ABA Northern division

Have you tried using blue tooth headsets? We find them ok. they aren't to expensive either (when compared to the rest of the gear we need! )

https://aba-skills.com

At ABA, we have to prove our technical skill level is at the top. We have to pass the qualification ourselves at an A, A+ level, we are also validated at least every 2 years although it seems to be more like every six months! Our learning outcomes meet and exceed the national ocupation standards in the uk. We are also pro active, for example we have added assisted fell to our ECC2 course and include srt methods and equipment into our Arborist courses. We train and assess people who work for local authorities, large corporate bodies, self employed individuals, we have industry recognised insurance (TRUST, who have carried out their own independent assessment of our standards) we demonstrate at all industry events (IE the APF most recently, working alongside DART), but most importantly as well as being assessors we work in the industry and ask, talk to & listen to the people who we work with. The legal requirement in the Uk is for an employer to provide proof of adequete training, the rest I think is up to us as professionals to define what that translates into. David 0793670175

As people who work in the industry, what would you want to be included in a training event? Do you think the very format of training/certification/refreshing in the uk is valid and value for money? David 0793167075 [email protected]

From Razman Capu the associate professor of Forestry in Transylvania . just to bring that into perspective if you visit the hse web page for forestry related accidents you will see that 15,000 workers suffer from a work related illness & 27 fatalities, that is 27 people who didn't go home to their wives, children, mothers

I know, we'll never be millionaires But... how much money do you need? I need to pay my mortgage, my utility bills, my household bills and everything after that is spends. TBH I don't have a lot of spends but I do cover the rest and I really enjoy my job&my life. I get up early (I like to)I work hard all day & honestly this 10m thing will not make that much difference to your output when you get used to it, but it might make the difference if something unsforeen happens ands you don't go home at the end of that day. just to say it again 90% of deaths within 9 meters of the base of the tree, why not be 10m away? From now on I am always going to be.

Rough Hewn, thanks for that, you are right the difference between arb take downs and forestry felling are very important. But the safety factors are the same 90% of deaths occur within 9 foot of the base of the tree. We can say, argggh I've been doing this for 20-30-40 yrs and im not dead, but are we (you & me really that stupid) I have a mom. a da, a wife & children, my son now works with us, and re productivity reduction. due to walking away from the danger zone, try it, if your a professional you'll find it doesn't affect your daily output.

There is a lot of knowledge out there now in the uk, on these methods & techniques, also a lot of experience of using the gear that is associated with it, does anyone want to work with me on producing a users guide? this doesn't need to involve "taking money" off anyone but could be a chance for the skilled operatives in the uk to help make the industry safer, more productive, & contemporary. We used to lead the field, back in the day when I was learning at Merrist Wood from the likes of Jack Kenyon I felt I was learning from the best, now I learn so much more from the European workshops I attend that it makes me think?

I totally understand where you are coming from. In the uk this is not a requirement...but the accident stats speak for themselves. I attended a workshop in the Czech last week and Razman Campu associate professor in forestry from Romania brought it up. I felled a big, and I mean big tree this week, I had five yellow plastic wedges in to hold it steady and two high lifts to "encourage it over" I had my winch team on the tractor. I communicated with them via the blue tooth (new to us as a team but we are loving it) and yes I had to walk away form the tree base a few more times and come back again than if I WAS JUST CUTTING IT AND SHOUTING "GO GO GO!!" but it worked, really well and felt right, 10m isn't all that far when you do it.

Do it, it may be the best thing you do today

We are all using SRT in our daily tasks. Here in the uk it is a common practice. As a training provider I am interested to find out how many people have received formal training in this technique and how many people have learned "on the job" from a work mate? David ABA Northern Division

Have you thought about joing DART, your skills may be really useful, myself and my work colleague have recently applied after working alongside the DART team lads on the Makita stall at the APF, as they said, your sat on your sofa watching this stuff on the news, it always seems to happen to the people in the world with nothing, they need your help...get off your sofa! David ABA Northern Division http://www.dartinternationaluk.org/become-a-dart-volunteer/

Wedges are an invaluable aid when felling medium/large trees, you should be using them in conjunction with a winch.The key here is communication with your winch team, blue tooth headsets are also essential. I'm sure most reputable training providers will have the gear you don't have for you to use, and can probably put you in touch with retailers for you to purchase the required kit after you've passed your assessment (i.e we can offer candidates a discount at WM Plant if they show their ABA certificate) Another key thing to remember is that 90% of deaths during felling operations occur within 9m of the base of the tree so you should be at least 10m away from the base of the tree as it starts to go over. & to give a warning shout as it falls. Thanks for putting this post on Arbtalk Stere, its opening discourse like this that will save lives. David 07931670175 [email protected]

Is it time for you to re-train? I love my job, every day a new challenge, working as part of a team, playing with new gear, new work methods, going home feeling fulfilled. Working outside, through all the seasons, learning more about trees every single day, seeing and being around nature, and the great people who work in & understand the British countryside.....if your not happy in your job, get in touch....it's time to live your life....and be the best u can be....Be ABA! https://www.facebook.com/RobDialJr/videos/2227961527221315/UzpfSTc0NTE4Mjk2NDoxMDE1NTk1NTg5NDYwMjk2NQ/

Thanks Steve!! Absolutely brill! I have to admit there is so much confusing data/info out there that it's great to have the facts in such a user friendly format, once again thanks, great resource that we will be giving to all our students. Dave