You've done a chainsaw course but you won't get a job! 3 good reasons

This is something I hear quite a lot in the forestry and arboriculture industry and something I have said many times to my customers seeking clarification on chainsaw qualifications.

Just because you've done a chainsaw course doesn't guarantee that you'll get a job..... here are 3 good reasons:

• The Chainsaw training industry is like any other in respect of the fact that their are 'cowboys' out there offering poor or mediocre courses which will not provide you with the skills to pass the pre-requisite NPTC CS30/31 Award that you require to get a job or the skills you need to pass this assessment.

• Many companies looking to hire chainsaw operators will often require them to have more than the basic NPTC CS30/31 award and prefer to see other units under the belt such as CS32 - Felling trees over 15" in diameter or competence to use a woodchipper.

• The industry is awash with rogue tree cutters that are carrying treework for nothing more than a daily wage. When you are qualified as a tree climber (CS38 Tree climbing and rescue and CS39 Using a chainsaw from rope and harness) and you are prepared to do all of the things you must under regulation, you will be competing with these guys! Luckily many people are now becoming a little more discerning when it comes to hiring a tree service. 

 The good news is that despite these three reasons, well trained and competent operators are finding work, but it is important to remember that it is your responsibility to rise above the average chainsaw user or tree cutter and invest in gaining as much knowledge and as many skills as you can. Read about your industry, invest your time and resources in forestry skills training and tree climbing techniques. Get advice from people that are working in your industry, explore the global trend towards an increase in forestry and never forget that trees keep growing!

 Training advice is available from Treecareireland

Is there somewhere on the web for Irish Tree Care?

YES! 

and here it is...

http://irishtreecare.ning.com/

The Irish Tree Care Network allows registered members to share information, videos, photos and much more about Tree Care. It is the only Irish Tree Care social network and is a safe and secure place for Qualified individuals only.

Use it to find work

Use it to discuss your point of view in the forum

Blog subjects

Post photos

Buy Equipment

Join now, it's Free!

Register below

treeclimber.ie

Discounted Ascenders and some free instruction on how to use them



Treeclimber.ie and Treecareireland have teamed up to share some knowledge on the ergonomic and safe use of Ascenders. Climb safer, Climb faster!

http://www.treeclimber.ie/viewproductdetail.asp?productid=16551&secid=340&cid=1529&act=show

treeclimber.ie: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Super spruce in Union Hall

Just a quick video Blog of an amazing Sitka Spruce in Cork. Andrew Harrison and Kevin Birchall from Treecareireland visted this Sitka Spruce whilst carrying out some chainsaw training in Co. Cork


Find more videos like this on Irish Tree Care

The Birth of an Irish Tree Care Network

Visit The Irish Tree Care Network

This is my badge from a new network dedicated to qualified Arborists, treeclimbers and chainsaw operators in Ireland. You can get one too and more importantly, by joining this free (invitation only) network you can:

1. Share knowledge and information through out the Irish Treecare Industry and beyond
2. Watch and post videos about tree related matters
3. share photos
4. advertise your services
5. find new jobs
6. purchase equipment collectively and save money
7. improve your industry by supporting only qualified operators
8. lots more stuff

This is not a Facebook for Trees, it is designed as a professional place for professional people with one common goal:

"To strengthen the Treecare Industry in Ireland"

You may think, "not another network to waste my time on" but we have designed this network as a business tool not a place to gossip. Information will be regularly posted and available for all.

We aim for this network to be the birth place of the first organisiation in Ireland to truly cater for only qualified treeclimbers, groundsmen and arborists. We want to assist you in making the changes that are needed for Irish Tree Care

Apply for your invitation by filling in the box below:

If you need more info email kevin at treecareireland@opriusmail.com.
If you feel that you should be better respected as a professional arborist we want to know. If you need info about trees in an Irish context connect with this network. If you think we are crazy for starting a network we want to know why!

Share this post with the addthis button below. 

Leave a comment on this post

HSE Safety Alert - Brush cutters

The HSE has sent out a safety Bulletin on the use of non-standard attachments for brush cutters. A fatality was investigated involving the use of homemade chainsaw chain attachments.

Part of the chain struck a nearby worker in the head....More info is available here.

This is picture from the HSE website showing a non-standard chain flail attachment

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Resouces for Trees and Climate change

Trees and Climate Change- An Irish Perspective

Is this beautiful Irish landscape a thing of the past?

Here are some links to recent seminars, workshops and information on climate change. Some of them are taken from the Tree council Website, a reliable resource for information. I will update this post as I find more resources. Please add any you find by leaving comments below:

Climate change effects us all and we all have a responsibility to find a solution!

Click on the highlighted title 

• 
  

  The Climate Of Ireland: Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow

Text of a talk delivered by Brendan McWilliams to the Climate Change Conference in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin, during Tree Week, 2005.

Notes for this talk can be downloaded here

• 
  

  Climate Change Insects and Trees

Roy Anderson, Queen's University, Belfast.
Word document can be downloaded  here

• Irish National Climate Change Strategy

This is the National strategy for Ireland (if that wasn't already apparent!)

• What is the Kyoto Protocol?

An explanation

KARABINERS: Our search for the Perfect Connector

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Quest for the perfect Karabiner

Everyone has a favourite one, some people have a many. Different colours, different shapes, different applications, numerous manufacturers and some interesting tales to tell.

"Do you fancy sharing your views, facts and stories to help others in choosing their karabiners?"

Who knows, we may help to change the way our connectors are made or just help to educate others on how and why we use these simple, vital and well engineered pieces of climbing gear.

Treeclimber.ie will be giving away FREE shiny new karabiners for the most interesting and informative suggestions so share your knowledge...

If your reading this, share it with others and do leave some comments...

Awaken the Lust for learning

Just a quick post about a new initiative we are launching at Tree Care Ireland. It's about being an instructor and a student at the same time, an expert and a novice in the same course. It is about sharing knowledge and re-gaining a love for learning new and exciting things and it doesn't cost anything. Nada, nix, nought. Have a look at this website and register. You need only have the time and desire to be part of a team.

This is the link address to the website http://pages.oprius.com/U918T

The photo above was borrowed from an exhibition by K.L. Kamat. I hope he doesn't mind.

Rigging Research

I thought it might be useful to have a link to a copy of the HSE Rigging Research on this blog. It was published last year after extensive International research.
Many questions about rigging equipment and techniques have been answered and many more questions will also arise when you read this impressive document. It is a must if you can get your head around the numbers!

Pruning and Dismantling courses in Ireland

Visit the online training calender for future dates of pruning and dismantling courses in Ireland.
The next available places are on the March course, but are disappearing fast!
The pruning element of the course covers:

Crown reduction
Crown thinnning
Crown lifting

The dismantling element covers:
Modern and traditional rigging methods
Section felling/snatching
Equipment selction

This course is 5 days and prepares the candidates for NPTC Awards CS40 and CS41. Assessments and Registration will be arranged for all candidates. Candidates must hold a tree climbing certificate and CS39 to attend this training course.

ISA Certified Arborist Exams

Kevin Birchall from Tree Care Ireland is now the registered ISA Examination Proctor for Ireland and is hoping to be running Examinations at regular intervals throughout 2010. Dates will be posted on the Treecareireland training calender and on this blog.

The great benefit to anyone considering the qualification is the instant recognition that this qualification provides. It is an internetional standard. All Cert Arbs have a code of Ethics, which can be shown to customers as part of your tendering information and each cert arb has a listing on the ISA website.

The ISA Certified Arborist Exam is a level 2 qualification which provides the holder with a basic but comprehensive understanding of arboricultural practices and solid under pinning knowledge of subject areas such as:

Tree Biology
Tree Identification
Soil Science
Water Management
Tree Nutrition and Fertilization
Tree Selection
Installation and Establishment

Pruning

Tree Support and Protection Systems
Diagnosis and Plant Disorders
Plant Health Care
Tree Assessment and Risk Management
Trees and Construction
Urban Forestry
Tree Worker Safety
Climbing and Working in Trees

A workbook is available from the ISA and candidates can work through each chapter to gain some of the necessary theory. The third edition of the study guide(now in colour) is now available. Each Topic chapter contains the following:

• learning objectives
• key terms
• text with illustrations and photos
• workbook section
• challenge questions
• sample test questions
• other sources of information

Additional study and practical knowledge is also recommended to assure an adequate understanding of some of the subject matter and gain the required pass mark!

Tree care Ireland will be providing focused preparation sessions for the ISA Exam on all subjects including Tree identification. Dates are available now on the online training calender

Please share this blog post with anyone you think might like to become a Certified Arborist.......

Rigging gone wrong!

Just a quick post to share a rigging accident. With all the skills, training, risk assessment and experience that are generally soaked into good arborists, accidents do happen and equipment does let you down. I was given the photo to the right about two years ago by a customer that had purchased the black lowering device that you can see.
He was 'snatching' a relatively small section of stem and the groundsman was allowing the piece of timber to run as it fell, but as this was happening the 16mm Marlow stable braid rope melted to the capstan and fused with the black paint covering the device!

When visualising this event you might think at first that both the climber and groundsman would just be confused as the system locked up, but that no harm would come from it, apart from the damage to rope and capstan. However, the following occured; as the timber came to an abrupt halt the resulting shock force over-loaded the sling holding the lowering pulley, snapping it at the splice and yanking the pulley out of the tree. The tail end of the sling then whipped around the stem and slapped the climber on the back of the head.

No one was hurt, nothing was damaged from the fall but issues were certainly raised over the usefulness of the painted capstan. No explanation was ever given.
If you can shed any light on this issue please make a comment.

Arboricultural Training

IMG_0400
Originally uploaded by Tree Care Ireland

"FREE ADVICE, QUESTIONS ANSWERED, CHAINSAW OPERATORS NEEDED..."

Have you ever fancied a career working in Trees? Has the thought of taking up an exciting, well paid career in the canopy interested you?
Perhaps you already climb trees and want to update your skills or you work in the landscape industries and want to broaden the services you can offer to your customers.

Maybe you would like to project a more professional image.

Well now is the time to have a closer look at some of the skills that are available through training with TreeCareIreland and achieving NPTC City and Guilds Awards.

TreeCare Ireland together with City and Guilds centre, Absolute Training Services will be providing the opportunity for you to talk to Instructors, Assessors and Tree service providers about the skills required for one of the most exhilerating jobs in the land-based sector.
"We would like to connect you with people that work with trees and can answer your questions."

"We would like to create an open forum for discussion about qualifications, courses, equipment and skills."

"We would like to be on hand each day to give honest, FREE advice about trees and tree care."

So this is our plan for 2010....

Phone us a Treecareireland 0n 059 9148678
Text Kev on his mobile 0868286573
Email info@treecareireland.com
Web contact us www.treecareireland.com
or connect on FACEBOOK, TWITTER & LINKEDIN

We have also provided a widget below for instant contact. This is a secure method with a comment box for your questions. We have asked for your phone number. If you would like us to call you to discuss anything please ask. We are always delighted to talk.

"INSTANT CONTACT, QUESTIONS ANSWERED..."