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

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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.