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Hi, the software they use is treecalc. Most of the research has come from Germany apparently. You can pay to use treecalc but I've not found time to have a play with it as yet. Jan.

Hi Jules, I was at camperdown too, good day I thought. Yes the wind speed he was quoting raised some issues for me. I think he was using 22m/s which is about 55mph. However that is a common wind (as the last week has seen). If i remember correctly he was talking about a 1 in ?50yr storm event as the cut off for the safety factor. So I don't understand how 22m/s relates to a 1 in 50yr storm, which would surely be nearer 40m/s. Have i missed something or got the wrong end of the stick? I think this relates to your question about at what wind speed the owners liability is irrelevant. jan.

Cedars love to shed limbs. What's over the fence.

The AA book fungi on Trees is a great start. I believe david humphreys is producing a new book on fungi, which I am looking forward to. Any idea of a publication date David?

I'd like to add Meripilus giganteus (giant polyphore).

If you see the size of Phil my groundy I doubt anyone will swing on my rope. If they are bigger than Phil I will probably want to stay in the tree anyway!

I've had similar, just make sure you do not enter their property or cross the boundary without permission, even if only to tidy up/blow. If neighbours come complaining I pass them onto the client and say that they need to talk to them, as I am taking instruction from the client. I will discuss the legal situation with the client but tend to avoid getting into discussion/arguments with neighbours. Worst abuse I got was in a posh area, neighbour was F'ing and Jeffing about the work and me (cutting back to the boundary), in the end my client called the cops on him. He got a visit by the cops. I tend to avoid jobs now where I find out the neighbours are at war, can't be doing with the hassle. If the job is on the boundary and may involve crossing it I ask how the situation is with next door. jan.

Am interested, will message you tomorrow.

I guess if this goes ahead and there is an accident caused by 2 ropes and a court case found 2 ropes responsible HSE might have to change the guidance. That process could take years of course.

Looked through the ICoP again today - the 'Dertermination of work positioning and rope accesss techniques in Arb' HSE/Lane (2004) wahreport.pdf that I quoted from previously isn't listed in the Biography of the ICoP. Can other people also check this out? If no reference is made to HSE/Lane (2004) then the concerns identified 15yrs ago don't appear to have been addressed in the thinking behind the ICoP. (2019) Why is it that Lane/HSE (2004), a report funded by HSE and published on their website, does not feature in the ICoP. I think this is a very serious omission and failure to look at the available literature on 2 rope working, and serves as evidence to discredit the legitamacy of both the ICoP and HSE decision making on 2 rope working. end of rant!

The report I found actually reads like someone who climbs wrote it. They have looked at the implications in a variety of situations (some of which do recommend 2 ropes), but many others don't. They have also identified many of the concerns we raised here. Good on the HSE producing such a useful document. [emoji12]

Yep, something along the lines of... after careful consideration and RA, single line utilised as recommeded by HSE wahreport (2004). [emoji2] [emoji2] [emoji2]

it's there isn't it? https://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/pdf/wahreport.pdf

Hi Folks, I was trying to look up two rope systems and came accross this stuff from HSE. It was all new to me but others a probably familiar with it. In my opinion this contains some dynamite critisism of 2 rope working and it is produced by HSE. It is still live on their website (there's not caveat that this is now out of date or superseded by the new guidance). www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/pdf/wahreport.pdf Section 7.6.2 Sectional dismantling using ropes. 'If a second high anchor point was used a number of strengths and weaknesses have been identified (see Evaluation1 Appendix 2). In addition the following were highlighted: Increased risk of accidental removal of second high anchor with catastrophic consequences for climber. Reducing the availabilty of rigging points separate to the climber high anchor. Greater confusion of ropes within the crown. Much greater chance of lowering ropes running across climbing lines' Section 8. ...where two rope working is not currently supported by best practice, evaluation has shown,that any improvements are small and and outweighed in practical terms by increased effort, time and cost or combinations thereof. further on ...'a dogmatic approach to work techniques without the opportunity for individual asessment and modification of technique would make arboricultural work in trees more difficult and in some cases increase risk.' Look at Appendix 2 This section basically risk assesses rope techniques in different situations, and the conclusion for many of these is that 2 ropes are not recommended. Evaluation 2 medium trees with congested crowns. Evaluation 4 Evaluation 5 (maybe) Evaluation 6. I think this report contains loads of evidence against 2 rope working, hse certainly haven't produced anything more up to date that contadicts this. If you can manage to read more of this stuff please read this and pick out important pieces and use it to critique the ICoP. Happy reading. jan.

Hi, There was a thread a this year about whether Facebook works for people. General opinion was it doesn't for tree work. Search up 'advertising' on here and read previous threads. Steve Bullman (admin on here) can do you a great website. Some folk use things like check a trade or my builder, bark etc. Again there are threads on these to read. It takes time and people eventually find what works for them. Good luck. J.

Here in Scotland you need a waste carrier license to transport arisings to a tip site, cost £215 for 3yrs. Not sure about England.

If self employed you earn £7.2k, plus £32k employed you will pay tax and ni on 7.2k, as you will have used up your tax free entitlement in your wages. Tax is 20% and ni about 9%, so basically you will lose 30% of your earnings straight off. Other costs, tip fees if paying to dispose of arisings, approx £45 per tonne. Fuel/oil. Vehicle costs. Tools and repairs. Advertising. Phone. All the best with it. J.

Hi jake, interesting to read that irata 1 is only 4 days training. Level 2 another 4 days training plus 1000 logged hours. Whereas we do cs30/31 about 5 days, plus 38/39 which is about 8 more days training. Total is 13 days which is more than level 2 irata. The big difference then is really the 1000hrs supervised hours and the fact that you get 38/39 then can just go it alone as a tree surgeon. J.

I think we have established that there is a discrepancy in the icop about what 2nd system is required. It really doesn't say 2nd full length rope for MRT/Ddrt. It is quite clear for srt they want 2 ropes going to the ground. There's some technical differentiation between MRT/work positioning and Srt being rope access. Therefore different rules apply. No logic to it in my mind. I guess the only issue is the doubling of the anchor loading in some srt setups. So from my reading you need to be tied in twice at all times, and have a lanyard etc to allow for changeovers. Srt 2 full ropes, mrt 1 rope and 1 other system (which doesn't have to be full length). It does make srt less attractive. Jan.

Hi Gimlet, I am inclined to agree with Paul (although mr Humphries will probably be along to correct us). FYI next time break off a single stem and cut it in half down the vertical plane. it is very helpful to see the stem and gills/pore surfaces. All this info will really help in IDing it (a single shot isn't great). jan.

I have a TW160 which I am very happy with, but looking at the spec for the Forst I agree TW230 is the equivalent.

I get what your are saying and feel the same way mostly... Except if you have guys working/subbing for you. If someone has an accident and you as employer aren't enforcing the two ropes thing it is pretty clear that's going to potentially get HSE all over it. Another point is that having read the hse accident records as well as the mistakes (knots not being tied right, abbing off the end of the rope) there were a number of anchor failures. I think we have all descended from the tree and got halfway and thought 'I hope that anchor is ok'. Having a second rope does make sense in some situations. A second lanyard (giving 3 tie ins) is probably better most of the time though. J.

If you have his mobile text him saying your keen and asking when is a good time to ring.

Hi, Wouldn't you be bashing into the trunk all the time doing that. One of the good things about SRT is being able to ascend unobstructed and quickly. Apart from that i can't think of any reason it is a bad idea. I am not an srt expert though. All the best, jan.

Hi ty, Mine gets tangled sometimes. It used to be worse with cheap line. I bought one of the pricier lines {can't remember which one}, and it has been much better. Think I read a thread on here throw lines. You're using a cube or similar to contain the line? Jan.