage and storage can prove very useful but such accounts may not always be considered the most reliable; this is why my clients that keep some equipment in security sealed bags have me produce & allocate the security tags so that the chance of bags being covertly re-sealed is significantly reduced

I know what you mean, it's been no small feat over the years, what colour the fibre is dyed even effects how quickly it ages, go figure? there's far too much out there to post a list and i really should be getting on with some work as it is. I'd highly recommend becoming a full member of ropelab it you wish to begin to understand things better, great resources!

Age is a contributory factor that will help a competent person form their decision during a thorough examination under the Loler regs. Various manufacturers will suggest/ detail equipments recommended life span in the user instructions etc. Some examiners and/or employers will form their own 'cut off dates/ life spans' for software/ hardware etc. Some examiners may take a more arbitrary approach than others and some a more pragmatic evidence based approach taking into consideration the construction method, fibre type, application, usage, environment of storage etc Some climbers can destroy friction cord in a single descent, some of my clients have rescue kits stored in security sealed, rodent proof bags which are used inly once a year at most, i'd expect most of the later kit to have a service life well in excess of 5 years! Certain components may more be susceptible to age related wear/ defects etc than others, some may be susceptible to developing age related defects that will not present themselves as visible, these are the only items that i find service life & age to be a significant factor in its-self. I've tested allot of aged and degraded equipment to destruction, researched fibre types and methods of manufacture, reviewd existing research and been in dialogue with numerous manufacturers to understand how & why it is they've sugested certain service lifes etc. This data helps me make my decisions with confidence, others may choose a cheaper, more arbitrary approach and rely more heavily on manufacturers instruction documents and/or policies/ recommendations suggested by and devised by others.

Wow, been working away from home. It's amazing the things that people took from what i said, assuming i was implying things that i certainly was not. perhaps it's my poor punctuation or perhaps people read works then re-word it in their head. Matelot: what i ment by: When the tanks are rolling down the road on their way to your village, to rape your wife and your children, to brutalise you, your friends and family to destroy all you have strived for and built over many generations you will feel differently. You wont care about who Sanctions the bommers, helicopters, misiles or ground troops, in that moment you will not care. If you have the option and means to flee or to get your loved ones out before they arrive you most likely will. We on our small rich island can have almost no understanding of their situation. was that peoples blind insistence that we cannot/ should not intervene militarily is typically a hypocritical one. I was not suggesting that we help people flee. I meant what i wrote it's as simple as that Kevin at no point did i suggest or offer the "mass relocation across many countries until the 'country of choice' is reached." as a solution or right or the "of opening the borders", nor did i imply it, i meant what i wrote it's as simple as that. like i said: striving to find sustainable solutions for this crisis which, without a crystal ball, will be quite something. I will offer no solutions or suggestions on how to solve this crisis on this forum, i only hope to stimulate people to consider the issue from all its angles, peace out

Having been privileged enough to have sat and broke bread with some of these migrants at various points in their journey including their earlier stages in the Balkans I've read this thread with some interest. Some, and i mean SOME people have made some interesting points. Sadly this situation is not a simple one, far from it. One of you was quite correct in saying that many making the long journey are rather well off and travel with considerable means, whilst many in the region's camps do not. I've only shared this experience with a couple of friends, it's not a privilege/ experience i feel the need/ desire to retell but perhaps it might help some people to understand these peoples varied situations and circumstances. I've wrote it so as not to offend but if you are off a particularly fragile disposition then perhaps you shouldn't read on, my story is not graphic but it does refer to the reality of what many of these people are fleeing; moderators i hope that you feel my account and its language is well within arbtalk's policies. If not please edit lightly and notify me as opposed to deleting the whole post. When i arrived at Belgrade's central train & coach station station at about 00:30 a couple of weeks ago i saw for the first time in my life 1000's of people sleeping on the floor like sardines but then with others sleeping stacked on top of them at 90 degrees like jenga blocks. Tip toeing over the sleeping bodies to buy my ticket with young kids darting around playing my seasoned traveller instincts had me highly vigilant shall we say, but strangely, the atmosphere was very calm, safe & relaxed even the station staff were in high spirits and at that time in the morning! I seldom travel with a camera as i'm not big on 'recording' my exploits other than in my own mind/ memory but on this occasion i had to do some promotional film work so had my 5d3 and lenses with me; even I had the urge to record these incredible scenes not shown by the Media, this part of their journey earns just fractions of a second of speech in the odd news report; this was balanced by my distaste for our voyeuristic tenancies and respect for these peoples plight & privacy so my camera stayed firmly within its bag. I was not surprised to find that the white orthodox Christian Serbian population rich and poor alike held no animosity towards these migrants of alternative skin colour and beliefs; so many of them know better than any of us what it's like to be caught up in a war zone, they held grater empathy for these migrants than anyone i've met in the UK. On my return to belgrade during daylight hours the extent of the numbers became evident, the green adjacent to the station looked akin to Glastonbury! Calais is nothing, NOTHNIG! With most of my fellow bus travellers avoiding them like the plague and walking the much longer way round to get to the city centre i walked through and was politely greeted with smiles and pleasantries by many as i passed through, many with impeccable English and some exceptionally well dressed. I chatted to a Syrian woman who really did look divine in her beautiful dress, headscarf and with such jewellery! S he told me that the Hotels refused to let them stay despite them having ample money to stay in the finest of hotels in all belgrade as the management are afraid of getting into trouble with the authorities, as a result she bought a small tent and sleeps on the green; she'd even spent her new former accommodation budget in Belgrade's finest boutiques, hence the dress! I met Eritreans, Sudanese, Egyptians, Iranians, Iraqis Syrians, Somalians the ethnic mix was diverse to say the least and some certainly far poorer/ wealthier than others to say the least. I had some tea with my new host and she showed me around a little, and i asked how difficult they were finding it to eat halal in serbia, she laughed, now was not the time for her to be concerned about eating halal she said but said for other 'refuges' they would go without meat if no halal is available. You can be sure that their are terrified refugees both rich and poor fleeing for their lives from a horrific warzone, there were stories shared with me that morning that i will not be posting or even retelling in most circumstances but let me put it this way: When the tanks are rolling down the road on their way to your village, to rape your wife and your children, to brutalise you, your friends and family to destroy all you have strived for and built over many generations you will feel differently. You wont care about who Sanctions the bommers, helicopters, misiles or ground troops, in that moment you will not care. If you have the option and means to flee or to get your loved ones out before they arrive you most likely will. We on our small rich island can have almost no understanding of their situation. Undoubtedly many are taking this opportunity to jump on the band wagon as it steams across borders, some may not even be fleeing conflict and even those that are taking advantage of the situation to not merely escape the carnage but to regain the status they lost or, of course, enhance it. I've not been privileged enough to visit the camps in Jordan but i'm sure that many of the people there did not have the means or time enough to make it to Europe and i think it quite right that these people should have an equal or greater right to be settled in one of the more affluent nations as those that have chosen to traipse across Europe without registering for asylum at the first safe port of call, but who can blame them? how should we measure their 'deserving'? Let us feel nothing but empathy for these people, but let that empathy include striving to find sustainable solutions for this crisis which, without a crystal ball, will be quite something.

Unfortunately a granted patent isn't worth the paper its written on if it's not worded correctly or was granted in error (ie the design had been in the public domain via youtube video or something stupid before initial filing date), even if it is bombproof it costs allot of money to enforce. I've been lucky enough to work with some of the greatest minds in one of the best patent and trade mark attorney firms in the world, its a tricky old business! It may be the case that the bollards are no longer protected (or not in the UK at least) there is no such thing as an international patent, only a sort of temporary one, at the end of this initial period you must file in all countries where you wish for it to be protected. More concerning to me is the nature of these 'defects' on these rejected items, i cant find any notices on their website etc, is it possible that previous devices made by the same manufacturer could have the same/ similar defects? what exactly are the defects we should be looking out for? how can these devices be differentiated from 'genuine' devices that have had the stickers removed? or in fact is this some other falling out not concerning critical defects at all?

I will do some digging when i get the chance, they got theirs from the US i'm almost certain but i imagine spanset in cheshire would be a good bet