Scotty your second link is dead but I found this main index of stuff
http://www.google.com/u/HSEC?q=arborists&sa=Go
Also, read this one
http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/pdf/arboct05.pdf
Here's an extract:-
What happens when it all goes wrong?
In 2004/05 three people were killed while involved in arboriculture.A 25-year-old self-employed tree surgeon died after being struck by a branch. He wascutting a branch when his saw became trapped under the weight, pulling him downwardsas the branch fell. The branch rebounded and hit him as he fell. It is thought that the anchor point gave way as the branch pulled the tree surgeon and chainsaw downwards.
A 50-year-old tree surgeon cut his arm and face with a top handled chainsaw whilecutting branches. He was untrained, using unsuitable equipment and free climbing in thetree, cutting as he went. No one was available or trained to get him down or to effect anaerial rescue. He was eventually rescued from the tree by the Fire Brigade butsubsequently died in hospital from his injuries.
A 61-year-old employee was felling a tree in the back garden of a domestic residentialproperty when the tree fell and crushed him. There was little clearance between the treeand a fence at the bottom of the garden and his colleague was unable to control thedirection of the fall. After trimming off side branches he made a cut at the front of the treeand a further felling cut at the back, but misjudged the cut and left an uneven hinge. Thetree fell unexpectedly sideways and because of the absence of an adequate escaperoute, fell on top of him, causing fatal crushing injuries.
Inspectors have also been busy taking action against arborists who are not complyingwith the law. A total of nine Prohibition Notices and over 20 Improvement Notices havebeen issued in the year since Arb News was last published. The issues covered included:
●chainsaws being used by untrained operators often without the correct PPE;
●tree work being carried out without anyone being available to carry out aerial rescue;
●LOLER inspections not being carried out;
●not having adequate arrangements in place to ensure safe working of multi-site teams;
●insufficient arrangements for lone workers;
●incorrect or no signage particularly for roadside working.
And here where I live in Queensland Australia we do not yet have a specified criteria for our industry ... like I've said before, cowboy county.
The amazing part is how the slow pokes and govt are at simply copying the wheel from elsewhere rather than trying to reinvent it!
In fact, if you go to our govts website
http://www.dir.qld.gov.au/index.htm and search for arborist, tree work, tree climber etc ... nothing comes up!! Could it possibly mean that they consider we have the common sense req'd and don't need all those regs? /forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif
